A Turning Point Season for West Ham United

Image: West Ham United Women’s 24/25 Squad. Credit: @westhamwomen on Instagram

West Ham United Women enjoyed a season of clear progress and record-breaking moments, rising from 11th last year to a 9th-place finish in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Their home form was a major highlight, with Dagenham turning into a fortress - just three teams managed to win there.

The Hammers set new Club records for most home WSL points and wins in a single season, and delivered their biggest-ever league victory with a remarkable 7-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace. In their seventh top-flight campaign, the team showed real signs of growth and momentum.

One standout game that captured West Ham’s growth this season came on Sunday 30 March, when they earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at title-chasing Chelsea.

After going two goals down, the Hammers showed resilience and belief, with Shekiera Martinez scoring just before half-time and again late on to equalise.

The result marked Chelsea’s only points dropped at home all season and served as a clear sign of West Ham’s progress under Rehanne Skinner.

Manager

The Hammers are led by Rehanne Skinner, who became the club’s first female manager in its full-time professional era in July 2023.

Bringing over a decade of coaching experience, Skinner has held key roles across club and international football - including assistant manager at Arsenal during their WSL title-winning years, head coach of England’s U19s and U23s, and manager of Tottenham Hotspur, where she secured a record fifth-place league finish.

In April, Skinner signed a one-year contract extension, keeping her at the club until the summer of 2026.

Stand Out Player

Shekiera Martinez has been a standout player for West Ham this season, playing a pivotal role in turning the team’s fortunes around.

After returning from a loan spell at SC Freiburg in January, the dynamic attacker made an immediate impact, scoring ten goals in just 12 WSL appearances.

Her performances earned her back-to-back WSL Player of the Month awards - making her the first Hammer to receive the honour - and the Barclays Women’s Super League Rising Star award.

Martinez marked her first WSL start with a goal against Everton, setting the tone for a breakout campaign in claret and blue.

Improvement for next season

Martinez has been a season-changer for West Ham, scoring ten goals in just 12 WSL games since January.

However, the team scored only 36 goals all season, highlighting a heavy reliance on her rather than a balanced, cohesive attacking strategy that needs to be developed next season.

The Hammers showed promise against top teams but suffered heavy defeats, including a 5–0 home loss to Chelsea and a 5–0 FA Cup exit to Liverpool.

With just one away win all season, improving consistency, especially on the road, is crucial for next year.