Olivia Smith PFA award recognition

Canadian striker Olivia Smith has been named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Women’s Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Having previously won the award while at Liverpool, the 22-year-old has since moved to Arsenal for a record-breaking £1 million fee. During her first 38 appearances for Arsenal, Smith scored 10 goals and played a role in the club’s 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup victory.

Smith has made history as the first non-English player to win the PFA award twice and has been assigned the number 11 shirt at Arsenal for the 2026-27 season. In addition to Smith’s individual success, Arsenal players received significant recognition during the 2026 PFA Awards, with multiple selections in both the men’s and women’s Premier League Teams of the Year.

Separately, Canada women’s soccer head coach Casey Stoney, who has led the national program since January 2025, expressed a desire to reunite with her squad to establish a consistent lineup following recent challenges with injuries and roster availability.