WSL Oneshots

The Unwelcome Enemy

The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was electric. The Manchester derby was always intense, but today’s match between Manchester City Women and Arsenal was even more so. Both teams were coming off strong seasons, their rivalry more fierce than ever. The stakes were high, with both sides vying for the top spot in the Women’s Super League. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, the energy palpable as the teams lined up on the pitch.

Katie McCabe stood tall in her usual left-back position for Arsenal, her eyes locked on the ball as the match kicked off. She was known for her no-nonsense approach to defending—aggressive, passionate, and always willing to put her body on the line for her team. But today, as she glanced across the field, she couldn’t help but notice the talent and determination that Manchester City’s forward, Chloe Kelly, brought to the game. Kelly had been in superb form lately, and Katie knew the challenge ahead.

The game started at a blistering pace, with both teams exchanging chances. Arsenal had the early possession, but City was quick on the counter-attack. In the 23rd minute, a loose ball was played forward to Chloe Kelly, who sprinted toward the Arsenal defense, with Katie McCabe closing in. Kelly was a constant threat, her speed and agility making it hard to track her, but Katie was determined not to let her break through.

As Kelly approached the box, Katie made her move. She stepped forward, hoping to dispossess the ball, but in the heat of the moment, their legs collided in a forceful tackle. There was a sickening crunch as Katie’s challenge brought Kelly down to the ground. The Etihad crowd gasped as the City forward immediately clutched her knee, writhing in pain.

Katie froze, her heart sinking in her chest. She knew immediately that something was wrong. The referee blew his whistle, rushing over to check on Kelly, and the Manchester City medical team quickly rushed onto the pitch. Katie stood motionless, her stomach in knots. The seriousness of the situation was clear.

The minutes that followed felt like an eternity. Kelly was stretchered off the pitch, her face contorted in pain, and the City fans fell silent. Katie stood still, her heart heavy, guilt already creeping into her mind. She knew it was just a tackle—something she had done countless times in her career—but the sight of Chloe in agony shook her to her core. This wasn’t the outcome she had ever wanted.

Minutes later, the Manchester City team announced that Chloe Kelly had ruptured her ACL. The news sent shockwaves through the stadium and across social media, and suddenly, the mood shifted. Katie’s tackle, which had been a routine challenge in her mind, was now under a harsh microscope.

Back in the dressing room, Katie couldn’t focus. Her mind was clouded with worry, her guilt over Chloe’s injury gnawing at her. She didn’t mean for this to happen. She never wished injury on anyone, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the responsibility was on her. The players and coaching staff tried to comfort her, telling her to focus on the game, but it was hard. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Chloe’s face as she was stretchered off the pitch.

The second half started, but the game had lost some of its spark. Arsenal was trying to stay focused, but Manchester City was fired up. The momentum shifted in City’s favor, and Arsenal struggled to keep their shape. The tension was building, and the air was thick with pressure.

In the 58th minute, it happened again.

Lauren Hemp, the young City forward, made a run down the left wing, and Katie, determined to make amends for the earlier incident, moved in to challenge. The tackle was similar to the one she had made on Kelly, but this time it wasn’t just a clean challenge. Hemp’s foot caught awkwardly in the turf as Katie went in hard, and Lauren collapsed to the ground in pain, clutching her ankle.

Katie’s heart sank once again. She watched helplessly as the referee blew his whistle and pointed toward her. The assistant referee flagged her down, and as the referee walked over, Katie knew what was coming.

“Yellow card, Katie McCabe,” the referee said sternly. But as the medical staff rushed onto the field to attend to Hemp, Katie knew that the severity of the situation was much greater than just a foul. She felt the eyes of the entire stadium on her, the weight of both injuries pressing down on her.

When the referee returned, his decision was clear. “Katie McCabe, you’re being sent off.”

The stadium fell silent as Katie stood frozen, disbelief washing over her. She had been shown a second yellow card, and now she was being sent off. She couldn’t believe it—her second tackle, another injury, and now she was being ejected from the game. The guilt was overwhelming.

As she walked off the pitch, she could hear the jeers and boos of the City supporters ringing in her ears, but it was the messages flooding her social media that would haunt her long after the game ended. The online abuse was relentless: "Killer tackle," "Should be banned," "Career-ender." The words stung. They were harsh, unforgiving, but they didn’t compare to the shame she felt inside. She had never, ever wanted to hurt anyone.

Back in the dressing room, her teammates tried to console her, but she felt distant, isolated in her thoughts. She couldn’t escape the images of Chloe Kelly’s injury, nor the image of Lauren Hemp lying in agony on the pitch. She had never felt so responsible for someone else’s pain.

As the match ended in a 2-1 loss for Arsenal, Katie retreated to her phone, checking the updates. Chloe Kelly’s surgery would keep her out for the rest of the season, and Lauren Hemp’s ankle injury would also require a long recovery. Katie had never wanted to cause harm, yet here she was, the center of criticism, a target for fans who couldn’t see beyond the injuries on the pitch.

That night, Katie McCabe lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The weight of the day hung over her, a stark reminder of how fragile things could be in football. And as much as she wanted to block out the noise, to ignore the abuse, she knew that the real work—both physically and mentally—was just beginning.

She would make things right. She had to.