York Valkyrie beat Leeds at Headingley to reach Women's Super League Grand Final

York Valkyrie defeated Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium in a Betfred Women's Super League play-off semi-final on 18 September 2026 to reach the Grand Final, with tries from Liv Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu securing the win.

Leon Pryce's side reached the semi-final after ending Wigan's 100 per cent record last week and beating Wigan 26-12 to book their place; Tara-Jane Stanley's return from a two-year injury absence had helped spark a run of four wins in their past five games.

York were on the front foot for much of the contest and opened the scoring when England prop Liv Wood forced her way over despite the attentions of three tacklers; Stanley's kicking game contributed throughout, and she added the conversion and kicked a penalty to give York breathing space at half-time.

Leeds, who had inflicted heavy defeats on York in the two regular-season meetings at home but arrived on the back of four straight losses, rallied in the second half; after Stanley had a try disallowed for a knock-on and Megan Pakulis was denied a try by a brilliant Ruby Bruce tackle, Georgia Elliston's try was disallowed for obstruction by a team-mate.

Stanley produced the decisive pass to send Adaoha Akwiwu over for York's second try, and when Ebony Stead fumbled as she went to touch down the home side's hopes of a late revival were ended.

Tries: O Wood, Akwiwu. Goals: Stanley 2. Leeds: Enright; Whitehead, Cousins, Boyd, Stead; Howard, Walker; Donnelly, Bennett, Naidole, Owen, Murray, Sykes. Interchanges: Bruce, Elliston, Brown, Glynn. York: Donovan; Kershaw, Woods, Lenham, Partington; Stanley, Williamson; O Wood, Peach, Pakulis, Akwiwu, Andrade, Parker. Interchanges: Bibby, Bell, A Wood, Brennan.

York Valkyrie will meet reigning Women's Super League champions Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final at the Brick Community Stadium on September 27; York's influential stand-off Tara-Jane Stanley will miss that match after failing a head injury assessment.