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THE LASSES LEDGER
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There’s a particular sense of calm that settles over a team when the right defender steps back into the heart of the backline.
It’s not dramatic and it’s not loud, but it’s something steadier, something that spreads quietly through the pitch until everyone around her begins to breathe differently. That’s what’s happened at Sunderland since Brianna Westrup returned to regular starts. Her presence hasn’t merely improved the defence — it’s rebalanced the entire side.
Sunderland have spent much of this season searching for stability, rhythm and the kind of anchor who can turn a collection of individuals into a coherent unit, and in Westrup, they’ve found exactly that.
Her leadership has tightened the structure. Her composure has settled the tempo. Her vision has sharpened the build up and her confidence in managing the line has allowed others to step forward with greater freedom. She has not only strengthened the backline. She’s changed the way Sunderland play.
This isn’t the story of a player who arrived with noise and fanfare — it’s the story of a player whose influence is felt in the details, the decisions and the moments that rarely make headlines but always shape matches. Since returning to the starting eleven, Westrup has become one of Sunderland’s most important figures, and the timing of her resurgence couldn’t be more significant.
DERBY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland pictured during the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Sunderland at Don Amott Arena on December 14, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Matt Lewis - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
DERBY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland pictured during the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Sunderland at Don Amott Arena on December 14, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Matt Lewis - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The FA via Getty Images
Football at this level is chaotic by nature.
Matches swing on transitions, loose balls and moments of hesitation. Teams that thrive are those who can impose order on that chaos, and Westrup has become the player who does exactly that for Sunderland. She reads danger early, positions herself intelligently, anticipates movement rather than reacting to it and brings a sense of control to situations that might otherwise unravel.
This ability to impose order isn’t simply a technical skill.
It’s mindset; the product of experience, of understanding the rhythm of matches, of recognising when to step in and when to hold the line. Westrup has developed that instinct over years of competing at a high level and Sunderland are now reaping the benefits.
Her interventions are rarely desperate. Instead, they’re measured, timed and executed with a calmness that spreads through the team. When she steps in to win a duel, she does so with conviction; when she shepherds an attacker away from danger, she does so with intelligence, and when she clears her lines, she does so with purpose rather than panic.
These moments accumulate. They build trust and they build belief.
Leadership in football is often misunderstood. It’s not simply about shouting instructions or wearing the armband. It’s about presence, clarity and setting standards through behaviour rather than volume.
Westrup embodies that kind of leadership.
Her communication is constant, but it’s measured. She guides rather than commands , supports rather than criticises and reads the emotional temperature of the team and adjusts her approach accordingly. Younger defenders look to her for reassurance. The midfielders trust her positioning and the goalkeeper trusts her judgement.
These kinds of leadership credentials can’t be taught — they’re earned, and Sunderland have needed that presence because earlier in the season, the defensive structure earlier in the season lacked cohesion. Distances were inconsistent, transitions were difficult to manage and the line didn’t always move as a unit.
Westrup’s return has changed that. She’s become the reference point, setting the line, dictating the drop, organising the press and ensuring that the defensive shape remains intact even when the match becomes stretched.
Her leadership also extends beyond the defensive line. She influences the midfield, influences the tempo and influences the way Sunderland build from the back. When she’s on the pitch, the team looks more assured, more connected and more confident in their identity.
HETTON-LE-HOLE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Amy Andrews of Sheffield United is tackled by Brianna Westrup of Sunderland during the Subway Women’s League Cup match between Sunderland and Sheffield United at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on October 19, 2025 in Hetton-le-Hole, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
HETTON-LE-HOLE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Amy Andrews of Sheffield United is tackled by Brianna Westrup of Sunderland during the Subway Women’s League Cup match between Sunderland and Sheffield United at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on October 19, 2025 in Hetton-le-Hole, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Getty Images
There are defenders who thrive on chaos and defenders who thrive on calm — and Westrup belongs firmly in the latter category.
Her composure is one of her defining qualities. She doesn’t rush and she doesn’t allow the tempo of the opposition to dictate her decisions. Instead, she plays with a clarity that is rare and this composure has been crucial for Sunderland, particularly in matches where they’ve faced sustained pressure.
During the win over Southampton, her calmness in possession allowed Sunderland to reset when needed. During the comeback against Durham, her composure helped steady the team during the chaotic moments that followed each goal, and even in defeat to Bristol City, she remained one of the few players who maintained control in difficult circumstances.
Composure is not simply about avoiding mistakes. It’s about creating stability.
When a defender is calm, the players around her become calm. When a defender makes good decisions, the team begins to trust the structure. Westrup’s composure has had that effect, allowing Sunderland to build from the back with greater confidence, for the midfielders to receive the ball in better positions and the team to transition more effectively.
Her composure also extends to her tackling.
Westrup doesn’t dive in nor does she commit unnecessarily. Instead, she times her challenges with precision, using her body intelligently and winning the ball cleanly. This type of tackling sets a tone, telling opponents that they’ll not be allowed easy opportunities — as well as reassuring her teammates that they can trust the defensive line and showing that the Lasses are in control.
Modern defending is not only about stopping attacks — it’s about starting them.
It’s about understanding the flow of the match and knowing when to play short, when to play long and when to break lines, and Westrup’s vision has become one of Sunderland’s most valuable assets in this regard.
She sees passes early, recognises space before others do and understands how to draw opponents in and how to release the ball at the right moment. Her distribution isn’t flashy, but purposeful. She plays with intent, awareness and an understanding of how her decisions shape the next phase of play — and this vision has allowed Sunderland to build more effectively from the back.
It’s allowed midfielders to receive the ball in better positions, the wide players to push higher and the team to transition with greater fluidity. When Westrup starts, Sunderland look more connected, cohesive and confident in possession.
Her vision also helps Sunderland manage matches.
When the team needs to slow the tempo, she does so with intelligent passing. When the team needs to accelerate, she finds the forward options. When the team needs to relieve pressure, she chooses the right moments to play long. This kind of decision-making is invaluable in a league where momentum can shift quickly.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland inspects the pitch with teammates prior to the Barclays Women’s Championship match between Sunderland and Durham at Stadium of Light on March 02, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland inspects the pitch with teammates prior to the Barclays Women’s Championship match between Sunderland and Durham at Stadium of Light on March 02, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The FA via Getty Images
Perhaps the most significant impact Westrup has had on Sunderland is the way she’s strengthened the backline and in doing so, freed others to play with greater attacking intent.
Football is a game of balance. When the defence is uncertain, the midfield becomes cautious; when the midfield is cautious, the attack becomes isolated, and when the attack is isolated, the team becomes reactive rather than proactive.
Westrup has helped restore that balance.
Her presence has given Sunderland a defensive anchor. Her leadership has given the line structure. Her composure has given the team confidence and her vision has given the build up clarity.
As a result, other players have been able to focus on their own roles rather than compensating for instability. Midfielders have been able to push higher. Full backs have been able to join attacks with greater freedom. Wingers have been able to stay wide rather than dropping deep and the entire team has been able to play with greater ambition.
This shift has been subtle, but it’s also been significant. Sunderland look more fluid, more connected and more capable of controlling matches.
This isn’t to say that Westrup has single-handedly transformed the team — football is collective, after all — but her influence has been a catalyst. She’s provided the foundation upon which others can build. She’s allowed Sunderland to play with a clearer identity and she’s allowed them to express themselves.
Managing a defensive line is one of the most complex tasks in football, requiring communication, awareness, timing and confidence. It also requires an understanding of distances, angles, triggers and a defender who can read the match and adjust the line accordingly.
Westrup has shown that she possesses all of these qualities.
She manages the line with authority, ensures that the shape is maintained, organises the press, coordinates the drop and communicates constantly. She reads the movement of the opposition and adjusts the positioning of her teammates — and this level of management is crucial in a league in which defensive lapses are punished ruthlessly.
Her confidence in managing the line has also allowed Sunderland to play higher up the pitch.
When the defensive line is confident, the midfield can push forward. When the midfield pushes forward, the attack becomes more connected. When the attack becomes more connected, the team becomes more dangerous. Westrup’s influence has helped create this chain reaction.
SUTTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland speaks with Kirsty Howat of Crystal Palace following the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 match between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at VBS Community Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Sutton, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
SUTTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland speaks with Kirsty Howat of Crystal Palace following the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 match between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at VBS Community Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Sutton, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
WSL Football via Getty Images
Her confidence also extends to her ability to defend one-on-one.
She doesn’t shy away from duels. Instead, she positions herself well, uses her body intelligently and forces attackers into less dangerous areas. This kind of defending not only stops attacks, but it also builds confidence within the team. When a defender wins her duels consistently, the team begins to trust the structure.
One of the most telling signs of a great defender is the way she elevates those around her — and Westrup has done exactly that.
Her presence has brought stability to the backline while her leadership has brought clarity. Her composure has brought calmness, and her vision has brought connection. As a result, her teammates have been able to play with greater confidence.
Younger defenders have grown under her guidance. Midfielders have been able to focus on their roles rather than dropping deep to cover. Full backs have been able to join attacks with greater freedom. The entire team has benefited from her influence.
This is not simply about technical ability — it’s about emotional intelligence; of understanding what teammates need and about providing reassurance. It’s about creating an environment where players feel supported, and Westrup has done that, becoming a figure of trust within the squad.
Her influence also extends beyond the pitch. She carries herself with professionalism, sets standards, leads by example and brings experience and perspective. These qualities shape the culture of a team. They shape the expectations, and they shape the identity.
Football is as much psychological as it is tactical.
Confidence shapes decisions. Belief shapes performances and fear shapes mistakes. When a team trusts its defensive structure, everything else becomes easier. Westrup has changed the psychology of Sunderland, giving them a sense of security, control and belief.
This psychological shift has been evident in recent performances. The comeback against Durham required belief; the win over Southampton required discipline, and even the defeat to London City Lionesses required resilience. Sunderland have shown all of these qualities and Westrup has been central to that.
Her presence allows the team to take more risks; to push higher, to play with greater ambition and to trust the structure. This kind of psychological freedom is invaluable in a league where matches are often decided by confidence rather than quality.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland AFC poses for a portrait during the WSL 2 Headshot 2025/26 shoot day on August 13, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Andrea Southam - WSL/The FA via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Brianna Westrup of Sunderland AFC poses for a portrait during the WSL 2 Headshot 2025/26 shoot day on August 13, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Andrea Southam - WSL/The FA via Getty Images)
The FA via Getty Images
Sunderland are a club built on resilience, development and belief.
They’ve always punched above their weight, produced talented players and competed with heart. Westrup embodies that identity. She plays with intelligence, commitment and pride.
Her influence isn’t loud, dramatic or attention-seeking. Instead, it’s steady, consistent and transformative. She’s become the kind of player who shapes the team’s identity; who defines the way Sunderland defend, the way they build and the way they compete.
Westrup’s recent run of starts has been one of the most important developments of Sunderland’s season. She’s strengthened the backline, brought clarity to the structure and elevated those around her. She’s also allowed the team to play with greater ambition, becoming the quiet architect of Sunderland’s resurgence.
Her leadership, composure, vision and confidence in managing the line have transformed the way Sunderland approach matches. She’s given them a foundation, a sense of belief, and an identity.
In a season defined by fine margins, her influence could be the difference between drifting and climbing, surviving and competing, and potential and progress.
Sunderland needed stability, structure and a defender who could bring order to chaos. In Westrup, they’ve found exactly that.