Ted Lasso Season 4 episode 9 puts Richmond’s promotion hopes on the line as Keeley receives life-changing news and Mae finally joins the Lady Greyhounds for an unforgettable trip.
Ted Lasso season 4 episode 9, titled “Mae Rides the Bus,” jumps forward several weeks after Gemma’s knee injury. The Lady Greyhounds have struggled without their leading scorer, turning an away match against Bristol Rovers into a must-win game for their promotion hopes.
Away from the pitch, major changes are also coming. Keeley learns something that could reshape her future with Roy, Rebecca and Higgins get closer to the truth behind Richmond’s disappearing shares, and Mae Green finally gets to experience the women’s team from somewhere other than behind the bar.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Ted Lasso Season 4 episode 9. Read at your own discretion.
Richmond Struggles Without Gemma
Around six weeks have passed since Gemma Jay (Abbie Hern) injured her knee.
Without her goals, Richmond has gone through a difficult run of results. The Lady Greyhounds now travel to Bristol needing a victory to secure promotion rather than leaving their fate to the final match.
Gemma has recovered enough to train, but she still needs medical clearance before playing. Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds), and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) therefore prepare alternatives.
One option is Shannon (Shannon Hayes), who has continued improving under Alice. The coach wants her to stop analyzing every movement and start trusting the instincts that made Ted notice her during the open tryouts.
Goalkeeper Katie “Boots” Quinn (Jude Mack) has another problem. An injured finger makes her usual refusal to wear gloves increasingly impractical.
Richmond needs everyone to adjust.
Keeley Learns She Is Pregnant
Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) has also been taking Richmond’s poor results hard.
During one match, she passes out, initially raising concerns about her blood pressure. A medical conversation soon points toward another possibility.
Keeley takes several pregnancy tests.
They are positive.
She tells Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) first. The news excites both women, but Keeley is nervous about telling Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), especially because their relationship has only recently found its way back to something stable.
Roy remains completely unaware.
For now.
Rebecca Keeps Looking In The Wrong Direction
Meanwhile, Rebecca and Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift) continue investigating the mysterious purchases of AFC Richmond shares.
Their main suspect remains her ex-husband Rupert. Given his history with both Rebecca and the club, the theory makes sense, but his lawyers deny that he has anything to do with the transactions.
The actual threat is much closer.
Zelda Southport (Tracey Ullman), who has steadily gained Rebecca’s trust, is secretly behind the attempt to collect enough shares to gain control of Richmond. Her connection to the club has given her access to the very people trying to uncover the scheme.
The Milk sisters could become crucial. They still own enough shares to affect Zelda’s plans, and her associate Hugo is trying to reach them before Rebecca realizes what is happening.
That creates a dangerous setup heading into the finale.
Richmond has spent the season trying to build a women’s team capable of surviving. Now Rebecca may have to fight to keep control of AFC Richmond itself.
Ted Invites Mae Onto The Team Bus
Before the Bristol trip, Ted’s landlady and pub owner Mae Green (Annette Badland) runs into a practical problem.
Ms. Green, a Richmond shareholder herself, cannot make the long drive herself.
Ted offers a simple solution: ride with the team. Mae happily accepts and joins the Lady Greyhounds on their bus to Bristol.
The invitation means more to her than Ted initially realizes.
Mae grew up loving football but never had the same opportunity to play that the Lady Greyhounds now have. The women’s team therefore represents something deeply personal: a version of the sport she once wished she could experience herself.
For one day, she gets to become part of the team she has supported from the pub.
Gemma Gets Cleared To Play
Richmond receives some welcome news before the match starts.
Gemma is cleared to play.
Her return gives the team another attacking option, but Ted and Alice remain careful about relying too heavily on someone returning from a knee injury.
Mae also gets her moment with the players.
She speaks about how far women’s football has come and what it means to see the Lady Greyhounds receive opportunities that her generation never had. Her message gives the team an extra reason to understand what their season represents beyond promotion.
Then Richmond steps onto the pitch.
Bristol Puts Richmond Two Goals Down
The speech does not produce an instant miracle.
Bristol takes control and goes 2–0 ahead, leaving Richmond’s promotion hopes in serious trouble.
Ted and Alice eventually turn to Gemma.
She comes into the game and immediately gives Richmond a lift. After winning a penalty kick, Gemma scores it herself and cuts the deficit to one.
But her knee starts bothering her again.
Rather than push through and risk another serious injury, Gemma comes out at halftime.
This time, Richmond has to find another hero.
Shannon Finally Gets Her Moment
Alice turns to Shannon.
Earlier in the season, Ted signed her despite Beard and Alice questioning whether she was ready. Now Alice shows how much her opinion has changed by trusting Shannon in Richmond’s biggest match yet.
Shannon responds by doing exactly what Alice has been teaching her.
She stops overthinking.
Boots also finally puts on goalkeeper gloves, choosing what helps the team over her personal preference. Richmond begins playing with more confidence as several different players step up.
The Lady Greyhounds equalize before team captain Lizzie Davis (Faye Marsay) puts them ahead.
Then Shannon gets her chance on a breakaway.
She scores.
Richmond completes a stunning turnaround and wins 4–2, securing the result it desperately needed.
Roy Keeps Keeley Away From The Stress
Keeley does not make the trip to Bristol.
Her blood pressure concerns make watching Richmond stressful enough that Roy tries to stop her from following the game altogether.
Keeley obviously wants updates.
Roy eventually compromises by recreating the match for her using makeup and beauty products around the room. It is ridiculous, strangely sweet, and exactly the kind of gesture that shows how comfortable the two have become with each other again.
When Richmond completes its comeback, Roy celebrates.
Keeley realizes the moment has come.
Keeley Tells Roy He Is Going To Be A Father
Meanwhile, Keeley finally tells Roy she is pregnant.
His reaction removes the fear she has been carrying throughout the episode.
Roy is thrilled.
Instead of treating the pregnancy as a problem arriving too soon after their reunion, he sees it as wonderful news. The two now enter an entirely new stage of their relationship together.
Their future suddenly looks very different.
Unfortunately, Richmond’s celebration is about to change too.
Mae’s Perfect Day Ends In Tragedy
Mae watches the Lady Greyhounds complete their comeback from the stands.
She gets to witness the team she loves secure one of its biggest victories, after spending the day traveling with the players and sharing what their journey means to her.
Then something happens in the crowd.
Rebecca receives the news and approaches Ted as everyone celebrates.
Mae has died. The episode does not establish a specific medical cause, instead letting Rebecca and Ted’s grief communicate the loss.
The victory suddenly feels completely different.
Mae spent years serving drinks, teasing supporters, and watching Richmond from the Crown & Anchor. Her final day lets her experience the club in a way she never had before: not simply as a supporter watching from the outside, but as someone welcomed onto the journey.
Richmond Celebrates And Grieves At The Same Time
“Mae Rides the Bus” gives Richmond one of its biggest sporting victories while making that success impossible to celebrate without sadness.
Shannon finally proves Ted’s early faith in her was not misplaced, Gemma learns she does not have to carry the team alone, and Keeley and Roy receive news that opens an entirely new chapter in their lives.
Mae’s death changes everything.
She leaves after seeing the Lady Greyhounds achieve something women of her generation were once denied the opportunity to pursue. That makes her final journey with Richmond both joyful and painful.
The season finale now has plenty to resolve. Richmond must process Mae’s loss, protect the club from Zelda’s takeover attempt, and finish a season that has grown into something much bigger than Ted simply returning to coach football.
Catch the season finale of Ted Lasso Season 4 on October 7 at 9 AM PHT on Apple TV.
Sources: Apple TV
