Scottish Women's Football

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Scotland captain Caroline Weir has been talking to the media before the national team's World Cup qualifying double-header against Luxembourg next week.

Here are the key points from the press conference:

• Weir described being handed the captaincy by head coach Melissa Andreatta, as "the honour of my career". She said it had been an honour earning each of her caps so far but that the new permanent role had her "humbled and excited".

• The midfielder said despite having deputised for Rachel Corsie in the past, it was a surprised to be picked by Andreatta after the head coach assessed her options. Weir said it was "It was quite an emotional moment and one my family are very proud of".

• She has a lot of targets as captain and as a player but reaching the World Cup is "top of the list".

• Weir expects a tough campaign, with games against Belgium, Israel and Luxembourg, saying: "It is going to be tough. These campaigns are always tough, as we've seen in the past but I think we've put in a lot of ground work and we come into these camps well-prepared up to this point.

• The captain says the squad is "really motivated", knows they need to be "at their best" and feels fresh under Andreatta's management.

• After missing out last time, Weir said there's determination in the squad but they won't let previous failures carry a weight. "We have to be careful not to dwell on that too much but at the same time use it as a bit of motivation. I don't think we need those past campaigns to drive us on."

• She reflected on her experience in 2019, saying as a young player she had "a different role" and that "having qualified for a Euros and a World Cup before that, I maybe thought this was how it was going to go - each major tournament, we would be there".

• Weir said she has matured as a player and a senior figure in the squad and wasn't thinking about this as a last chance to lead the team to a World Cup. "I'll be 31 this year, but I feel good physically. Probably the best shape I've been, mentally good. 2027 is as far as I look now."

• She also reflected on watching the men's team qualify for this year's finals alongside a Danish teammate while on club duty with Real Madrid, saying it was "amazing" and "so cool to watch".

• And Weir plans to travel to watch the team in action against Brazil this summer, saying she loves our national teams doing well at anything.

• Succeeding in leading Scotland to the World Cup would "Be everything for me. Of course you think of that image. There's no higher honour playing for your team and then leading them out at a World Cup. When you are running round your garden, that's what you think of. Would be the absolute highlight of my career."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Lauren Perry (Montrose): Even though she conceded two goals, Lauren Perry prevented Montrose from conceding a few more certain goals as they just missed out on what would have been a historic top six finish.

Tara O'Hanlon (Celtic): Her first Celtic goal and at a crucial time too, the defender restored the host's two goal advantage after Hearts had pulled one back.

Kelly Clark (Celtic): Set up Celtic's first and last goals, not bad for a centre-back.

Addie Handley (Partick Thistle): Scored a goal at a crucial time to put Partick Thistle ahead at the break in a must-win game.

May Cruft (Rangers): Set up Mia McAulay for Rangers' opener and has been so impressive for Leanne Crichton's side this season, hard to believe she's only 16.

Amy Anderson (Glasgow City): Proving to be an important player for Leanne Ross' side as they continue their push for the title and popped up with a goal in their 4-0 win at Motherwell.

Sienna McGoldrick (Partick Thistle): Scored with the last kick of the game to book Thistle's spot in the top six.

Rosie Livingstone (Hibernian): Feels like there's not a game that goes by where Livingstone is not involved in the goals in some capacity. She set up two of Hibs' three for another important win.

Josi Giard (Hamilton Accies): Scored the opening goal in what looked to be a hard-fought point for Accies but it wasn't meant to be. The striker will be so important as Accies look to survive in the SWPL.

Kathleen McGover (Hibernian): The Hibs striker doing what she does best - scoring goals. Another two for her on Sunday afternoon in an important win.

Saoirse Noonan (Celtic): The Celtic striker popped up with a hat-trick in a massive win for Grant Scott's side that moved them above Hearts in the SWPL table.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Colin Poultney/SWPL

It's the final round of fixtures before the SWPL splits in half and there's still one thing to be decided - who takes the final top six spot?

The league was reduced from 12 teams to 10 for the 2025/26 campaign and, as a result, the teams finishing in the top six will play each other twice while the sides in the bottom four will also play one another twice.

And five of the teams competing in the top half following the split have already been confirmed - Glasgow City, Hearts, Celtic, Rangers and Hibs - but there's one final spot up for grabs and that will be decided on Sunday.

Partick Thistle were four points behind Montrose before their win over their top six rivals two weeks ago - a result which left Thistle just one point adrift of Craig Feroz's side heading into the final game.

So there's two games to keep a close eye on but things are looking slightly more favourable for Gary Holt's team. They play bottom side Hamilton Accies while Montrose have to visit title challengers Rangers.

If Thistle win and Montrose lose, Thistle are in the top six. If Montrose are to pull of a shock at Broadwood and pick up three points, they'll be guaranteed that top six spot no matter what happens in Thistle's game.

Elsewhere Aberdeen host Hibs, while league leaders Glasgow City travel to Motherwell and Celtic are at home to Hearts.

How to follow on BBC

Celtic v Hearts is live on BBC Alba - and the BBC Sport website and app - at 16:10 GMT on Sunday.

There will also be match reports from all five games on the BBC Sport website and app and you can watch highlights on Monday night on BBC Scotland from 19:30.

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Montrose thumped Dundee United 5-1 to reach the Scottish Women's Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Louise Brown got the top-flight hosts off the mark after just 11 minutes and further goals from Neve Guthrie, Sophia Martin and Georgia Carter had them well in control by half time.

Robyn Smith replied for the SWPL2 visitors, but Martin restored the four-goal advantage on the hour mark as Montrose set up a semi-final with holders Rangers.

Celtic face Glasgow City in the other semi, with the ties scheduled for 2/3 May.

Montrose had unveiled Harriet Holden as their new signing from St Andrews University before kick-off and the former Falkirk player made her debut in the closing minutes.

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Holders Rangers and city rivals Celtic and Glasgow City progressed to the semi-finals of the Women's Scottish Cup with wins on Sunday.

Rangers won 8-0 away to Partick Thistle, with Laura Berry scoring a hat-trick, Katie Wilkinson netting twice and Nicola Docherty, Kathy Hill and Leah Eddie also on target.

Last season's beaten finalists Glasgow City scored twice in the first half at home to Stenhousemuir, who could not recover. Sofia Maatta and Abi Harrison were on target in City's 2-0 win.

And Celtic got the better of hosts Hearts in a seven-goal encounter that went to extra-time. Morgan Cross gave Celtic the lead, Kayla Jardine levelled but Emma Westin had the visitors back in front before the break.

Georgia Timms' equaliser forced an additional half-hour and Hannah Luke and Emma Lawton set Celtic on course for the last four before a late consolation from Hearts' Bayley Hutchison made it 4-3.

The other quarter-final tie between Montrose and Dundee United was abandoned.

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Rangers full-back Eilidh Austin has been named the SWPL player of the month for January.

The 20-year-old provided an assist in the 2-1 win over reigning champions Hibs and also helped Rangers to a 1-1 draw against leaders Glasgow City.

That made it eight league games unbeaten for Leanne Crichton's side, who are third in the table, five points behind City.

Rangers visit Partick Thistle in the Women's Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Calum Mackenzie/SWPL

The SWPL goes on pause this weekend and in its place, four intriguing Scottish Cup quarter-final ties await.

Juiciest is the all-SWPL tie between Hearts and Celtic, who are just two points apart in the league table.

The familiar foes have met once this season, in August, when Celtic were 2-1 winners. Last term they played each other four times and each won two.

There should be little to separate the sides again on Sunday at Oriam.

That's not the only all-SWPL tie of the weekend. Top-six hopefuls Partick Thistle host title challengers Rangers and are looking to cause an upset.

While Gary Holt's Thistle will be buoyed by their win at Montrose on Sunday - which kept their top-six hopes alive - Rangers are the holders and will be determined to defend their trophy.

There's an extra incentive for Thistle in this one too - revenge. Back in 2024, led by Brian Graham, the Glasgow club were on the wrong end of a 5-1 defeat in the SWPL Cup final to Rangers.

Elsewhere, Montrose host SWPL 2 side Dundee United while Glasgow City welcome the only Championship team left in the competition - Stenhousemuir.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Lee Gibson (Glasgow City): Although the City goalkeeper didn't keep a clean sheet, Gibson made an incredible save to deny Celtic a late winner.

Maddi Wilde (Celtic): The right-back was thrown on for her first Celtic appearance in the first half against league leaders Glasgow City after an injury to Emma Lawton but the 22-year-old didn't look fazed by the occasion. A solid debut as her side picked up a vital point.

Lana Golob (Glasgow City): A solid presence at the back for the league leaders and didn't do much wrong.

Li Mengwen (Rangers): A goal and an assist as Rangers thrashed Hamilton. Can't ask for much more from a defender.

Jenna Slattery (Hearts): The midfielder had a lot of fun for Hearts, scoring two and setting up another as her side thumped Aberdeen to move up to second in the table.

Isla Taylor (Partick Thistle): Scored what proved to be the winning goal against top-six rivals Montrose as the race for that remaining spot goes down to the final pre-split game.

Kirsty Morrison (Hibernian): Netted the opening goal and set up the other in Hibs' 2-0 win over Motherwell.

Maria McAneny (Celtic): The winger delivered a wonderful cross for the equaliser and was denied a spectacular free-kick goal by the palms of Lee Gibson. Her workrate was off the charts all afternoon.

Morgan Cross (Celtic): The striker scored the equaliser and didn't stop running until the final whistle, an important player for Grant Scott's side.

Carly Johns (Hearts): The opposite of her team-mate Slattery, Johns scored one and set up another two in an massive win for Hearts.

Laura Berry (Rangers): A first half hat-trick that included two goals in the space of a minute, how could she not make the team of the week?

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

This weekend marks the penultimate round of fixtures before the SWPL split - and there's plenty at stake.

After a draw with Rangers last time out - which trimmed their lead at the top to five points - Glasgow City face a Celtic side who have leapfrogged their Old Firm rivals to sit second.

City remain unbeaten in the league after 16 games, winning 13, and also secured their spot in next month's League Cup final against Rangers when they beat Hibernian last weekend.

Hearts, level on points with Celtic, are waiting to pounce. They host an Aberdeen side struggling in second bottom.

Elsewhere, a win for Montrose against Partick Thistle would secure their place in the top six. A victory for the visitors takes the race to the final day.

Rock-bottom Hamilton - with just two points from 16 outings - host title challengers Rangers while reigning champions Hibs are at home to Motherwell.

How to follow on BBC

Glasgow City v Celtic is live on BBC Alba - and the BBC Sport website and app - at 16:10 GMT on Sunday.

There will also be match reports from all five games on the BBC Sport website and app and you can watch highlights on Monday night on BBC Scotland from 19:30.

Image source, Getty Images

Glasgow City have signed England under-19 midfielder Maddy Earl on loan from Women's Super League side Arsenal until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old spent the first half of this season on loan with WSL 2 side Ipswich Town, having featured in England's second tier last term on loan at Bristol City and Sheffield United.

"Maddy is an impressive talent and we're pleased that she will spend the rest of the season with us," head coach Leanne Ross told club media.

"She is a player who possesses an attacking threat from the midfield and has good technical qualities, which suits the way that we want to play.

"We're looking forward to seeing the impact she has throughout the campaign."

Image source, Getty

Defender, Codie Thomas has joined Glasgow City on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

The full-back has featured four times for Manchester City since making her senior debut in October 2024 against St Polten in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

An injury in January 2025 meant the teenager wasn't able to add to her tally before the season's end, but she did come on as a late substitute in Manchester City's League Cup win over Everton in September.

The youngster's development will continue at Glasgow City, who currently sit top of the SWPL table having gone unbeaten so far this season.