UEFA Women’s Champions League Final 12 Grades: Leuven to PSG

Overview of the UWCL Group Stage

The UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) completed its first 18-team group stage in December 2025, producing surprising performances, clear successes, and notable failures across Europe’s top women’s club teams. ESPN provided comprehensive grades for all 18 teams based on their overall play, results, and how they performed against their opponents during six matchdays of competition.

Top Performers and Standout Teams

OH Leuven emerged as a story of the tournament, earning the highest grade (A+) despite finishing 12th in the table. Leuven’s results were unexpected; they drew against strong teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Roma, and secured a win over FC Twente. Their performance was viewed as a breakthrough, showing resilience and tactical discipline far beyond expectations.

Manchester United received an A after a strong debut campaign. The English side secured three early wins that helped solidify their position and set them up to qualify for the knockout playoffs. Solid defensive work and timely scoring were key features of their run.

Barcelona earned an A- grade for dominating their group. They led the standings with convincing wins and a strong goal difference. Still, there were concerns about vulnerabilities in certain matches, such as a draw with Chelsea, which suggested areas for improvement as the competition progresses.

Other Strong Competitors

OL Lyonnes also received an A- grade due to impressive attacking play, averaging three goals per game. They showed depth and quality but needed a mid-game comeback to secure a draw against Juventus, hinting at occasional lapses.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich earned B+ grades. Chelsea combined strong offense with some inconsistency, while Bayern rebounded from early defeats to win key matches. Both clubs showcased talent but fell short of truly elite performances.

Mid-Tier Performances

Arsenal finished with a B- grade. As defending champions, expectations were high, but they struggled for consistency, ultimately qualifying only with the help of other results. Their campaign highlighted the competitive depth of the UWCL.

Valerenga and Twente received C grades for mixed results that included some competitive matches but not enough consistency to climb higher. Their group stage efforts demonstrated potential but also clear limitations.

Lower End of the Table

Real Madrid and Wolfsburg were graded C+, reflecting uneven play that included big wins but also costly draws and losses that prevented them from advancing.

Paris FC earned a C as competitive but ultimately middling results left them short of the playoff spots. Their group play showed glimpses of quality but not enough to secure a stronger finish.

Roma struggled throughout and were given a harsh F grade for poor results and lackluster form. Paris Saint-Germain also received an F after failing to secure a knockout spot despite high expectations and a roster with significant talent. Their group stage exit marked a disappointing end to what had been a promising campaign.

Takeaways and Looking Ahead

The UWCL group stage revealed the depth and competitiveness of women’s club football in Europe. While established powerhouses like Barcelona and OL Lyonnes performed strongly, emerging teams like OH Leuven demonstrated the growing unpredictability in the field. With the knockout rounds approaching, teams that earned high grades will carry confidence, while those graded lower must regroup and refine their strategies for future European challenges.