West Ham United Women v Chelsea
Barclays Women’s Super League, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Wednesday 17 May, 8:15pm BST
West Ham United Women take on Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) Champions Chelsea on Wednesday evening as they head into their final three games of the 2022/23 campaign.
Paul Konchesky’s side continue their search for their first WSL victory of the calendar year and are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.
The Blues travel across London to Dagenham as they continue to play catch up on Manchester United – a win for Emma Hayes’ team would see them go top of the standings heading into the final two league games.
Here’s everything you need to know about our penultimate home match of the season.
Tickets...
Tickets for the clash against the Blues are available to purchase online now!
A limited number of tickets also be available from the Ticket Office at Chigwell Construction Stadium on the day, priced from as little as £13 for Adults and £5 for Juniors!
How to follow…
Wednesday's fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League & Sky Sports Showcase.
You can also follow the action across our social media channels, while highlights and exclusive reactions will follow after the final whistle on whufc.com.
Travel...
Fans attending Wednesday evening's fixture at Chigwell Construction Stadium should note that parking is not available at the ground, so supporters are advised to make use of public transport.
If you are driving to the ground from the north, leave the M25 at Junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end of the M11 continue onto the A406 towards Docklands (A13) and London City Airport. At the intersection with the A13, turn onto this road in the direction of the Dartford Crossing.
At the junction with the A1306, leave the A13 and join the A1306 towards Dagenham. At the third set of traffic lights turn left just before the McDonalds into Ballards Road. At the end of this road, you will come to a large roundabout.
Turn left and proceed up Rainham Road South, passing Dagenham East tube station on the left and Victoria Road is a quarter of a mile further on, on the same side of the road.
If driving to the ground from the south, leave the M25 at Junction 31 and take the A13 towards Central London. Exit the A13 onto the slip road, signposted Dagenham/Dagenham East. At the end of the slip road at the double roundabout turn right, then go under the A13. At the T-junction turn left onto the A1306. At the second set of lights turn right onto the B178.
At the end of this road you will come to a large roundabout. Turn left and proceed up Rainham Road South, passing Dagenham East tube station on the left and Victoria Road is a quarter of a mile further on, on the same side of the road.
Supporters are advised to check their journeys before travel, with resources such as TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app helping to plan your journey.
Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website to plan their journey if travelling on the rail network.
Team News…
Konchesky will be without Jess Ziu for the home fixture against Chelsea, with the Republic of Ireland winger continuing with her recovery from her Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury that she sustained against London City Lionesses in October 2022.
Abbey-Leigh Stringer is also a doubt for the fixture against the Blues, with the holding midfielder not featuring in the WSL since early February.
16-year-old Academy graduate Princess Ademiluyi was handed her debut in Claret & Blue in the defeat to Brighton last week, and could feature in the first-team squad again on Wednesday.
The Opposition
Chelsea are on the hunt to retain their WSL crown.
The Blues are a stern opponent, of course. The recently crowned FA Cup winners, following a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, have the reputation, form and quality of one of the best teams across the globe.
With three straight Barclays Women’s Super League titles, Hayes’ side has continued the run of impressive form – and trophies - into 2022/23. Sam Kerr’s winner brought the FA Cup, but the Blues are also hot on the heels of current leaders Manchester United. Should Emma Hayes’ side win their game in hand against the Hammers, the Blues would move two points clear of the Red Devils at the top of the WSL.
In the UEFA Women’s Champions League, it looked to be more of the same too. Before falling to FC Barcelona at the semi-final stage, Chelsea topped their Women’s Champions' League Group, which also featured Paris Saint-Germain Féminines and Real Madrid Femenino, with six wins from six fixtures. They then beat defending champions Olympique Lyonnais Féminin to reach the last four.
West Ham and Chelsea have met twice already this season. A Conti Cup semi-final saw Chelsea progress to a final, but they would lose 3-1 to Arsenal, while the Blues also edged the WSL meeting between the sides back in September last year, despite West Ham captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir scoring the opening goal with a neat header after two minutes.
The Hammers will hope to hold onto any lead tonight and seek to beat Chelsea for the first time in the WSL era.
