2026 brings with it change for York Valkyrie as they prepare to enter a new era under head coach Leon Pryce.
And though the 2025 campaign ultimately ended with the Valkyrie losing their Women’s Super League crown, there were plenty of positives during the final year of Lindsay Anfield’s reign.
From a first match in the North East to trailblazing a path for African players to make their mark in the UK, we take a look back at their 2025 season.
APRIL
The Valkyrie returned to action for the first time since their Grand Final triumph, picking up where they left off with a 56-0 thrashing of Women’s Super League rivals Huddersfield Giants in the Women’s Challenge Cup group stages.
Eboni Partington bagged a hat-trick and both Tamzin Renouf and debutant Jazz Rampton doubles in a dominant display at Laund Hill that also saw captain Sinead Peach back on the field for 60 minutes following the birth of her son.
Savannah Andrade then starred with a hat-trick as Anfield’s side cruised into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, beating Featherstone Rovers 54-6 in their home opener at the LNER.
And a spot in the semi-finals was soon secured with a 52-0 win over newly-promoted Leigh Leopards, despite York playing just over 50 minutes with 12 players after Jess Sharp was sent off for an alleged bite. The young prop was found not guilty at tribunal, and no further action was taken.
MAY
Canadian loose forward Megan Pakulis left the Valkyrie to join NRLW side Gold Coast Titans after having been one of the club’s most influential players in 2024, with the arrival of former England and Leeds Rhinos forward Zoe Hornby a timely one.
York’s Challenge Cup semi-final woes continued as they missed out on a maiden trip to Wembley, St Helens gaining revenge for their Grand Final defeat with a 10-6 win at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
A Faye Gaskin penalty and converted Shona Hoyle try saw the hosts open up an 8-0 lead before York hit back through Rhiannion Marshall, but a late Zoe Harris penalty proved enough to send Saints through to another final under the famous arch.
Things didn’t get much better as the Valkyrie began their Women’s Super League title defence with a 40-6 loss at eventual treble-winners Wigan Warriors. Andrade scored York’s only try on a miserable evening in front of the Sky Sports cameras that also saw Renouf stretchered from the field.
Anfield’s side did get off the mark in their next league outing against Yorkshire rivals Leeds, a Tara Moxon double inspiring a battling 24-16 win on their return to the LNER.
JUNE
St Helens heaped more misery on the Valkyrie with a second win in three weeks, fighting back to triumph 16-12. Converted tries from Kira Fitzpatrick and Emma Kershaw twice put the hosts in front, before Naomi Williams struck late to seal victory for Saints.
French prop Sarah Menaa came through the doors from Catalans Goddesses, making her debut in a much-changed side that earned a 26-0 win over Leigh. Charlotte McDaid and T’Leesha Frederick-Maynard both stepped up from the club’s Under 19s, whilst Agnes Wood made her first appearance from dual registration partners Sheffield Eagles.
Captain Peach then saved the day for the Valkyrie as they fought back to a 24-20 victory over Huddersfield, before the month ended on a high with a dominant 70-0 victory over Warrington Wolves, Kershaw, Renouf, Evie Sexton and Izzy Bibby all scoring twice in the 12-try rout.
JULY
More history was made as York signed Ugandan trailblazer Peace Lekuru, who became the first woman from the African nation to join a Women’s Super League club, whilst Adoaha Akwiwu also made the move to the Minster city after a spell in rugby union.
The pair both made their debuts in a 28-4 victory over Leigh.
Anfield’s side then made it five wins in a row as they eased to a 58-0 win over Barrow Raiders, winger Lekuru firmly announcing herself on the UK stage with a second-half hat-trick.
A 26-6 win over Huddersfield followed. Kershaw, Wood, Ellie Williamson, Lekuru and Jas Bell were on the scoresheet, with former Valkyrie back Eva Izumi replying for the Giants.
AUGUST
York earned their biggest win of the season, beating strugglers Warrington 86-0. It was a one-sided affair, with the hosts having racked up an impressive 48-point lead by the interval.
Andrade starred with a hat-trick, whilst Kershaw, Partington and Marshall all scored two apiece against the division’s bottom side.
But it was later that month that the Valkyrie perhaps gained their most impressive victory, beating champions-elect Wigan 32-10 at Blaydon RUFC in what was the first Women’s Super League game to be played in the North East.
Inflicting a first defeat of the season on the Warriors, four first-half tries built the foundation for York, who dug deep in the second half to hold on for a memorable win and avenge their opening-day defeat.
However, their eight-match winning run came to an end in an 18-8 loss at St Helens, the hosts getting the better of the Valkyrie for the third time in a game in which chances were at a premium.
A late Phoebe Hook double handed Saints victory inside the final 10 minutes, but the game will likely be remembered for Peach’s late X-rated jibe at the referee, which went viral on social media and saw her receive a red card and four-match ban.
SEPTEMBER
York secured a third-placed finish with a 48-6 win at Barrow, during which Under 19s players Ruby Ellis and Liv Turner were handed their debuts. Wood and Bibby both scored twice in Cumbria.
However, the regular season came to a disappointing end with a 30-14 defeat against Leeds at Headingley.
The hosts proved too much for the Valkyrie to overcome despite Georgie Dagger, Lekuru and Andrade scoring in a second-half comeback.
Anfield’s side set up a play-off semi-final at St Helens, where their reign as Women’s Super League champions came to an end as they were beaten 12-8. With the sides scoring two tries apiece, missed conversions proved costly for the Valkyrie, who were narrowly edged out in a tense finale.
OCTOBER
Anfield stepped down as director of rugby following a hugely successful four years in charge, leaving a legacy that will be hard to eclipse.
Rugby league legend Pryce was appointed as her successor, ushering the club into a new era.
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