Austria Wien had a history-making 2025/26 season. The club won the ÖFB Frauen Bundesliga, the ÖFB Frauen Cup and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. This season, the club is embarking on a first ever campaign in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Austria legend Verena Hanshaw was a marquee signing for Austria Wien, no doubt in preparation for a season of defending their title and challenging in Europe’s biggest football competition.

Joining from Women’s Super League side West Ham, Hanshaw comes with a wealth of pedigree across Europe and in the UWCL.

This season will be the first time Austria Wien have ever competed in the UWCL.

Historically, SKN St. Pölten have competed on behalf of the ÖFB Frauen Bundesliga but they failed to qualify this season. Hanshaw says it’s ‘huge’ for her side to fly the Austrian flag in the UWCL.

“St. Pölten sadly didn’t make it this year but we’re so proud that we did and to compete on the biggest stage. It’s a massive step for this club, we’ve brought in new players such as myself and we’ve improved again on last season. Hopefully we can show this on the pitch,” she said.

Austria Wien had to overcome SK Brann to qualify for the league stage of the UWCL and did so in emphatic style, defeating the Norwegian giants 5-2 on aggregate as underdogs.

“This game was really important for us, our reaction after the game was ‘wow, what just happened? We just did such a good job.'” Hanshaw said.