Manchester City Triumphs…

DAGENHAM, England — As blue ticker tape filled the air and “We Are the Champions” reverberated through West Ham United’s Victoria Road stadium, Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood proudly lifted the Women’s Super League (WSL) trophy, a title the club had been striving to reclaim for a decade.

City’s deserved victory over West Ham, which ended 4-1, confirmed their championship status, officially secured ten days earlier.

Greenwood dashed towards the traveling supporters, who made an impressive journey over 200 miles from Manchester for the 1 p.m. BST kickoff, proudly holding the trophy aloft while fans sang, “Walking in a Greenwood Wonderland.”

For Greenwood, who has committed the last six years to City, it was a poignant moment. The entire day was filled with emotion. Midfielder Grace Clinton, adorned in a blanket as a skirt, performed handstands and joyfully carried teammate Laura Blindkilde Brown on her shoulders across the confetti-strewn field, while vice-captain Kerstin Casparij shared heartfelt moments with family before rejoining the celebration.

Even USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey, using crutches after a minor knee operation, refused to let her injury hold her back from celebrating her first trophy with the club, which she joined in January.

City mathematically secured the WSL championship when Arsenal failed to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion on May 6, necessitating Arsenal to play three games in hand. In their first match since clinching the title, City received a guard of honor on the pitch, accompanied by bubble machines to elevate the atmosphere, despite the underwhelming surroundings at Victoria Road.

While there may be more glamorous venues where City would prefer to celebrate their league title, the scenes after the match illustrated that such details were insignificant. Players and staff reveled in sheer joy.

Let the celebrations begin! 🩵🙌 pic.twitter.com/DZ3xrld3e

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 16, 2026

Underneath the joyous champagne sprays and the medals draped around their necks, a sobering truth lingered: City might soon lose one of its key players.

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scored two goals to ensure the victory against West Ham as she basked in the cheer of the traveling fans, possibly for the last time in the WSL. The Jamaica international concluded the season with an impressive 21 goals, securing her third consecutive Golden Boot, finishing eight goals ahead of Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, who shared the honor with her last season.

Though Shaw’s departure on a free transfer this summer has yet to be officially confirmed, ESPN sources indicate she is likely to leave after failing to reach new terms with the club. If this happens, the FA Cup final against Brighton in two weeks may symbolize the conclusion of her five-year spell with City.

Shaw had expressed a desire to stay in Manchester and was on the verge of signing a new contract, but City’s inability to present competitive offers—one reportedly amounting to £1 million per year from Chelsea—has brought her closer to leaving. She even mentioned to Sky Sports amid the celebrations on the West Ham pitch, “Manchester is where I would want to be, but ultimately, we will see.”

This inner conflict seemed to reflect in her restrained celebrations. After netting her first goal—marking her 100th WSL goal involvement for City—Shaw stood in front of the fans, wearing a gentle smile and bowing her head in gratitude as her teammates rushed to embrace her. Her response to her second goal was similarly subdued.

Ultimately, it was City’s fourth goal that carried the most sentiment. Laura Coombs, who announced her retirement prior to the FA Cup semifinal, struck a remarkable shot over goalkeeper Kinga Szemik, marking her last WSL appearance after 19 illustrious years. Overcome with emotion, she was celebrated by her teammates.

By the final matchday, major questions in the league had already been settled: City had clinched the title, while Arsenal and Chelsea ensured their spots in the Champions League—last season’s champions had to settle for playoff qualifications due to Manchester United’s late-season collapse. Meanwhile, Leicester City faced relegation, landing in the playoffs against WSL 2’s Charlton.

In reality, the title competition never felt fierce. Though dubbed a race, it was a journey overwhelmingly dominated by one team. No other club genuinely contested the supremacy. However, City’s journey is not yet over. With an opportunity for a domestic double on the horizon, they are set for a critical FA Cup final at Wembley in two weeks.

The festivities will continue on Sunday, with supporters gathering with players and staff at Albert Hall for a promised night of celebration by manager Andree Jeglertz, returning to Manchester.

Few deserve this success more than the Swede, who has led City to the league title in his inaugural season in English football. He has rejuvenated City, restoring their champion status and sending a bold message to rivals for the upcoming season.