The BWSL 2 Goalkeepers You Need to Know in FM26
The Barclays Women's Super League 2 is one of the most competitive second tiers in women's football, and the goalkeepers playing in it are proof of that. From seasoned internationals to young keepers making their case for a move up the pyramid, the Football Manager 26 database is packed with options who could transform your save.
So, as you might've guessed, this time we are turning our attention to the BWSL2's standout stoppers. We are taking three of the most interesting profiles in the league, digging into their standout attributes, and showing you what those look like in real game situations and why you should add them to your shortlist for the next transfer window.
Whether you are managing in the second tier or raiding it for talent to take elsewhere, these are the goalkeepers worth knowing about in BWSL 2.
Before we get into it, a reminder that the WSL Football FM competition is still open. Here at WSL Football, we have 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 on Friday, 1st May at 5 pm, so don’t leave it too late.
Click here to enter.
Anna Tamminen
Anna Tamminen is the most-signed goalkeeper in BWSL 2, and it is not hard to see why. The Finnish international is a composed, reliable presence between the sticks for Newcastle, and in FM26, her profile backs that up.
Her Handling, Reflexes, and One-On-Ones are all rated at 15, giving her a well-rounded profile that gives FM managers exactly what’s needed from a number one.
Her ability in one-on-ones is key to her style as a goalkeeper. Here, a Sheffield United forward gets in behind the Newcastle defensive line and is through on goal. The easy option for a goalkeeper in that moment is to hold their position, stay big, and hope.
Tamminen does not do that. She reads the danger immediately, sprints off her line, and closes down the angle with conviction. By the time the forward pulls the trigger, there is barely a target to aim at, meaning the Newcastle goalkeeper can make the save.
Yes, it’s about bravery, but it’s also about recognition - knowing when to leave her line, how quickly she needs to get there, and where to position her body when she does get there. Tamminen gets all three right, and as a result, her team don’t concede.
Her Reflexes rating of 15 tells a similar story, and this example against Crystal Palace shows it best.
Tamminen does well to stop a shot from a tight angle, but as she palms the ball away, the trajectory carries it into the centre of the box rather than away from danger. In that moment, the goal is wide open, and Palace have the opportunity to put the ball away.
Tamminen gets back to her feet instantly and reacts, getting down to stop the second shot. She makes two key saves in the space of seconds, and the second one is harder than the first. The Newcastle stopper has no time to set herself; it’s purely about her reaction speed, and she gets it right when it matters most for her team.
She is a goalkeeper who makes the difficult saves look routine and reads situations quickly, acting on them with conviction. The numbers back that up, too. This season, she has prevented 5.24 goals, saving considerably more than the chances against her would suggest. If you are managing in the BWSL 2, Anna Tamminen should be added to your shortlist.
Sophie Whitehouse
Next up, we have Sophie Whitehouse. The Charlton Athletic number one has kept eight clean sheets this season, the most of any goalkeeper in this piece, and in FM26, her standout attributes are not about reflexes or shot-stopping in the traditional sense.
Her Command Of Area is rated at 15, Determination at 15, and Work Rate at 14. This is a goalkeeper who controls her box, organises her defence, and keeps going when others might not.
Whitehouse’s Command Of Area rating isn’t just about coming to claim crosses cleanly. It’s also about what happens when things don't go according to plan.
Here, we have two examples. In the game against Sheffield United, a cross comes into the Charlton box, and Whitehouse comes to claim it. She does not get the clean catch she would have wanted, but what happens next is just as telling.
She goes to ground with the ball, wraps herself around it, and makes absolutely sure that nobody else is getting near it. She assesses the situation in an instant and does whatever it takes to make the ball safe.
The second example against Nottingham Forest shows the cleaner side of the same attribute. A ball comes into a crowded box with bodies around her, and Whitehouse does not hesitate. She leaves her line, and she takes it cleanly under pressure. Her Decisions, rated 14 in FM26, make that possible. She has made up her mind before the ball arrives, and her decisiveness is what makes the difference in situations like this.
The real-life numbers support this as well. Whitehouse is averaging 1.48 exits per 90 and winning 80% of her aerial duels, showing a goalkeeper who consistently comes off her line and gets it right.
Whitehouse isn’t a goalkeeper defined primarily by her athleticism, but that doesn't mean the physical side of her game is lacking. Her Reflexes are rated at 13 in FM26, and this save against Sheffield United shows what that looks like when it is tested.
A ball comes in, and the Charlton goalkeeper has to move sharply across her line. She gets there, but the danger is not over. The header is directed towards the top corner at the near post, and she has to react, leaping off the ground and tipping it over the bar.
Sophie Whitehouse is one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league. Her clean sheet record this season is among the best in the division, and when you watch her play, it is easy to understand why. She controls her box, makes good decisions, and when the moment demands something more, she finds it.
In FM26, her Command Of Area, Determination and Decisions give you a goalkeeper who will organise your defence and keep you solid week to week.
Fran Bentley
Fran Bentley is only 24, but she has already established herself as one of the most complete young goalkeepers in the BWSL 2. The Bristol City number one has faced more shots than either of the previous two goalkeepers in this piece, and she has handled that workload with a composure that belies her age.
Her FM26 profile is built around her Bravery, rated at 16, and a solid technical ability on the ball that makes her an asset when Bristol City are looking to build out of defence.
Bentley's Passing is rated at 13 in FM26, which is a solid level for a BWSL 2 goalkeeper, and at 24 years old, there is plenty of time for you to improve this further.
An example of Bristol City utilising Bentley’s passing ability can be seen here. In this instance, Birmingham are looking to press, to close off passing lanes and force errors. Bentley picks out the pass over the press, playing the ball into a midfielder
The Bristol stopper has a very good passing ability and shows the composure to use it under pressure, combined with the awareness to see the right option before the press arrives.
This season, she is averaging 4.55 progressive passes per 90 and attempts 6.42 long passes per 90; these numbers show a goalkeeper who is actively trying to hurt the opposition with the ball rather than simply recycling possession.
Bristol City play a high defensive line, and that means Bentley is not just a goalkeeper; more often than not, she is an extra defender. When teams look to play in behind, she has to be the one to deal with it, and that requires a very specific combination of attributes working together.
Here, an opponent plays a ball in behind the defence, and the 24-year-old is off her line instantly. There is no hesitation, no waiting to see if a defender gets there. She has read the situation before the ball is even played, sprints out to meet it, and clears the danger before it becomes a chance.
Her Decisions, rated at 14 in FM26, are what get her out early enough. She has a solid rating of 13 for Acceleration, and her Bravery is rated at 16. This is what makes her commit to the clearance when the alternative is to stay on her line and face the attacker in a 1v1 situation.
Conclusion
In this piece, we have looked at three goalkeepers with three very different profiles, all of whom offer excellent reasons to add them to your FM26 shortlist. Tamminen is the most signed goalkeeper in the division for good reason. The Newcastle stopper is reliable, active, and consistently saves more than the chances against her would suggest.
Sophie Whitehouse doesn’t always get the headlines, but her clean sheet record this season is as good as any goalkeeper in the league, and her attributes make her one of the smartest options in the database. Meanwhile, Fran Bentley enables FM managers to develop a young player into a top-class goalkeeper. She is brave, technically capable on the ball, and key to the way Bristol City want to play.
What stands out across all three is how well the FM26 profiles translate to what you actually see on the pitch, and that’s what makes building a save in the BWSL 2 so rewarding.
Our Football Manager series continues next week as we turn our attention to the defenders across both tiers of English women's football, so stay tuned for that.
Don’t forget to enter our competition for your 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:.
