West Ham United Women opened their 2026/27 WSL campaign with a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, but there were still a couple of positives for Rita Guarino to take from the afternoon. Viviane Asseyi scored the Hammers’ late consolation, while Deadline Day signing Saki Kumagai needed just 18 minutes to register her first assist for the club.
Tottenham were the stronger side for long periods at BetWright Stadium, producing 20 shots to West Ham’s ten and eight efforts on target to the visitors’ three. They also generated 1.89 xG compared with West Ham’s 0.73.
Signe Gaupset opened the scoring after 18 minutes before Kirsty Hanson struck either side of half-time to put the game beyond West Ham. Asseyi finally replied in the 93rd minute from Kumagai’s assist.
Here are our West Ham player ratings from the opening-day defeat.
West Ham player ratings vs Tottenham
Constance Picaud-Inconnu – 6
Not the debut the France international would have wanted, although conceding three shouldn’t automatically reflect badly on the goalkeeper.
Tottenham registered eight shots on target and repeatedly found space around West Ham’s penalty area. Picaud-Inconnu still made several stops to prevent the scoreline becoming more damaging.
Yu Endo – 5.5
Had a difficult afternoon dealing with Tottenham’s movement down her side.
West Ham’s defensive unit never quite looked comfortable when Spurs moved the ball quickly around the final third. Replaced by Inès Belloumou after 75 minutes.
Laia Codina – 5.5
Plenty of composure on the ball from the former Arsenal defender, but this was ultimately a tough first competitive appearance in claret and blue.
Tottenham managed 35 touches inside the West Ham penalty area, illustrating how regularly Codina and the rest of the back line were forced into defensive work.
There will be considerably better afternoons ahead for a player with her experience.
Estelle Cascarino – 5.5
Worked hard but found herself part of a defence stretched too frequently by Spurs.
Hanson’s movement proved particularly difficult for West Ham to contain.
Nadine Riesen – 5.5
Another of the four summer arrivals handed a competitive debut.
Showed willingness to get forward but Tottenham’s control meant much of her afternoon was spent defending rather than influencing the game higher up the pitch.
West Ham midfield struggled for control
Katie Zelem – 6
A difficult first competitive game since being confirmed as West Ham’s new captain.
Zelem tried to provide structure in midfield, but Tottenham completed 471 passes and controlled 59 per cent of possession.
West Ham will need their captain increasingly influential as the new-look squad begins to settle.
Oona Siren – 5.5
Worked hard against a Tottenham midfield that increasingly controlled proceedings.
Taken off after 75 minutes as Guarino handed Kumagai her debut.
Seraina Piubel – 5
Struggled to impose herself before being replaced on the hour.
West Ham had only three attempts in the entire first half, which summed up how difficult it was for the attacking midfielders to establish themselves.
Leila Wandeler replaced her.
Viviane Asseyi provides late positive
Ebony Salmon – 5
Competitive debut lasted only 45 minutes.
West Ham struggled to bring Salmon into dangerous positions before Guarino made an immediate half-time change, introducing Kelly Gago.
It would be harsh to draw conclusions from one half in a completely new attacking setup.
Riko Ueki – 5.5
Plenty of endeavour without receiving enough service.
Tottenham’s control prevented West Ham from consistently getting Ueki involved around the penalty area.
Replaced by Yui Tennebø in stoppage time.
Viviane Asseyi – 7
West Ham’s best starter.
Kept going despite the game being effectively over and eventually got her reward with a well-taken stoppage-time goal.
That matters psychologically even if it did not affect the result.
Asseyi remains one of the established figures Guarino can lean on while the huge summer rebuild continues to take shape.
Substitutes
Kelly Gago – 6
On for Salmon, 46′.
Offered more energy after the interval and helped West Ham produce a slightly more competitive attacking performance.
Still difficult to make a major impact with Spurs controlling territory.
Leila Wandeler – 6
On for Piubel, 60′.
Added directness and was willing to carry the ball forward.
West Ham actually produced seven of their ten shots after half-time, even if the game moved further away from them.
Saki Kumagai – 7.5 ⭐
On for Siren, 75′.
An extremely encouraging cameo.
Kumagai only completed her West Ham move on Deadline Day, but needed barely any time to make her first direct contribution.
The Japan legend supplied the assist for Asseyi’s 93rd-minute goal just 18 minutes after entering the game.
That earns her our highest rating despite the limited minutes.
A first start surely cannot be far away.
Inès Belloumou – 6
On for Endo, 75′.
Solid enough during the closing stages and helped provide fresh legs down the flank.
Yui Tennebø – N/A
On for Ueki, 90+2′.
Not enough time to rate.
Read West Ham Player of the Match
Saki Kumagai – 7.5
It says plenty that West Ham’s most encouraging performance came from a player introduced with only 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Kumagai brought experience, composure and then an immediate attacking contribution.
Guarino had understandably resisted throwing her straight into the XI only two days after signing, but the World Cup winner made a very quick case for greater involvement against London City Lionesses next weekend.
The result itself remains disappointing.
Tottenham deserved the victory on the balance of the chances, with the Hammers conceding three and allowing twice as many shots as they created.
One game does not determine whether West Ham’s ten-signing rebuild has succeeded.
Kumagai’s cameo at least provided an early glimpse of why there is still considerable reason for optimism.West Ham United Women opened their 2026/27 WSL campaign with a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, but there were still a couple of positives for Rita Guarino to take from the afternoon. Viviane Asseyi scored the Hammers’ late consolation, while Deadline Day signing Saki Kumagai needed just 18 minutes to register her first assist for the club.
Tottenham were the stronger side for long periods at BetWright Stadium, producing 20 shots to West Ham’s ten and eight efforts on target to the visitors’ three. They also generated 1.89 xG compared with West Ham’s 0.73.
Signe Gaupset opened the scoring after 18 minutes before Kirsty Hanson struck either side of half-time to put the game beyond West Ham. Asseyi finally replied in the 93rd minute from Kumagai’s assist.
Here are our West Ham player ratings from the opening-day defeat.
West Ham player ratings vs Tottenham
Constance Picaud-Inconnu – 6
Not the debut the France international would have wanted, although conceding three shouldn’t automatically reflect badly on the goalkeeper.
Tottenham registered eight shots on target and repeatedly found space around West Ham’s penalty area. Picaud-Inconnu still made several stops to prevent the scoreline becoming more damaging.
Yu Endo – 5.5
Had a difficult afternoon dealing with Tottenham’s movement down her side.
West Ham’s defensive unit never quite looked comfortable when Spurs moved the ball quickly around the final third. Replaced by Inès Belloumou after 75 minutes.
Laia Codina – 5.5
Plenty of composure on the ball from the former Arsenal defender, but this was ultimately a tough first competitive appearance in claret and blue.
Tottenham managed 35 touches inside the West Ham penalty area, illustrating how regularly Codina and the rest of the back line were forced into defensive work.
There will be considerably better afternoons ahead for a player with her experience.
Estelle Cascarino – 5.5
Worked hard but found herself part of a defence stretched too frequently by Spurs.
Hanson’s movement proved particularly difficult for West Ham to contain.
Nadine Riesen – 5.5
Another of the four summer arrivals handed a competitive debut.
Showed willingness to get forward but Tottenham’s control meant much of her afternoon was spent defending rather than influencing the game higher up the pitch.
West Ham midfield struggled for control
Katie Zelem – 6
A difficult first competitive game since being confirmed as West Ham’s new captain.
Zelem tried to provide structure in midfield, but Tottenham completed 471 passes and controlled 59 per cent of possession.
West Ham will need their captain increasingly influential as the new-look squad begins to settle.
Oona Siren – 5.5
Worked hard against a Tottenham midfield that increasingly controlled proceedings.
Taken off after 75 minutes as Guarino handed Kumagai her debut.
Seraina Piubel – 5
Struggled to impose herself before being replaced on the hour.
West Ham had only three attempts in the entire first half, which summed up how difficult it was for the attacking midfielders to establish themselves.
Leila Wandeler replaced her.
Viviane Asseyi provides late positive
Ebony Salmon – 5
Competitive debut lasted only 45 minutes.
West Ham struggled to bring Salmon into dangerous positions before Guarino made an immediate half-time change, introducing Kelly Gago.
It would be harsh to draw conclusions from one half in a completely new attacking setup.
Riko Ueki – 5.5
Plenty of endeavour without receiving enough service.
Tottenham’s control prevented West Ham from consistently getting Ueki involved around the penalty area.
Replaced by Yui Tennebø in stoppage time.
Viviane Asseyi – 7
West Ham’s best starter.
Kept going despite the game being effectively over and eventually got her reward with a well-taken stoppage-time goal.
That matters psychologically even if it did not affect the result.
Asseyi remains one of the established figures Guarino can lean on while the huge summer rebuild continues to take shape.
Substitutes
Kelly Gago – 6
On for Salmon, 46′.
Offered more energy after the interval and helped West Ham produce a slightly more competitive attacking performance.
Still difficult to make a major impact with Spurs controlling territory.
Leila Wandeler – 6
On for Piubel, 60′.
Added directness and was willing to carry the ball forward.
West Ham actually produced seven of their ten shots after half-time, even if the game moved further away from them.
Saki Kumagai – 7.5 ⭐
On for Siren, 75′.
An extremely encouraging cameo.
Kumagai only completed her West Ham move on Deadline Day, but needed barely any time to make her first direct contribution.
The Japan legend supplied the assist for Asseyi’s 93rd-minute goal just 18 minutes after entering the game.
That earns her our highest rating despite the limited minutes.
A first start surely cannot be far away.
Inès Belloumou – 6
On for Endo, 75′.
Solid enough during the closing stages and helped provide fresh legs down the flank.
Yui Tennebø – N/A
On for Ueki, 90+2′.
Not enough time to rate.
Read West Ham Player of the Match
Saki Kumagai – 7.5
It says plenty that West Ham’s most encouraging performance came from a player introduced with only 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Kumagai brought experience, composure and then an immediate attacking contribution.
Guarino had understandably resisted throwing her straight into the XI only two days after signing, but the World Cup winner made a very quick case for greater involvement against London City Lionesses next weekend.
The result itself remains disappointing.
Tottenham deserved the victory on the balance of the chances, with the Hammers conceding three and allowing twice as many shots as they created.
One game does not determine whether West Ham’s ten-signing rebuild has succeeded.
Kumagai’s cameo at least provided an early glimpse of why there is still considerable reason for optimism.
