The SWPL1 returned yesterday afternoon and Celtic FC Women opened the season with a fine 2-1 victory away to Hearts…

Morgan Cross scores for Celtic FC Women. Hearts 1-2 Celtic FC Women, 17 August 2025. Photo AJ The Celtic Star
“What a good result for Celtic and the first time in a while I thought we genuinely looked good. A bit tired towards the end of the second half but nothing major. Also a brilliant performance for Rodgers in net,” Jessica Elliott told me earlier today having watched the match for The Celtic Star.

Natalie Ross, Celtic FC Women, Hearts 1-2 Celtic FC Women, 17 August 2025. Photo AJ The Celtic Star
Celtic FC Women wrestle coming back off a terrible second half of the last campaign which resulted in a clear-out of the squad in the summer with ten players leaving the club and to date four coming in including two arrivals just before the campaign got underway in..
📩 (1) new message from Aislin!
🎟️ Join the Journey ➡️ https://t.co/EcgzesA7BZ#CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/pOdCuQYSEh
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) August 16, 2025


Celtic FC Women line-up versus Hearts on 17 August 2025 on the opening day of the new SWPL1 season. Celtic won 2-1. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star).
Here are the two Celtic goals on the Celtic TV Unique Angle…
Celtic Women FC Supporters club summarised the first half which finished with Celtic two goals ahead as follows.
- Early frustration with a chopped-off goal (unfairly!)
- Cross with a peach of a strike
- Nat Ross with a calm, controlled finish – well deserved!
- Westin with great strength
- Tempo clicked after a slow start
The Celtic FC Women Head Coach Elena Saduku was pleased with both the performance and also the result “This is only the start. We need to keep building, developing and just become better and stronger together,” she told Celtic TV after the match.
And with Hearts Women pulling a goal back with a 90th minute penalty, Natalie Ross goal turned out to be the winner. Here’s the Celtic warrior talking after the match.
And Morgan Cross scored the first goal of the season for Celtic FC Women – and what s strike it was! Here’s Morgan speaking to Celtic TV…
A quick round-up of the scores on the opening day of the season in the SWPL1 and you can watch highlights of the games on Sportscene this evening on BBC Scotland channel.
The SWPL is back 🥳
⚽️ Sportscene highlights
📺 Watch on @BBCScotland and @BBCiPlayer
📆 Monday 18 August
⏰ 19:30 BST#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Lpez2WEPIv— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) August 18, 2025
Glasgow City 3-0 Motherwell
Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic FC Women
Montrose 1-6 theRangers
Hamilton Accies 1-2 Partick Thistle
Hibernian 5-1 Aberdeen
And finally here’s The Celtic Star’s photo gallery from the first day of the SWPL1 season. Hope you enjoy!

Hail Hail the Celts are here…Celtic FC Women line-up versus Hearts on 17 August 2025 on the opening day of the new SWPL1 season. Celtic won 2-1. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star).

Elena Sadiku, Celtic FC Women head coach, Hearts 1-2 Celtic FC Women, 17 August 2025. Photo AJ The Celtic Star

Claire Walsh, Celtic FC Women, Hearts 1-2 Celtic FC Women, 17 August 2025. Photo AJ The Celtic Star
A welcome victory at a tough venue but we cant ignore the fact that Hearts were the better team for the whole of the second half , still major recruitment needed imo , Hail hail .