Kirsty Hanson: The Aston Villa striker who is scoring more than Vivianne Miedema, Alessia Russo and Sam Kerr this season
Kirsty Hanson has scored 12 WSL goals this season and is second in the top scorers list; she discusses her change in role and what she wants to improve for next season; watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal in the WSL live on Sky Sports on Saturday from 11.30am; kick-off 12pm
Friday 8 May 2026 10:29, UK
As the season draws to a close, attention turns to individual accolades. Scanning down the list of WSL top scorers, there is one name that stands out in second place - Aston Villa's Kirsty Hanson.
It is somewhat unusual - although not unprecedented - to see a player outside of the top four or five teams to be that high in the standings.
The Scotland international has 12 goals - two ahead of Vivianne Miedema in third - but still seven behind runaway leader Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.
What makes her place even more incredible is last time Hanson hit double figures for league goals was in the 2017/18 season for Doncaster Rovers Belles, when she scored 11 times. She has already surpassed that, and it is a return to a familiar position that has been key to her form.
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"I've worked hard and I always work hard," she exclusively told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's WSL match against Arsenal.
"I'm in more of a central role. I used to play that when I was younger and I scored a lot when I was in there as well. Then most of my career, I've been a winger, so I've been more assisting than scoring.
"Now I know how hard it is for the rest of the team to get the ball up higher and I want to make sure I finish it off for them.
"As soon as I get in that goalscoring opportunities, I try to hit them. I've managed to do that this season and it's been a really nice feeling.
"Throughout the season, I've got better at doing certain things as a striker, but I bring different things as well because I'm a very forward-thinking player.
"I don't just like to set it, I'll run in behind as well and do the hard work. Being a winger, I've also got that defensive role in me. I'm not saying every striker doesn't do it, but you see some might not do those defensive duties as much.
"When Natalia [Arroyo] first came in, she had wing-back roles, and still does. I suggested that I can play narrower, I can play a striker role and I don't think she knew that at the time, but since I've been there, I've showed what I can do.
"Even at Scotland now, they're starting to put me in that role as well and it's showing I'm not just a winger, I can come inside and I've got different attributes. It's also nice because I can play anywhere and they'll know I'll always do that work.
"I feel like a little girl again from playing there when I was younger because I've not had this many goals in my career since then. It's been exciting, but I've still got more that I should do and more to come hopefully.
"I want to improve things like my hold-up play, reading the game, because teams know how to defend me now and I think they will next season, so it's about adapting my game even further to make sure it's harder for defenders to know how to stop me.
"It's also about reflecting and analysing my game like I always do and getting better, fitter and stronger and making sure I can be consistent in that and do it again next year.
"It [being second in the WSL top scorers list] shows that players like myself are working hard and I like to get better each game and each season, so seeing that hard work pays off."
Aston Villa will be hoping for a repeat of their last two WSL matches against Arsenal. They were 5-2 winners at Villa Park last season - the location of this weekend's match-up - and secured a late 1-1 draw at the Emirates earlier in this campaign.
Hanson reflected: "I remember at the Emirates, it was a very tight game and we made changes. We have a bench that can make a difference as well, so it's about keeping our standards high because we know we can do it against the best teams.
"Arsenal know how to bounce back, they've got a really good mentality and they were Champions League winners for a reason, so we're not getting too confident.
"We're on the back of a difficult loss [against West Ham], it was really a game we should have won, so we're frustrated as well. We like to bounce back too, so we want to prove that we are a good enough team.
"It's also our last home game, so we want to make sure we give the fans something to cheer about to thanks for the support for this season.
"It'll be a tough game, but it'll be very close game and hopefully we can get the win and finish on a high at Villa Park."
Watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal in the WSL live on Sky Sports on Saturday from 11.30am; kick-off 12pm.
