Eilidh Adams scored Hibs' winner against leaders Glasgow City
Published April 2, 2026 • Source: bbc.com
By Clive Lindsay BBC Sport Scotland
The Scottish Women's Premier League title race has been blown wide open again after Sky Sports Cup winners and league leaders Glasgow City were brought back down to earth by reigning champions Hibernian.
And, just like their male counterparts in the Scottish Premiership, Heart of Midlothian are now well in the hunt to be surprise champions after their stunning 4-1 win over Celtic.
City's 1-0 defeat at home to Hibs means the latter's Edinburgh rivals are just one point behind the 16-time champions, setting up a first-versus-second showdown on Sunday in front of the BBC Scotland cameras at the same Petershill Park.
At one stage, until Motherwell slipped out of contention in recent weeks, there was talk of the men's top flight being the most exciting title race in Europe, with four potential winners.
Well, their female counterparts are now challenging that - with four, perhaps five, teams now with genuine hopes of topping the table by the end of the season.
Champions Hibs 'never give up'
Hibs are the outside bet after a poor start to their attempt to defend their first title win in 16 years and fourth overall.
However, rather than fall apart after Celtic poached head coach Grant Scott in December, they have thrived under former Scotland midfielder Joelle Murray and, after a seven-game unbeaten run, are now just eight points off the lead in fifth.
Eilidh Adams struck Wednesday's stunning winner against City and stressed her side's never-say-die attitude.
"A difficult game," the 21-year-old Scotland striker told BBC Alba. "You could see at the end we were kind of defending for our lives, but that's what we're all about in terms of we never give up.
"For me personally, I never score goals like that, so I'm happy with that and, with it being the winner, it's even better.
"I've been trying to work on that and add that to my game. I've probably improved in the box, but in terms of longer-range finishes, I'm not used to it, so I just thought hit it and see what happens and it went in.
"It is a big three points for the team as well, that's the main thing.
"There are still quite a few games to go in terms of the split, but for us we're just taking it one game at a time."
Hibs will be expected to maintain their momentum at home to sixth-top Partick Thistle on Sunday.
Defeat delivers 'frustration' for City
City headed into Wednesday's game against Hibs on a high after recovering from that league loss to Rangers by beating the same opponents to lift the League Cup for a record-equalling seventh time on Sunday.
They also have a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to, but the 16-time league winners' hopes of a first title since 2013 - and dreams of a treble - have been delivered a blow by a second league defeat in a row.
Heading into the SWPL split, when the top-flight breaks into two for the final round of fixtures, City had what looked like a commanding five-point lead.
However, after being held at home to a draw by Celtic, losing away to Rangers - their first domestic defeat of the season no less - and now at home to Hibs, it is wide open again.
Head coach Leanne Ross expressed "frustration" as "we've controlled large spells of the game" and refused to blame any fatigue from the cup final, pointing out that she believed Adams had fouled defender Amy Anderson in the lead-up to the goal.
"When you suffer a result like this, it is a probably a bigger motivation to come back and do better the next time," she told City on X. "Rest assured, we will be better on Sunday."
Old Firm derby next on BBC Alba
Rangers responded to their failure to win the League Cup for a fourth successive season with a victory - but only just.
Their home win over a Thistle side who are a distant sixth came courtesy of a single goal from on-loan Roma midfielder Kim Shin-ji midway through the first half.
However, head coach Leanne Crichton will simply be happy to take the win that lifts her side to within two points of leaders City after their Glasgow rivals ended Rangers' own hopes of a treble on Sunday.
The big games keep coming, though, and they head into another city derby on Monday away to Celtic with dreams of a second league title and first since 2022 somewhat renewed.
That is another game being shown live - this time on BBC Alba.
Will Hearts secure first title?
Just like Derek McInnes' men's team, who have led the Premiership since October, Eva Olid's Hearts could become the big story in the SWPL.
They were helped on their way by an own goal from Celtic goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers but took full advantage and added to that through Erin Husband and a Georgia Timms penalty before Celtic could respond through Saoirse Noonan, with Carly Johns restoring the three-goal advantage.
It was a big turnaround from the 5-3 defeat they suffered at the hands of the same opponents last month as they also bounced back from their derby defeat at home to Hibs last time out.
Continue the momentum on Sunday and they will be top of the table and can start dreaming of a first-ever Scottish title.
Consolation for beaten Celtic?
Celtic will perhaps point to the red card for on-loan London City Lionesses defender Maddi Wilde - for hand ball - that led to Hearts' penalty as a big factor in their defeat in Edinburgh, but they were already 2-0 down by then.
Head coach Scott will, though, take some consolation from the fact that, although they have fallen to fourth in the table, they remain four points off the top thanks to City's stumble.
Indeed, the loss to Hearts was their first defeat in 10 outings and a second league title and first since 2024 cannot yet be discounted.
In what is becoming a topsy-turvy title race, it seems certain to continue to be dog-eat-dog in the final six games to decide the champions.