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Sports

WSL academies: Can they improve to help homegrown talent?

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7 hours ago

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According to sources at WSL clubs, Bompastor’s comments are widely agreed with.

At the leading English clubs, players are developed by Professional Game Academies (PGA), funded and operated by the Football Association.

The FA first awarded 20 initial PGA licences to clubs in England’s two top tiers in 2023 as part of a major revamp.

From the 2028-29 season, WSL Football – the company that operates the Women’s Super League – will take over full responsibility.

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As well as the PGAs, lower-tier clubs often create partnerships with schools and colleges to form a local talent pool. They can also set up their own youth teams and academies but would not be part of a professional league.

The FA has linked up with Women’s National League clubs – the third tier – to provide funds and resources for developing young talent, as well as building connections with WSL sides who want to loan players out to clubs at that level.

Some academies have also been involved in the Women’s National League Cup and Plate competitions, and they can enter local Senior County Cup tournaments.

The maximum number of matches teams can play in a PGA league – competitions set up for age groups up to Under-21 level – has increased from 19 to 27 in the past five seasons.

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In summary, England’s youngsters are getting more game time and playing in a wider range of competitions – but it is not at the elite level.

There are gaps in the data but both the FA and WSL Football have confirmed the number of minutes played in the top tier by English academy graduates has dropped dramatically in recent seasons because of the increased competition for places.

Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz told BBC Sport it is “the biggest step a young player will take” when they break into a WSL squad.

“I can only look at our own academy and it is a big step to go from there to being a senior player, especially for clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City – teams who want to be competing in Europe,” he added.

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“What is the best solution to that? I don’t know. There definitely has to be some way to bridge that gap, whether that’s how they are training or [the] professional [environment].”

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Sports

“YOU’RE NOT A CHAMPION” – WWE official’s message to female star

Published

13 minutes ago

on

8 April 2026

By

WWE is on the Road to WrestleMania, and the company recently hosted another major premium live event. Meanwhile, NXT General Manager Robert Stone sent a message to a female star following the recent edition of NXT when demands were made on X.

Last year, Mariah May signed with the Stamford-based promotion and joined the developmental brand. May, now known as Blake Monroe, was one of the names to leave All Elite Wrestling and join WWE under the new regime. Before the end of the year, she captured the NXT Women’s North American Championship and lost it in December accidentally to Thea Hail.

After losing the title, Blake Monroe feuded with Jaida Parker and returned to the division for the title she wasn’t planned to drop in the first place. On the recent edition of WWE NXT, Monroe and The Vanity Project’s Jackson Drake defeated Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill in a mixed tag team match. The 27-year-old WWE star pinned the current NXT Women’s North American Champion for the win.

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Later, she uploaded a picture on X with a custom title and claimed in character that she’s now a two-time NXT Women’s North American Champion and demanded her side plates from the NXT General Manager. Robert Stone sent a message to Monroe and claimed she’s not a champion, stating it wasn’t a title match, which Monroe and Drake won on the show.

“YOU’RE NOT A CHAMPION,” Stone tweeted on X.

Monroe might’ve earned a title match against the champion, but the mixed tag team match was a non-title bout.

Blake Monroe lost at WWE Stand & Deliver 2026

Earlier this year, Izzi Dame won the NXT Women’s North American Championship from Thea Hail while she was in a feud with Tatum Paxley. Last year, Dame and The Culling turned on Paxley and cost her the NXT Women’s Championship against Jacy Jayne. The 29-year-old WWE star vowed to get revenge on her former on-screen family.

After Dame became the new champion, the title was inserted into her ongoing feud with Tatum Paxley. Later, Paxley won the title at NXT Vengeance Day and defended it against the former champion in a Steel Cage match and won. Later, she entered a feud with Blake Monroe, who stole the title in the weeks leading up to their match at Stand & Deliver.

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The biggest event of the developmental brand took place in Missouri, and Tatum Paxley defeated Blake Monroe in a title match. After the match, Monroe took an assist from The Vanity Project and pinned the champion in a mixed tag team match. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for both stars in the coming weeks.