Scots to Look Out For

Ahead of the 2025/26 season kicking off, we are taking a closer look at five players that we think are next in line for SWNT stardom.

The 2025/26 season is finally coming into view. After a season of turmoil on the national stage, there is hope on the horizon as we begin a new qualification cycle in an effort to book our flights to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Last season saw Lawton, Adams, McGovern, McAulay, and Gregory burst into the national team and with that in mind we are answering the age old question, “who’s up next?”

We’ve highlighted five Scottish players that we think are going to be loudly staking their claim for a spot in the national team this season (Melissa Andreatta, if you’re reading this, we are available to become SWNT scouts, hit us up).

Abbie Ferguson

Southampton, 20, right wing

In a historic season for Hibernian that saw both Eilidh Adams and Kathleen McGovern receive maiden national team call ups, it was Abbie Ferguson who took the early headlines. The first five games seeing her notch one goal and three assists, taking home the August player of the month award, as the electric winger looked to have taken a leap in her development.

Unfortunately, a stop-start season followed as fitness issues stunted her impact, and the development of Adams as a winger and Kirsty Morrison’s form in her absence placed a barrier in her path. A move to WSL2¹ promotion hopefuls Southampton this summer should provide a platform for her to reignite the early sparks of last season and show what she can do.

With Emslie out for the foreseeable as she grows her family, and no one having made a consistent good impression on the right hand side other than her, Ferguson could be the exciting winger Andreatta is looking for.

Lisa Forrest

Glasgow City, 20, forward

There’s an argument to be made that Forrest is one of, if not the, outstanding young players in the SWPL heading into the 2025/26 season. A huge breakout in 2024/25 saw her rack up 26 appearances, including 11 starts, as Glasgow City qualified for the UWCL with a 2nd placed finish.

Able to play across the front line, she found herself mostly playing out wide last season. Seven goals and eight assists says that that was a good tactical move from Leanne Ross (a goal contribution every 73 minutes). Her pace and vision both shining in wide areas.

As with Ferguson, there is a gap out wide that Andreatta will be looking to fill. With Lovera’s exit there are minutes on offer at the Glasgow club, if Forrest can further cement her place in a team fighting for the title it’ll only be a matter of time until senior Scotland caps come calling.

Fallon Connolly-Jackson

Rangers, 19, left back

Last season Connolly-Jackson made 20 appearances for Sheffield United, including 16 in the Championship, as they struggled to match the levels of their competitors. However, impressive performances individually and as part of Scotland’s youth ranks have led the young left back to Rangers as they look to improve on the final day disappointments of the past two seasons.

With the last SWNT squad having only three natural left footers, and none in defence². Connolly-Jackson could provide needed depth for Andreatta in this sense, especially as her new captain at club level, Nicola Docherty, is the incumbent first choice option.

When Andreatta took charge of the SWNT she inherited a team that had not seen much, if any, succession planning over the last few years. No position moreso than left back. There is a place up for grabs during the youthful revolution as we head into qualifying for the 2027 World Cup. If she can take her under-23s performances to Rangers, and learn from the difficulties faced at Sheffield United last season, one of those could be hers.

Jenna Penman

Motherwell, 22, centre back

A centre back who is comfortable playing on the ball without sacrificing defensive grit? Sign us up. Penman was a crucial part of last season’s Motherwell campaign that saw them secure a top half finish, with some impressive defensive performances causing the full time teams above them issues at times.

Penman, usually playing as a wide centre back in a back three, started 31 of Motherwell’s 32 league games last season. The one game she didn’t start, she was subbed on. An ever present factor in Motherwell’s impressive season.

Scotland have a lot of high quality, young, centre backs at our disposal so it isn’t an easy path for the Motherwell defender to reach the senior team. However, with both Rachel Corsie and Jen Beattie having retired in the last year there are shoes to fill, and Andreatta has shown willingness to give multiple players a chance. With [comparatively] easier fixtures coming up in League B³, this could be Penman’s chance.

Maria McAneny

Celtic, 21, attacking midfield

The mood may be a little low around the Celtic faithful right now as a fourth placed finish has been followed up by a number of fan favourites leaving the club⁴. But, there is reason to be optimistic as their home grown star approaches what could be a real breakout season.

McAneny started nine out of ten post-Split games, making up more than half of her starts for the club in 2024/25, scoring five times in the process. That impressive form should cement her place as Celtic’s starting attacking midfielder going into this season. If she can keep it up, alongside her strong performances for the under 23 squad, then it won’t be long before Andreatta comes calling.

Central midfield is an incredibly deep area for the SWNT. Weir, Cuthbert, and Kerr pretty much nailed on if they are fit, then there’s MacLean and Watson who have both already staked their claim as teenagers. However, there is a lack of creative spark if Weir is missing that McAneny could bring. Adding to her chances are both her height and ability from a dead ball situation. Two key skills that Scotland are lacking that set her apart from the competition for places.

1. Nicola Docherty and Emma Mukandi were both injury absentees.

2. The artist formerly known as the Championship.

3. Although exponentially higher pressure with World Cup participation on the line.

4. And very little action of note so far.