Rehanne Skinner has named her first starting line-up of 2025, which sees Kirsty Smith set for her 50th Barclays Women’s Super League appearance in Claret and Blue, for the visit of Chelsea.
The Scotland international joined the Hammers from Manchester United in the summer of 2022 and played in every WSL fixture in her first two seasons at the Club.
A shoulder injury delayed the start to her 2024/25 campaign, but the full-back has fought back to full fitness to restore her position as an important member of Skinner’s squad - and is set to achieve her landmark appearance for Sunday’s London derby against Sonia Bompastor’s outfit.
Smith’s inclusion is the only change to the side that fell to defeat at Villa Park before the Christmas break, as she replaces Manuela Paví in the starting XI.
That means Kinga Szemik is set to start her eleventh successive WSL clash and will be supported by what is likely to be a back five in front of her, containing Anouk Denton, Shelina Zadorsky, Amber Tysiak, Li Mengwen and Smith.
The reliable, ever-present midfield pairing of skipper Katrina Gorry and Oona Siren once again start from the off for the Hammers, with the former looking to add to the three league goals she has chalked up already this term.
And looking to cause the Chelsea backline problems at Chigwell Construction Stadium are Viviane Asseyi, Seraina Piubel and Riko Ueki.
Should Skinner look to add more attacking firepower to her side, she could hand Shekiera Martinez her first appearance in Claret and Blue, as the forward is named in a West Ham matchday squad for the first time after returning from her loan at SC Freiburg.
Striker Princess Ademiluyi also returned to the women’s team earlier this month following her loan at Charlton Athletic, and could play her first minutes for the Hammers since May, as she joins Martinez as one of the manager’s attacking threats on the bench.
Also on the substitutes' bench are Megan Walsh, Shannon Cooke, Camila Sáez, Marika Bergman Lundin, Halle Houssein, Emma Harries and Paví.
West Ham United: Szemik, Denton, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Mengwen, Smith, Siren, Gorry ©, Piubel, Asseyi, Ueki
Subs: M. Walsh (GK), Sáez, Cooke, Bergman Lundin, Houssein, Harries, Paví, Martinez, Ademiluyi
Chelsea: Hampton, Bright ©, Nüsken, Ramírez, Cuthbert, Macario, Björn, Baltimore, Charles, Bronze, Beever-Jones
Subs: Mušović (GK), Reiten, Lawrence, Périsset, Rytting Kaneryd, Hamano, Mpomé, Jean-François, Bernabé
Referee: Amy Fearn
