The managerial alterations, contentious decisions, and remarkable moments on the pitch have encapsulated an emphatic 2025/26 Scottish Women’s Premier League campaign. As the dust finally settles on the halfway stage, defender Katie Rice reflects on the season so far.
The women of steel have continued their ambition of establishing themselves as a consistent top-six side after achieving their maiden finish in the top-half of the split last campaign.
Motherwell remain seventh in the SWPL table, four-points behind closest-rivals Montrose after a decisive 93rd-minute Partick Thistle strike denied Iain Robinson his first point since being appointed Head Coach earlier this month.
“It has been a really interesting season,” Rice said.
“At the start of the season, we all collectively discussed the shared ambition of earning our second consecutive top-six finish, and its pleasing to reach the halfway stage, with that goal still to play for.
“The Christmas break has come at the perfect time for the squad, as both Iain [Robinson] and David [Brownlie] have had to try and implement their ideas despite not much time on the training pitch so far.
“The break will give the full squad that time to reflect on the season so far, reset a bit, and earn that valuable time on the training pitch. That will allow us all to head into 2026, with a fresh mindset, and remain in a strong position to achieve our target of a top-six finish this season.”
Motherwell suffered a disappointing conclusion to the calendar year, with Partick Thistle punishing the visitors attacking complacency with the final kick of the ball to secure a narrow 2-1 victory in a frustrating display at Petershill Park a fortnight ago.
A squandered first-half spot-kick, and countless enticing opportunities in the Jags final-third went unanswered, as the women of steel were left to reflect on what could’ve been in a closely-fought game in Glasgow.
“We were incredibly frustrated at full-time,” Rice explained.
“First-half, both sides struggled to really settle into the game, but we had an opportunity from the penalty spot that we ultimately didn’t take.
“These things can easily happen, but its ultimately about how we respond from that. We felt that we responded really well in the second-half, with Kodie [Hay] scoring a brilliant goal, but we couldn’t capitalise on that momentum in that moment.
“We allowed Thistle to equalise, and despite having several chances on goal, we simply didn’t take our opportunity. Thistle were awarded a free-kick with the last second of the game, and scored. That’s football unfortunately.
After four years at the helm, Head of Women & Girls, Paul Brownlie took to the K-Park dugout for the final time to mark the end of an illustrious era in Lanarkshire.
The highest recorded league position in the history of the club, two Scottish Cup Semi-Final appearances, and the foundation of the Motherwell FC Girls academy are few of the many accolades achieved in the experienced Scotsman’s tenure at the club.
One of the longest-serving players under Brownlie’s tenure, Rice spoke of her own and the squad’s reaction to his recent departure.
“It definitely came as a shock,” Rice explained.
“For myself, having been at the club for many seasons, with Paul as the Head Coach throughout most of that time, it wasn’t something that I was expecting.
“We had a conversation as a group at training, and although we were really surprised, Paul made sure that we put that to one side and focused solely on our preparations for the remaining games while he was here.
‘Even though we lost to Rangers in his final game at K-Park, we put in one of our strongest performances against them, and left the game with a lot of confidence.
Step forward, Queens Park Head Coach Iain Robinson, who joined the women of steel from the SWPL2 side this month. Despite being thrusted into his first match in charge with only two prior training sessions, Rice spoke highly about Robinson’s tactical style since arriving in East Kilbride.
“It’s been interesting to learn a different style of play,” Rice added.
“The timing hasn’t been on our side, with the recent run of fixtures, so we haven’t had much of an opportunity to implement that regularly on the training pitch, but we have all really bought into what Iain, and David are bringing to the club, and are looking forward to 2026.
“The winter break will give us that opportunity to really settle as a squad into that style of play, and we are all looking to forward to seeing what we could achieve this season.”