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Mollie Rouse Looks Ahead To The New WSL 2 Campaign With Sheffield United

VAVEL.com · Harry Day; VAVEL com · 2026-09-06T10:23:35+00:00 · nguồn gốc

After securing their place in the Women's Super League 2 last season at the expense of Portsmouth, Sheffield United will be looking to build on last campaign and climb their way up the table. The Blades survived by four points come the end of last campaign with a total of eighteen points for the season. But now, a new season lies ahead for the club, and they will be looking up the table this year. Having joined on deadline day of 2025, Mollie Rouse is preparing for her second season in Sheffield United colours. The midfielder spoke to the media on the WSL 2 media day ahead of this new campaign. On the upcoming season: Mollie Rouse did not hide her excitement ahead of this new campaign for the Blades, stating multiple aspects she was looking forward to, including getting to play at Bramall Lane, a stadium she has always enjoyed competing at. "Definitely playing in front of the fans, playing at home. I've always loved playing there, um, even when I didn't play for Sheffield United. I loved playing at Bramall Lane, so now being a home team player is amazing. "I think I love the league because of how competitive it is. Like, from top to bottom, you don't know who's going to win each week, and I think that's a big selling point of the league. People can come to the game not knowing who's going to win or who's going to take it, and that's going to be exciting. So, yeah, I'm buzzin'. "I think it's been a consistent thing over the years in the Championship where you don't know who's going to win, and that's exciting for the fans, and it's exciting for us to play in knowing that every game, you know, you're going for the three points, and both teams are, so, yeah." It will be the longest WSL 2 campaign in the league's history this time out, featuring some extremely tough teams, many of which will fancy themselves for promotion. Rouse agreed that togetherness will be crucial throughout the course of the season. "It's so super important. I mean, as I said, it is a longer season, and there's going to be more games this year. I think that's when the whole team comes into place. Like, whether it's the starters or the people coming on, or the people who might not even see the pitch sometimes. "I think if, as a team, you have a collective goal, then it brings everyone together better, and you don't see the changing culture as the season goes on. You know, you're going to have some bad days, but if you have that base, then the bad days aren't so bad." On new signings: Like many teams across the league this summer, Sheffield United have been active in the transfer window, bringing in some names that they hope will boost their squad this season. Rouse is pleased with the mix they have brought in, crediting them all with bringing different attributes to the pitch. "Well, we've had them already in pre-season; they've brought so much to the table already. No, they bring a lot, we've got such a mix. "We've got the experience from Lucy Quinn, and then we've got like the youth from Maria [Reynolds]; we've got Chloe [Warrington] from Scotland, we've just got such a good mix of different people that they all bring different attributes to the pitch, but they've come in and then they've just fitted in straight away. "So, they'll definitely be able to bring out their own personality on the pitch quite quickly, because it's already happened off the pitch." The midfielder also went on to acknowledge how well the new signings had settled into the environment at Sheffield United, describing the transition as a smooth one. "Really, really well, honestly. The transition has been so smooth, and I think, look at it, it's not just me saying that they've been great and then they actually hate me! "No, they've been really, really good people to come in, like really settled in well, and some of them have only been here for a short space of time, and I feel like they've been here for a year. So, that's really, really positive for a team as a whole to make them feel that way." On the club identity: Sheffield United will ultimately be looking to get more out of this season. After certain games last year, which they certainly could have got more out of than they did, Rouse wants teams this year to fear playing them. "I think we just want to build on the Sheffield United way as a club as a whole. Uh, you know, we want to, our motto is like outrun, outfight, outplay, and I think that's something that the women's team want to be part of. "You know, there is nothing better than seeing a team that's super aggressive, wants to win, energetic; that's exciting to see. And I think that's definitely with like all the youth we've got coming in and like some of the experienced players; it's a balance of we all want this as our game plan, and people to fear playing us." Come the end of the season, Rouse hopes the supporters remember this Sheffield United team as fighters and will leave everything on the pitch to ensure they do just that. "I want them to think that we're fighters. I want them to think each game we put everything on the pitch, like for the 90 minutes, that we didn't give up, regardless of the result. "I want them to know that every player on that pitch had each other's back, everyone was working their hardest, and that's what I want them to see Sheffield United as." Sheffield United begin their WSL 2 campaign on Sunday 6th September as they host Leicester City at Bramall Lane.