Barclays WSL 2 Defenders: The FM26 Guide
The BWSL2 Defenders to sign on Football Manager 26.
Welcome back to our FM series! Last time out, we looked at the best defenders the English top flight has to offer. This week, we are heading back into the Barclays Women’s Super League 2, and as we found with the goalkeepers, the quality in the second tier is well worth your attention.
From an up-and-coming central defender to an Irish international who has been one of the most consistent performers in the division, the BWSL 2 has some standout defensive profiles in FM26. We are taking four of them, breaking down their key attributes, showing you what they look like in reality, and making the case for why you should sign each in your FM save.
Whether you’re managing in the second tier or raiding it for your first team, these are the defenders you need to know about.
Before we begin, 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 copy of Football Manager 26 and a pair of tickets to a Barclays Women's Super League match of your choice. The competition closes today at 5 pm.
Click here to enter.
Aoife Mannion
Aoife Mannion might not be the first name FM managers gravitate towards when scanning the BWSL 2 database, but the Newcastle and Republic of Ireland international is one of the most interesting centre-back profiles in the division.
At 30, she brings experience, leadership, and a level of composure on the ball that would be useful in any save. Her Leadership is rated at 17, Work Rate at 17, and Concentration at 15, giving you the profile of a defender who keeps those around her organised and rarely switches off.
Mannion's Passing and Decisions, rated at 11 and 13 in FM26, might not leap off the screen, but what she does with the ball in practice tells a different story entirely.
Here, with Newcastle looking to break quickly against Sheffield United, Mannion receives the ball in her own half and spots the run immediately. The pass has to split the Sheffield United defence and land precisely enough for her teammate to run onto without breaking stride. She gets it right, and as a result, her teammate is through one-on-one.
This season, she is averaging 14.31 progressive passes per 90 at 76.25%, with 10.19 long passes per 90. These are numbers that show a centre-back who is not just moving the ball safely but consistently trying to hurt the opposition with it.
For all the attention her distribution attracts, Mannion is first and foremost a defender, and this example against Durham shows what her defensive intelligence looks like in practice.
Newcastle are vulnerable to a counter, and Durham play the ball up to their forward. The easy option for a centre-back in that moment is to drop off and wait. Mannion does not do that. She gets tight immediately, understanding the risk of being turned, she uses her body position to take away the turn, and gives the Durham forward absolutely no option but to play it back. The danger is contained, and her teammates have time to recover their shape.
This shows her ability to read the situation quickly, get into the right position before the forward can exploit the space, and ensure they cannot create a goalscoring opportunity. Mannion does all of that, and Newcastle are better for it.
Mannion is not a defender who waits for danger to come to her. This example against Sunderland shows the more aggressive side of her defensive game, and it’s a side that her duel win rate backs up emphatically.
A loose ball drops in the attacking half, and Mannion makes sure she is first to it. There’s no hesitation; she steps in, wins the 50/50 with conviction, and Newcastle have possession back in a dangerous area of the pitch. This might be a simple action, but it’s the kind that can change the momentum of a game.
Her Tackling and Marking, both rated at 13, are solid in FM26, but don’t tell the full story here. What this moment shows is a defender who is always on the front foot and has the confidence to step out and win it rather than sitting back and absorbing pressure.
Aoife Mannion is the kind of centre-back who organises, leads, and wins her duels. FM managers who do their homework will find one of the most complete defenders in the BWSL 2 database. She is well worth adding to your shortlist.
Gemma Lawley
Gemma Lawley is only 22, but she has established herself as one of the most reliable centre-backs in the BWSL 2 this season. The Bristol City defender is a solid defensive proposition in FM26.
The key defensive attributes are where she stands out. Heading and Marking are both rated at 15, her Tackling at 14, and her Strength at 14. She’s a centre-back who wins her headers, wins her duels, and makes life as difficult as possible for forwards who try to play through her. For FM managers who want a dependable, physical presence at the heart of their defence, Lawley is one of the best options the division has to offer.
Lawley's defensive game is built on reading situations early and ensuring they never escalate into something more dangerous.
Here, Newcastle build down the right and play a runner in behind the Bristol City defensive line. Lawley recognises the danger, comes across to cover, and gets into the right position to force the Newcastle player wide. She doesn’t dive in. She stays on her feet, shepherds the runner down the line, and makes absolutely sure she cannot cut inside. The centre defender is perfectly positioned to block the cross and limit the danger.
This is her Positioning and Marking working together. She reads the run and covers the space, making the right decision at every stage. It looks simple because she has made it simple, and that’s why she’s such a reliable centre back.
Lawley's positional awareness is not just about covering runners. This example against Charlton shows how it works when the danger comes through the middle rather than down the flanks.
Charlton look to play through Bristol City's defensive block, and a midfielder picks out a pass intended for the forward making the run in behind. Lawley reads the pass before it’s played, positions herself in the passing lane, and intercepts cleanly before it can reach the attacking forward.
Her Positioning, rated 14 in FM26, makes that possible. She doesn’t need to react because she’s already anticipated the pass. This season, her PAdj Interceptions figure stands at 7.15, showing a centre-back who is consistently in the right place to cut out danger rather than having to deal with it after the fact.
Lawley's aerial ability is not built on physical dominance alone, and we can see that here.
A long ball is played forward, and the Forest attacker gets up well, jumping higher than Lawley in the challenge. On paper, the aerial duel should go to the attacker. However, the Bristol City defender’s timing is perfect, and she reads the flight of the ball, allowing her to win the header cleanly despite being outjumped.
A Heading rating of 15 in FM26 actually isn’t just about how high a player can jump. It is about knowing when to jump, where to position the body, and how to attack the ball at exactly the right moment. Lawley gets all of that right, and her aerial duel win rate of 71.43% per 90 this season shows this is not a one-off; it’s a consistent part of her game where she excels.
At 23, there is plenty of development still to come, and FM managers who bring her in now will get a centre-back who only gets better. In FM26, her profile is exactly what it says on the tin: a reliable, physical presence who will make your defence harder to play through.
Rebecca Holloway
The Birmingham City and Northern Ireland international is someone who does the right thing at both ends of the pitch, consistently, and makes her side better for it. At 29, she is one of the more experienced players in the BWSL 2, and in FM26, her profile reflects that.
Her Determination and Stamina are both rated at 15, Heading at 15, and Pace at 14, giving her the profile of an attacking fullback who covers ground, wins her battles, and keeps calm under pressure.
Holloway's attacking game is about astute movement rather than raw pace, and this example shows us how she uses that to get into dangerous positions.
The wide player draws the opposition fullback out wide, creating the space that Holloway has already spotted. She times her run perfectly, underlapping into the channel, and receives the ball before moving into an optimal crossing position. The cross is good, finds her teammate, and Birmingham have a chance to threaten.
This is her Determination and Off The Ball working together. She has read the situation before the ball is even played, committed to the run at exactly the right moment, and executed a cross into the box.
This season, she’s averaging 3.05 crosses per 90, showing how attack-minded she is and that she’s a fullback consistently getting into positions to deliver with intent. For a player whose primary role in FM26 is Wing-Back, this attacking output is a significant part of what makes her worth signing.
Holloway never stops working defensively, and this example against Crystal Palace shows the other side of her Determination rating of 15.
Palace play a ball in behind the Birmingham defensive line, designed to find a forward running into the box. On paper, the forward should get there first, but Holloway has other ideas. She reads the cross early, uses every bit of pace she has to get across, and intercepts before the forward can get a touch. She has to work extremely hard to be in that position, and her Determination is what gets her there.
Her PAdj Interceptions figure of 5.84 this season shows a fullback who is regularly getting into these positions and cutting out danger before it develops. She gets forward, but she never stops thinking about what happens when Birmingham don’t have the ball.
When Birmingham lose the ball, the counter press is a key part of how the side works without possession, and Holloway plays a key role in making it function.
This example against Sheffield United shows why. United look to play out down their right, and Holloway is onto the opponent immediately. She gets tight, gives her no time to turn, and applies enough pressure to force an error and recover possession in Birmingham's attacking third. The pressure works because Holloway fully commits to it, her Pace gets her there quickly enough to make it a contest, and her Determination makes sure she sees it through.
It is a small moment in a game, but it allows Birmingham to regain the ball in a dangerous area, and it is down to Holloway refusing to let her opponent play.
The Birmingham fullback is at the peak of her powers, and in FM26, her profile makes her a reliable option for any BWSL 2 side. If you are building a promotion push, she is exactly the kind of player you want in your squad.
Ebba Hed
The Nottingham Forest and Sweden under-23 international is defined by her intelligence, her positioning, and her ability to connect defence and attack through smart, progressive passing.
In FM26, her Vision, Decisions, Passing and Anticipation are all rated at 14, showing she is a defender who reads the game well and uses the ball effectively. For FM managers who want their fullbacks to be tactically disciplined and two-sided, Hed is the ideal option.
Here, she receives the ball in her own half with space ahead of her. The instinct for many attacking fullbacks in this situation is to carry the ball, use the space, and drive forward. Hed has already spotted the run in behind the Durham defensive line, and rather than taking the easy option, she plays the pass over the top for her forward to run onto.
In FM terms, this is a good example of her Vision 14 and Decisions 14 working together. She sees the picture earlier than most players would, and has the composure to execute the right pass rather than the obvious one.
This season, she’s averaging 43.48 passes per 90 at 75.7% accuracy, with 9.68 progressive passes per 90. These are numbers that show a fullback who consistently looks to hurt the opposition with the ball rather than simply keep it moving.
The other side of Hed's game is just as important, and this example from the same match against Durham shows why she’s so difficult to play through.
Durham look to play through Nottingham Forest, and Hed has already read it. She’s on her toes, watching the ball, watching the passing lanes, and the moment the pass is played, she steps in and intercepts cleanly.
This quick thinking and reading of the game are what her Anticipation of 14 and Decisions of 14 in FM26 capture. This season, her PAdj Interceptions figure stands at 9.07, outstanding for a fullback and a number that shows she’s doing this week in, week out.
Her Crossing is rated at 14 in FM26, and this example shows the forward movement that underpins that rating.
She runs through the inside channel, using the space intelligently rather than hugging the touchline. By the time she receives the ball in the final third, she is in an optimal crossing position, giving Nottingham Forest a real threat from the wide areas. It’s the run itself that creates the opportunity: her ability to read the space, time the movement, and arrive in the right position at the right moment.
In FM, her Off The Ball rating of 14 does the work before the ball even arrives. She is clearly a player who thinks about where she needs to be next, and that forward movement is a consistent part of what she brings to Nottingham Forest.
Ebba Hed is a fullback who reads the game early, intercepts danger, and moves the ball forward in a way that makes Nottingham Forest better in both phases.
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. Whether you are building from the back with a ball-playing centre-back, shoring up your defensive line, or finding wingbacks who contribute at both ends, the second tier has plenty of options worth knowing about.
The BWSL 2 has plenty more to offer, and we have only scratched the surface of what the database has in store.
Next time, we are back in the top flight as we turn our attention to the top flight, where we will showcase the best midfielders in the league.
Don't forget to enter our competition, where you have the chance to win a copy of Football Manager 26 and a pair of tickets to a Barclays Women's Super League match of your choice. Click here to enter.
