Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Emma Smith

@emmasmithbbc.bsky.social

1.9K followers 110 following 230 posts

Award-winning BBC Sport journo | Heard BBC World Service, BBC 5 Live, The Week Unwrapped | Seen BBC News, ABC News | Sports Journalism Association committee member | Manchester Laces goalkeeper coach

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 3d

136 days ago, Arsenal won the Women's Champions League.

Tonight, they begin their title defence against Lyon, who they so memorably beat in the semis last season.

Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead both start, follow the action here: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal vs Lyon LIVE: UEFA Women's Champions League LIVE - text, radio commentary, stats & head-to-head

Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Arsenal vs OL Lyonnes in the UEFA Women's Champions League

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 4d

EXCLUSIVE: Former WSL star Ashleigh Plumptre on life as a female footballer in Saudi Arabia, on:

- Feeling safer as a woman in Saudi than the UK
- Regrets at hurting LGBT friends and fans
- Initially turning the move down

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ashleigh Plumptre: 'I deeply hurt people by moving to Saudi Arabia'

In an interview with BBC Sport, Ashleigh Plumptre says she regrets losing the trust of some LGBT fans in women's football by moving to Saudi Arabia.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 6d

Nine games, nine defeats. Three goals scored, 24 conceded.

Just why have Liverpool and West Ham been so dire this season?

My WSL autopsy for BBC Sport.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool and West Ham: Nine games, nine losses for dire WSL bottom two

Nine games, nine defeats. Three goals scored, 24 conceded. The combined records of Liverpool and West Ham United in the Women's Super League make very bleak reading.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 6d

Anti-racism gestures in Sunday's WSL fixtures:

Spurs v Brighton - Spurs did not take knee, Brighton did
London City v Liverpool - both sides took knee
Leicester v Everton - both sides took knee
West Ham v Villa - both teams joined arms in centre circle

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Tottenham Hotspur: Taking the knee 'no longer feels meaningful'

Tottenham did not take the knee before Sunday's Women's Super League match because the anti-racism gesture

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 7d

Of all the decisions I've ever made, travelling to Macclesfield via rail replacement buses in a storm ranks as one of my worst.

But I'm here in one piece, ticking off another ground in Moss Rose for Macclesfield v. Marine in National League North.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 7d

Delighted to be back on BBC World Service tonight previewing the weekend's Premier League action alongside Lee James and John Bennett - in particular the various issues facing Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.

Have a listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Sport Today - 2025/10/03 GMT - BBC Sounds

BBC sports correspondents tell the story behind today's top sporting news, with interviews and reports from across the world.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 7d

Despite the best efforts of Storm Amy, second v first in the WSL is on tonight and should be a cracker.

I'm on the live text of Man Utd v Chelsea for BBC Sport, follow here: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Man Utd vs Chelsea LIVE: Watch WSL stream, text commentary, stats & head-to-head

Watch, follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Manchester United vs Chelsea in the Women's Super League.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks for talking about my feature on Christian Burgess! Yes the intro is a stretch, but the lure of talking about the World Wars was too strong for a British journalist like me.

Reposted by Emma Smith

twfp1.bsky.social @twfp1.bsky.social · 11d

Out now!

@catmackenzie048.bsky.social, Anne Butzelaar and @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social look back at

❌ Two points dropped for Arsenal

Solid showing for Manchester United.

🗣️Andre Jeglertz and Jocelyn Precheur post-match interviews

Forest Fire in WSL2.

open.spotify.com/episode/1ArA...

Under Precheur?

open.spotify.com

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 14d

Have Arsenal blown their WSL title bid already?

That might sound like overblown clickbait at first - but when chasing perfect Chelsea with a misfiring attack and predictable subs, there is truth behind the bluster.

Post #ARSAVL piece for BBC Sport

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal: With four points dropped, have the Gunners blown their WSL title bid already?

At first glance the question posed in the headline of this piece seems ridiculous, but scratch below the surface and there is substance.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 16d

Question: What does a trans girl need when the Progesterone really hits?

Answer:

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 19d

Delighted to be nominated on the Women's Football and EDI categories at the Football Content Awards 2025!

It's 50% based on fan votes, so please consider voting for me here - if you're a fan of my work, it would mean an awful lot: footballcontentawards.com/voting

FCAs Voting - Football Content Awards

footballcontentawards.com

Reposted by Emma Smith

Sophie Lawson @lawsonsv.bsky.social · 20d

Matt was a lovely bloke who really cared about his players, I don't know anyone who covered women's football in England who's ever had a bad word to say about him. Women's football is poorer for his passing.

Theo Lloyd-Hughes @theolloydhughes.bsky.social · 20d

sharing this devastating news from official channels elsewhere that Matt Beard has died suddenly at the age of 47. 🕯️

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 26d

Now confirmed - Chris Wilder returns to Sheffield United for his third spell as manager, 114 days and six Blades defeats after he oversaw their loss in the Championship play-off final. #bbcfootball

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 27d

- An AI-led recruitment strategy, now seemingly scrapped
- Irate fans calling for the manager to be sacked after one game
- Chris Wilder on the verge of returning for his third spell

The story of 113 days of chaos at Sheffield United

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Sheffield United: Inside 113 days of madness as Ruben Selles leaves

On 24 May, Sheffield United narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League. Now they are taking drastic action to avoid a Championship relegation fight.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · 27d

- An AI-led recruitment strategy, now seemingly scrapped
- Irate fans calling for the manager to be sacked after one game
- Chris Wilder on the verge of returning for his third spell

The story of 113 days of chaos at Sheffield United

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Sheffield United: Inside 113 days of madness as Ruben Selles leaves

On 24 May, Sheffield United narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League. Now they are taking drastic action to avoid a Championship relegation fight.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 10

"It's basically BMX in a wheelchair"

The WCMX World Championships start this weekend, and I spoke to Tomas Woods - a double champ aged 16 - about the para-sport turned viral sensation, and whether we will see it at the Paralympics.

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

WCMX: How 'BMX in a wheelchair' became online para-sport sensation

WCMX - short for wheelchair motocross - is the para-sport taking social media by storm. So what is it, and what is its future?

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 4

Sam Kerr will be in the Chelsea squad for their WSL opener tomorrow night against Man City, says manager Sonia Bompastor.
It would be Kerr's first appearance since January 2024 after 20 months out following a serious knee injury.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Sam Kerr: Chelsea striker could make first appearance after 20 months out with ACL injury

Sam Kerr could make her first Chelsea appearance for 20 months in the Women's Super League season opener against Manchester City on Friday.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 4

A pleasure to appear on 5 Live Sport last night to talk about my interview with Lauren James, and the new WSL minimum salary (17 minutes in, slightly iffy quality as I was calling in from a car park)

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

5 Live Sport - 03/09/2025 - BBC Sounds

Mark Chapman presents the day's sports news.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 4

No longer is WSL2 home to students, nurses and climbing centre employees. It is home to stars like Jordan Nobbs as the women's second tier goes fully professional for the first time.

Forget any romanticism, this is only a good thing.

#WSL #BBCFootball

www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

WSL2: 'Good for the game' as women's second tier goes fully professional

For the first time in the 2025-26 campaign, all 12 sides in the second tier will be fully professional after newly promoted Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town both went full-time over the summer.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 3

Exclusive: Chelsea star Lauren James opens up to BBC Sport

- Fans "too quick to judge" during struggles at Euro 2025
- She was unable to enjoy England's triumph due to injury
- "Relief" that other players miss penalties against Sweden amid racism fear

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Lauren James: England winger criticises fans as 'too quick to judge' at Euro 2025

Chelsea and England forward Lauren James has criticised fans as

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Sep 1

Exclusive: Newly promoted London City Lionesses would not be satisfied with a mid-table finish in WSL - and Kosovare Asllani says only breaking into the top four would represent a "good season".

#BBCFootball #WSL

www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Women's Super League: London City Lionesses captain Kosovare Asllani wants more than mid-table

London City Lionesses, promoted to the WSL for this season, are the first fully independent side in the competition's history, but captain Kosovare Asllani has big ambitions.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Aug 30

Things can't get any worse for Manchester United, can they?

Can they?!

I'm on the BBC Sport Premier League live text this afternoon, covering events at Old Trafford and around all the 3pm kick-offs.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Premier League LIVE: Chelsea vs Fulham - scores, radio & updates

Follow build-up to Chelsea v Fulham in the Premier League before five more games on Saturday, with radio commentaries, team news, live text and score updates as it happens.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Aug 24

Nuno Espirito Santo says he will not quit as Nottingham Forest manager - "It is absurd. Never."

But he would not guarantee he will still be in charge by the end of the transfer window - "I cannot answer that question."

Post-match fall-out from Palace 1-1 Forest

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Nuno Espirito Santo: Nottingham Forest boss says quit talk 'absurd' - but he may still leave

Nuno says he would never walk away from Nottingham Forest, but cannot guarantee he will be in charge come the end of the transfer window.

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Aug 24

At Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest today, where questions abound.

Will this be Nuno's final game?
How will Palace cope without Eze?
And just how bad is the blood between fans, players - and owners?

All this and more to be answered, follow the BBC Sport live text #BBCFootball

Emma Smith @emmasmithbbc.bsky.social · Aug 17

As far as first impressions go, Keith Andrews' debut as head coach was the equivalent of forgetting your name or spilling red wine on your carpet.

Analysis of Brentford's 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest for BBC Sport, which should worry every Bees fan.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Keith Andrews: New Brentford head coach makes poor first impression in Forest loss

As far as first impressions go, Keith Andrews' debut as a Premier League head coach was the equivalent of forgetting your name or spilling red wine on your carpet as his side suffer a 3-1 loss at Nott...