BWSL Defenders: Who to Sign in FM26
Standout defenders on the pitch and in Football Manager 26.
Welcome back to our Football Manager series. Last week, we looked at the best goalkeepers the Barclays Women's Super League and Women’s Super League 2 have to offer. This week, we are moving outfield for the first time in the series and starting at the back.
The BWSL has some of the best defenders in world football right now, and in FM26, that quality is clear. From elite ball-players to some of the most aggressive tacklers in the game, the defensive options in the database give FM managers a genuine array of profiles to build around.
In this piece, we are taking four of the most interesting defenders in the league, breaking down their standout FM26 attributes, and showing you exactly what those look like when it matters, on the pitch, under pressure.
Whether you are building a title-challenging side or just looking to shore up at the back, these are the defenders that could make a huge difference to your save.
Just a reminder that the WSL Football FM competition is still open. WSL Football has teamed up with Football Manager to give you the chance to win a version of Football Manager 26 and a pair of tickets to a Barclays Women's Super League match of your choice. The competition closes on Friday, 1st May at 5 pm, so do not leave it too late.
Click here to enter.
Let's get into it.
Alex Greenwood
Alex Greenwood is one of the most complete defenders in the BWSL. The Manchester City captain can play at centre-back or left-back, and, depending on how managers deploy her, they get a slightly different but equally valuable player.
At centre-back, she is the organiser, the one who drives the ball out from the back and switches play with a quality that most midfielders would be proud of. Play her at left back, and that Crossing rating of 15 becomes a weapon going forward as well.
Greenwood brings experience, leadership, and technical quality that stands out among defenders at any level. Her Passing is rated 19 in FM26, Technique 18, and Leadership 19. For England and Manchester City, she sets the standard, and in FM, she is one of the most versatile and technically gifted defenders in the entire database.
Greenwood's Passing rating is not just the highest among defenders in the BWSL; it’s the highest of almost any player in the league, regardless of position. This moment illustrates what that looks like in practice.
Her teammate is looking to make a run in behind the opposition defence, and Greenwood spots it early. The pass isn’t a simple one; it has to be weighted precisely, played into space rather than to feet, and timed so she can run onto it. Greenwood gets all of that right, and Manchester City are in behind before the opposition can recover.
Her vision to see the run is key here, combined with the technique to execute it, and the composure to do it under pressure. Her numbers this season back that up. This season, she is averaging 55.31 passes per 90 at 84.5% accuracy, with 8.71 progressive passes per 90. For a defender, those are extraordinary figures, and they tell you exactly why FM managers who deploy her correctly will get something very different from a conventional defender.
If you opt to utilise Greenwood as a left back, her Crossing rating of 15 becomes a very useful attacking threat.
Here, Greenwood receives the ball on the left and delivers a cross into the box for Bunny Shaw. She doesn’t just play a hopeful ball into the mixer; it’s precise, weighted perfectly, and placed exactly where Shaw needs it to be.
The Manchester City captain picks her spot, executes, and gives her striker the best possible chance of scoring. This is a key element of what makes her such a valuable option at left back as well as centre-back.
For all the attention her distribution attracts, Greenwood is not a defender who needs the ball to make an impact. Deployed at left back for much of the season, she has faced some of the most dangerous wide players in the league week to week, and her Tackling and Marking, both rated 16 in FM26, tell you she is more than capable of handling that challenge.
This example against Ellie Carpenter is a good illustration of what defensive intelligence looks like at this level. Carpenter is quick, direct, and difficult to contain when she gets running. The instinct for many defenders in that situation is to dive in to try and win the ball early. Greenwood doesn’t do that. She stays on her feet, tracks the run patiently, and forces Carpenter down the line rather than inside. By the time the cross comes in, Greenwood is in an optimal position to block it and deal with the danger.
Whether she lines up at centre-back or left-back, Greenwood offers FM managers a multitude of attributes. She can pass, cross, defend, and lead. In FM26, she is one of the best defenders in the BWSL database and would improve any defence.
Naomi Girma
The Chelsea and United States international is the best pure defender in the BWSL in FM26, and her attribute profile makes that case before any footage is watched.
Her Tackling is rated 18, the highest of any outfield player in the league, and her Marking and Composure are 19. She is a centre-back who wins duels, reads the game early, and rarely puts a foot wrong. At 25, she is already one of the most complete defenders in world football, and would be a fantastic signing in any FM26 save.
Girma’s Marking rating of 19 is not just about standing next to an opponent in the box and winning headers. It’s about the willingness to do the unglamorous work, whether it be tracking runners, staying tight, or refusing to give an opponent a moment of space even when the ball is far away.
In this instance, an Everton player makes a run back into her own half, and Girma goes with her. There is no switching off, no letting the run go and trusting a teammate to pick it up. She stays tight all the way, gives her opponent no opportunity to turn, and when the moment arrives, she gets a foot in and turns the ball over for Chelsea.
This looks simple and is the kind of defensive action that doesn’t always make the highlights, but it is the kind that wins games.
Girma is not the quickest defender in the BWSL, but she possesses a fair amount of pace, which allows her to be on hand to provide cover for her teammates. Her Positioning and Anticipation, rated at 17 and 15 in FM26, mean she is almost always in the right place before the danger develops, and this example against Liverpool shows exactly how that works in practice.
Liverpool look to play a ball in behind the Chelsea defence, as there is space to run into, and as a result, they would be in an optimal crossing position. Girma is not caught flat-footed. She reads the pass before it is played, is already moving as the ball leaves the boot, and gets there first to clear the danger before it becomes anything else.
Girma's defensive work is not limited to tracking runners and winning duels. A large part of what makes her so difficult to play against is her ability to read the game and cut out danger before it develops.
Here, an opponent looks to play a pass through the Chelsea defensive line, aiming to find a forward in space. Girma has already positioned herself perfectly; she’s ready not just to intercept the pass, but also to provide cover for Carpenter if required. She steps into the passing lane, cuts out the ball, and in doing so simultaneously deals with the immediate threat and protects the space that Carpenter has vacated.
Her Positioning, rated at 17 in FM26, is what makes that possible. The real-life numbers back it up, too. She’s averaging 6.67 PAdj interceptions per 90, among the best of any centre-back in the league, showing a defender who wins the ball back by being exactly where she needs to be.
Emily Fox
Emily Fox is a different kind of defender entirely. The Arsenal right back is one of the quickest defenders in the BWSL, with Pace and Acceleration both rated at 17 in FM26, and she uses that speed to get forward down the flank for her team.
Her Crossing is rated at 16, and Determination at 18, offering FM managers the profile of an attacking fullback who will cover every blade of grass and still have enough left to deliver a dangerous ball into the box.
Fox's pace is the attribute that defenders fear most, but it is how she uses it that makes her so difficult to contain. This example against Chelsea shows the combination of attributes that makes her such an effective attacking outlet.
She plays a quick one-two on the right flank, using her teammate to bypass the Chelsea defender in a single move. The give-and-go takes her marker out of the game entirely, and suddenly Fox has the space she needs. She accelerates into it immediately, reaches the optimal crossing position, giving Arsenal the chance to threaten from wide.
Fox is not just an attacking threat going forward, though. This example against Manchester United shows what she brings when Arsenal are looking to play out from the back under pressure.
A United attacker moves to close her down in the defensive third, looking to force an error and win the ball in a dangerous area. Fox does not panic and does not go long. She decides to use her pace to create an initial yard of space, drives past the press with the ball at her feet, and uses her strength to hold off the challenge as she goes by.
Her Dribbling, rated at 13 in FM26, is solid for a defender; combined with her Pace and Composure, give her the tools to do that under pressure. For a side like Arsenal, who want to play through the press rather than around it, Fox is a significant asset.
This season, she is averaging 1.95 dribbles per 90 and 2.8 progressive runs per 90; these are numbers that show a fullback who is consistently driving forward and making things happen with the ball at her feet.
The United States international may be a key part of the Arsenal attack, but it’s important to note that she never switches off defensively. This example shows the other side of her Determination rating of 18; the willingness to do the hard work when the ball is lost, and the situation demands it.
Tottenham are looking to reach the byline and deliver a cross. Fox has ground to make up, but she uses her speed to track the run and, without going to ground, forces the opponent away from the crossing position, recovering possession. The potential danger is dealt with cleanly, and Arsenal regain possession.
She gets forward, but she gets back too, and she does both at a level that very few fullbacks in the BWSL can match.
Maya Le Tissier
Maya Le Tissier is only 24, but she is already one of the most complete young centre-backs in English football. The Manchester United and England defender has built her reputation on being exceptionally difficult to play against.
In FM26, her Heading rating is 18, the highest of any outfield player in the league. Her Marking is rated 17, and Positioning at 17, indicating she is a centre-back who dominates in the air, reads the game intelligently, and has the technical quality to play out from the back as well. For FM managers looking for a long-term defensive cornerstone, Le Tissier is one of the most exciting options in the database.
The Heading rating is certainly the standout number in Le Tissier's profile. Here, we can see it in action.
A cross comes into the box, and Bunny Shaw is looking to attack it. Le Tissier watches the flight of the ball, maintains her position, and ensures the Manchester City striker cannot get the run she needs. By the time the ball arrives, Le Tissier is already above her, winning the header cleanly and clearing the danger before Shaw gets anywhere near it.
She has tracked Shaw's movement, positioned herself to block the run, and timed her jump perfectly. Bunny Shaw is one of the most dangerous forwards in the BWSL, and Le Tissier makes dealing with her look straightforward on this occasion.
In FM terms, this is her Heading (18) and Positioning (17) working together. This season, she’s winning 72% of her 2.38 aerial duels per 90, hence why Manchester United trust her to deal with the most dangerous aerial threats in the league every week.
Le Tissier is not just a defensive centre-back. Her Passing is rated at 16 in FM26 and her Technique at 15, and this is a great example of what it looks like when she is given the opportunity to get on the ball and play forward.
A runner makes a move down the right channel, and Le Tissier spots it early. The pass has to travel a long distance, be weighted precisely, and beat the West Ham defensive line to be of any use. Le Tissier gets it right, the ball finds its target, and Manchester United have advanced into the attacking third in the blink of an eye.
She is a centre-back who can do more than defend. Her progressive passing numbers this season are remarkable for someone playing in the heart of a back four. The Manchester United captain is averaging 69.34 passes per 90 at 88.06% accuracy, with 10.85 progressive passes per 90. For a centre-back, those are very strong numbers, showing she’s not just recycling possession but consistently driving play forward and finding runners in behind with real conviction and quality.
At 24, there is plenty of development still to come, and FM managers who sign her now will get a defender who only gets better. Le Tissier is the kind of centre-back who makes a good defence great.
Conclusion
In this piece, we have looked at four defenders with four very different profiles, all of whom offer excellent reasons to add them to your FM26 shortlist.
Greenwood is the complete defender who gives managers flexibility and a ball-playing centre-back who becomes an attacking weapon at left-back. Girma is the best pure defender in the league, a centre-back who dominates through intelligence and positioning as much as physicality. Fox is the modern attacking wingback, quick, tireless, and dangerous in the final third, while Le Tissier rounds out the group as the aerial powerhouse who can also play, a young defender with numbers that would make a midfielder envious.
The BWSL has some of the best defensive talent in world football right now, and FM26 captures that.
Next time, we head back into the BWSL 2 and turn our attention to the defenders. We will look at their standout FM26 attributes, show how they play out in real game situations, and highlight the players you need to know about, whether you are managing in the second tier or looking to strengthen from it. Stay tuned.
Don't forget, the WSL Football FM competition is still open. WSL Football has teamed up with Football Manager to give you the chance to win an exclusive FM goodie bag and a pair of tickets to a Barclays Women's Super League match of your choice. The competition closes on Friday, 1st May at 5 pm, so do not leave it too late.
Click here to enter.
