Ahead of Barclays Women’s Super League fixture release day on Friday 25 July, we’re taking a look at each of West Ham United women’s team’s opponents for 2025/26. Today we’re analysing… Everton.
2024/25 campaign
In 2024/25, Everton ended the season eighth with six wins and six draws from their 22 matches under head coach Brian Sorensen, who penned a new two-year contract in April 2025.
Despite achieving their third-highest points tally in the Barclays Women’s Super League, Everton took a while to get going, not winning a match in all competitions until 17 November when they faced local rivals Liverpool.
Something had to give for the Toffees and three points finally arrived when Katja Snoeijs dispatched a penalty against the Reds at Goodison Park to secure a much-needed 1-0 victory.
Despite a loss to Tottenham Hotspur after their derby-day success, Everton made it two wins in three matches when they stunned high-flyers Manchester City before the Christmas break at Walton Hall Park. The Toffees stormed to a shock half-time lead thanks to goals from Lucy Hope and Honoka Hayashi, meaning Mary Fowler’s late penalty proved to be only a consolation.
Everton picked up where they left off after the break, going unbeaten in three of their next four matches in all competitions - the only loss coming against West Ham United women’s team at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Sorensen’s outfit would go on to pick up victories against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace as well as do the double over Liverpool after securing a 2-0 win at Anfield in their penultimate match of the campaign.
But the Reds did get a victory over Everton in the Subway® Women’s League Cup group stages as the Toffees failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, before they fell to an Adobe Women’s FA Cup defeat against eventual winners Chelsea in the round of 16.
Transfer business so far
Five incomings have arrived at Everton so far this summer.
They captured Spain U23 international Ornella Vignola from Liga F side Granada. The winger, 20, has also represented Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Japanese centre-half Rion Ishikawa has also made the move to Merseyside from Urawa Red Diamonds, which followed the addition of Dutch midfielder Rosa van Gool.
Most recently, they secured the loan signing of England international Katie Robinson, who joins for the season from fellow WSL side Aston Villa and the permanent arrival of Yuka Momiki, following the expiration of her contract at Leicester City.
Seven players departed Everton upon the expiration of their contracts: Karoline Olesen, Rikke Madsen, Maren Mjelde, Lauren Thomas, Sara Holmgaard, Heather Payne and Justine Vanhaevermaet.
One to watch: Kelly Gago
Fresh from penning a new three-year deal at the Toffees, striker Kelly Gago will look to build on what was a successful second half of the season on Merseyside.
After joining Everton from Nantes in January, the France international registered five goals and two assists from 12 matches in all competitions.
The former Sampdoria and Saint-Étienne forward starred when she netted a brace in Everton’s 4-1 victory over Leicester City in February and will been keen to show more of what she can do in the WSL next term.
Played for both: Honoka Hayashi
After joining from Swedish Damallsvenskan side AIK Fotboll, Japan international Hayashi might have only spent two seasons in Claret and Blue, but chalked up 50 appearances for West Ham and proved to be an ever-present figure in midfield.
Hayashi departed West Ham in the summer of 2024 after her contract expired and subsequently joined Everton. She featured in all-but one WSL match for the Toffees last term, scoring four league goals from midfield.
The 27-year-old netted what proved to be Everton’s winning goal in their 2-1 victory at home to Manchester City before the Christmas break, firing a low, right-footed strike beyond the dive of Khiara Keating before half-time.
Memorable meeting: West Ham 3-0 Everton, 2021/22
On a cold, January afternoon at Chigwell Construction Stadium in 2022, West Ham United women’s team stormed to a 3-0 success against visiting Everton.
It was Kateřina Svitková who gave the Hammers the lead as the game approached half-time, with the No10 capping off a neat move from close range after Lisa Evans’ cut-back.
Evans was at the heart of the second goal as well, unselfishly teeing up Dagný Brynjarsdóttir to make it two just before the hour mark, and striker Claudia Walker was on hand to sweep home a third at the death.
