WSL 

Something so uncommon it's hard to believe it even happened. Where one would have hoped the Women's game would have grown, this situation shows exactly what is still to come. Crystal Palace won their opening WSL victory against Everton 1-0, but they are now under investigation for breaching the league's substitution rules. This isn't because they made too many subs, but because of a rule that isn't spoken about much: they made too many opportunities to sub. They had four windows, while the wsl only allows a maximum of three, though changes made at half-time are treated differently and do not count as one of the three active-play windows allowed.

As the WSL comes to an end, let's look back at some of the most crucial matches that reshaped the entire 2025/26 season.

This weekend, we see what has been an iconic WSL season come to an end, with so much unpredictability, while the title has been secured. Off-pitch farewells, final home appearances, and emotional retirements will define the closing feature. 

The 2025/26 season saw a massive change in the top two tiers of women's football, with the FA stepping away from operations and the Women's Professional League Limited, an independent, club-owned company, stepping in to drive commercial growth and manage the top tiers. These changes included the then-Championship, which was named after the men's game model, called WSL2. 

After Manchester United's 3-0 loss at Old Trafford against title leaders and local rivals Manchester City, it has been rumoured that Marc Skinner's job is at risk.

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by London City Lionesses in a controversial and tense game at The Den, with the atmosphere shaped by anger from Millwall fans towards London City following their split from the club.

London City Lionesses host Chelsea, but due to Bromley playing on the Saturday and this game then being moved due to Champions League football, the women's team are unable to use the stadium. This means they have to use the Den, the home of Millwall FC, which was secured as their backup stadium at the start of the season, as the WSL requires a secondary stadium.

If there is one thing I would change, it would be to make fan segregation stricter. The fact that opposition fans can be in the home end endangers not only themselves but also other fans, and takes the rivalry and atmosphere away from the game. 

A record number of Swedish players are competing in the WSL as the league evolves and attracts more international stars who recognise its competitiveness.

Tottenham Hotspur did almost everything right in the opening 45 minutes – except score. Spurs tore into Chelsea with pace, intent and confidence, dominating the shot count and striking the crossbar, but football’s oldest lesson came back to haunt them. Champions do not need many chances; they only need one. Against the run of play, Chelsea found theirs through a moment of Keira Walsh's brilliance, turning a half owned by Spurs into a game firmly under the control of the defending champions and exposing the acceptable margins between contenders and winners in the WSL.

For the first time in over 11 years, Chelsea have lost back-to-back WSL matches. This season is definitely one the Blues will like to forget. They started strong, hoping to secure their seventh consecutive title, but dipped in November. Once they thought they had recovered, they lost 2-0 to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, their first WSL loss at the main stadium. Then 5-1 to Man City away. This is their worst WSL loss in history; the previous one was a 4-0 loss to Sunderland in 2015. This was the first time Sonia Bompastor had had back-to-back defeats in 181 games in all competitions 

Manchester City’s performance against Chelsea in the WSL was described as both ruthless and impressive. Leaving their manager Andree Jeglerz speechless. With an 11-point lead at the top of the table, City's 5-1 victory over their biggest rivals at the Etihad Stadium confirms the title race. This was Chelsea's first back-to-back WSL loss in nearly 11 years.

The match that will define the title race: if Man City wins, they will have a 12-point lead over Chelsea. A draw would be a nine-point lead, which is somewhat unbeatable. A draw or a loss could see Chelsea drop down to third if Arsenal win their match.

WSL football reports a £8.2 million loss for the first year of overseeing the top two tiers of the women's game in England.

Is the WSL title race for the 2025/26 season over already?

Arsenal produced a composed and ultimately clinical display to beat Chelsea 2–0 at Stamford Bridge, ending an eight-year wait for a Women’s Super League away win against their London rivals and delivering a significant blow to the champions’ title defence. This was the first time a WSL side has beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

History favours Arsenal. Twenty-six wins to Chelsea’s twenty-three. Yet under Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea have never lost to the Gunners and, in recent years, have dominated them. This is a fixture that defines the WSL, built on decades of history and dramatic finals. It’s shaped by legacy, silverware and momentum shifts from Arsenal’s early dominance to Chelsea’s rise under Emma Hayes, making each clash crucial in the league’s narrative.

Another weekend of the Women’s Super League delivered drama, frustration and acceptable margins at both ends of the table. Arsenal were left rueing missed chances in a goalless draw with Manchester United, Chelsea reminded everyone of their title credentials with a ruthless display, and Manchester City continued their relentless march at the top. Elsewhere, Spurs strengthened their push for Europe, Aston Villa found momentum after the break, and goals once again proved challenging to come by for those at the bottom. As the second half of the season begins, every point and every goal is starting to matter.

The Barclays Women’s Super League returns this weekend with a complete programme of fixtures as the second half of the season gets underway, with form, fitness and momentum under the spotlight across the division.

WSL has signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz, which has now tripled its commercial revenue since going independent from the FA.

London City Lionesses have confirmed the appointment of Eder Maestre as their new Head Coach following a sudden managerial change earlier this month, stating that their previous manager was no longer part of their long-term plans.

The battles between the top four were the defining moments of the title race, truly the only thing separating the sides.

The final Women’s Super League round before the winter break delivered defining moments at both ends of the table, with emphatic statements from title contenders, resilience from teams under pressure, and late drama that encapsulated the competitiveness of the division.

The Women’s Super League moves into its final weekend before the winter pause with storylines spilling across every fixture. Champions League nights, historic upsets, late winners and crucial injury updates shape a round that feels decisive both at the top and the bottom of the table. Every side carries its own pressure and ambition into Saturday and Sunday, and several managers have used their pre-match briefings to underline the stakes.

Chelsea have finally lost a WSL game under their manager, Sonia Bompastor. They have now set a new WSL record, unbeaten in 34 matches. Their 1-0 home loss to Everton was Chelsea's first goalless game under Bompastor. Chelsea were unbeaten for 585 days in the WSL.

This weekend of WSL action delivered some of the most dramatic, surprising and decisive moments of the season so far. The headline shock came when a defiant Everton Women ended Chelsea Women’s long-running unbeaten streak in league play, a result that immediately reshaped the title race. Meanwhile, Manchester City Women reinforced their grip on first place with a commanding win. Elsewhere, tight contests and late-game heroics from several clubs kept the chase down the table wide open and full of intrigue.

The Women’s Super League returns after the international break with a complete set of intriguing fixtures across Saturday and Sunday. Several teams enter the weekend carrying disrupted preparations, fitness concerns, and shifting momentum, while others arrive with renewed belief after strong results in recent weeks. With the table beginning to take shape heading into winter, every point now carries growing weight, and each match offers its own subplot.

It is disappointing that the North London Derby was not played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

While Chelsea extended their unbeaten run, now a WSL record, to 34 games, they have not won consecutive WSL games since December 2021.

Manchester City capitalised on Chelsea’s recent dip in form, although it is only a dip by their usual standards, as they are typically relentless in finding ways to win. City moved to the top of the table with a three-point cushion over Chelsea, their biggest rivals. Unlike Chelsea, City are not competing in the Champions League this season and can therefore focus entirely on the WSL, aside from some League Cup fixtures. Chelsea, by contrast, is balancing the league with their pursuit of a first Champions League title, a trophy that has eluded them for years.

This WSL weekend felt like a shift in the landscape. The derby at the Etihad changed the mood at the top. Chelsea’s historic unbeaten run survived, but their grip on the title loosened. Liverpool stood tall. Arsenal and Tottenham fought out a fierce contest in a stadium that was not the main venue for a north London derby. West Ham finally won. Brighton scored four. London City stunned Villa. Every match mattered, and every match told a story.

A crowd of 6,788 created a lively backdrop at Brisbane Road for a fiercely fought north London derby. All 1,300 travelling Arsenal supporters responded to Spurs’ anthem with a loud rendition of The Angel, creating an intense derby atmosphere.

We are now in week 9 of the WSL, and it is truly heating up with double derby drama this weekend. Who can top the table? Can Chelsea reclaim top spot from Manchester City, or can City keep the momentum going?

The Women’s Super League delivered another weekend packed with drama, controversy, and statement performances. From Chelsea equalling a historic unbeaten record at the Emirates to Aston Villa shocking Manchester United, every game had a story to tell. Manchester City climbed to the top of the table, promoted London City Lionesses stunned Tottenham, and late goals defined matches in Liverpool and Dagenham. But once again, the spotlight wasn’t just on the football as renewed calls for VAR dominated conversations across the league.

Arsenal 1–1 Chelsea: VAR Debate Overshadows London Derby as Blues Equal WSL Record

The WSL returns this weekend with pivotal fixtures across the table, as title ambitions, momentum, and pride all collide. Arsenal and Chelsea headline the round in a clash that could shape the title race, while Manchester United look to extend their unbeaten run, and Manchester City aim to keep pace at the top. Elsewhere, Liverpool chase their first win, Tottenham look to maintain their form, and West Ham battle Leicester in a fight for points and confidence. Every match carries weight in a league where small margins continue to define big moments.

It was another dramatic weekend in the Barclays Women’s Super League, from Tottenham’s comeback over Liverpool to Chelsea’s milestone moments and Manchester City’s gesture of solidarity. Every result told its own story across a weekend filled with emotion, resilience and late drama.

The international break brought a mix of high drama and stark reminders of football’s acceptable margins in the Women’s Super League. For one, young Michelle Agyemang’s season came to a premature end after she ruptured her ACL while playing for England. Elsewhere, players returned with renewed scoring streaks and optimism, while the spectre of red cards again hung around the game, introducing fresh selection headaches for coaches. With squads coming back together and momentum needing to be maintained, this weekend marks the first significant test of the next phase of the season for clubs across the league.

Chelsea is at the top of the table going into the international break. Manchester City is just one point behind them, and Manchester United is another point behind them.

Opening Weekend Fixtures (Confirmed)

As the women’s season is about to start, here are my predictions for the season ahead for all categories and why they have been chosen. Plus, it seems Opta also agrees with my decisions, so who needs a supercomputer when you have me? Leave yours down below->

Week six of the WSL, all matches are on Sunday, most at the main club stadium due to the men’s being on international break, except for the Chelsea game, because there’s the Chelsea legends vs. Liverpool legends charity match the day before. WSL rules state that one match per season must be played at the club’s nominated main stadium.

As the Women’s Super League season begins to take shape, this weekend’s fixtures carry extra weight for teams at both ends of the table. Leicester City and Everton face off in an early relegation six-pointer, West Ham look to spark their season against Aston Villa, Tottenham aim to keep their impressive form going against Brighton, and newly promoted London City Lionesses meet Liverpool in a crucial battle near the bottom. With every point vital, momentum and confidence are on the line across the league.

The Women’s Super League is serving up two blockbuster fixtures this weekend, with all four title contenders going head-to-head. Manchester United host defending champions Chelsea in a battle for top spot, while Manchester City welcome Arsenal in a clash that could shape the race to keep pace with the leaders. With unbeaten records on the line, key injuries on both sides, and early-season momentum at stake, the WSL table could look very different by Sunday night.

This Sunday marks a pivotal round of fixtures in the Women’s Super League, with five matches across the day that could shape the early table. Chelsea have the chance to go four points clear at the top, Manchester United and Manchester City will be desperate to keep pace, and Brighton, Leicester, and West Ham are looking to make their own statements. Every match carries weight, whether it’s the title race, European qualification, or the battle for survival. Here’s the full preview of what to expect.

After an unstoppable start to the season, Arsenal hit their first bump last weekend, held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away at Manchester United. For the first time this year, the Gunners slipped behind Chelsea in the title race – a reminder that any dropped points can be costly in the Women’s Super League. This was the first time Renee Slegers has managed a 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

The Women’s Super League returns this weekend with a slate of fixtures that promise drama, storylines, and potential table-shaping results. Everton open the round under the Friday night lights as they launch a new Hall of Fame, Tottenham test their unbeaten start against Manchester City, and Chelsea look to extend their dominance at home to Leicester. Elsewhere, Aston Villa meet Liverpool, Brighton face West Ham, and the headline clash sees Manchester United and Arsenal go head-to-head in a top-of-the-table showdown.

The WSL officially began in the 2025/26 season, so here is your guide to the opening weekend, all the games, news, and headlines breaking the front pages this weekend.

The WSL rolls into week two with plenty of intrigue, as early-season narratives begin to take shape. From Arsenal’s push for tactical “layers” under Renée Slegers, to Sam Kerr’s anticipated return for Chelsea, here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

City started on the front foot, high-pressing early on, but Spurs switched on. They had a solid defence as they dealt with the visitors’ high press.

Across the league this weekend, all the players from both sides came together in the centre circle with arms around each other to stand up to racism, a change from taking the knee. 

Manchester City underlined their attacking power with a convincing victory over Tottenham Hotspur, as debutant Grace Clinton scored against her former club in north London.

Beth Mead, rumoured to leave North London for London City Lionesses, has possibly proved her worth to her current club, as she is looking for more minutes.

The Women's Super League (WSL) delivered another thrilling weekend of action, with Chelsea asserting their dominance, Arsenal slipping up again, and both Merseyside clubs enduring challenging results. Here's a comprehensive look at all the matches from September 27–28, 2025.

Well, the WSL is officially back and underway. What a first weekend it has been. Euro winner Aggie Beever-Jones scored a world-class goal, and a million-pound signing, Olivia Smith, scored the season's opening goal.

Another weekend of WSL drama, and the theme is clear: comebacks. Arsenal, Chelsea, and City all had to dig deep to overturn setbacks, with late goals, returning legends, and record-breaking milestones dominating the headlines. From Arsenal’s late flurry of strikes to Sam Kerr’s emotional 100th Chelsea goal, here’s your debrief on a weekend where resilience defined the league.

The Women’s Super League delivered drama across the country this weekend as London City Lionesses claimed their first-ever top-flight victory, Manchester City put five past Tottenham, and Chelsea edged Leicester in a tightly fought contest. Brighton secured their opening win of the campaign while Manchester United and Arsenal cancelled each other out in a subdued clash, all against the backdrop of emotional tributes to former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Matt Beard.

The Women's Super League from 2026-27 season will expand from 12 to 14 clubs.

Chelsea and Arsenal