The Women’s League Cup reaches its decisive stage on Wednesday night, with four of the Women’s Super League’s most prominent names battling for the right to contest the final at Ashton Gate on 15 March. Holders Chelsea travel to face league leaders Manchester City in a repeat of last season’s final, while record winners Arsenal host Manchester United in a tie that has already produced two goalless stalemates this campaign. With silverware in sight and familiar rivals once again crossing paths, both semi-finals promise tension, tactical nuance and acceptable margins.
Manchester City and Chelsea meet at the Joie Stadium in what has become one of the defining fixtures of the women’s domestic calendar. The sides faced each other four times last season, including the 2025 League Cup final, which Chelsea won 2–1 on their way to a domestic treble in Sonia Bompastor’s first year in England. Chelsea also came out on top when the teams met on the opening day of the WSL season in September, winning 2–1 at Stamford Bridge in Andrée Jeglertz’s first competitive match in charge of City.
Since that defeat, City have been relentless. They arrive at the semi-final having won 11 consecutive WSL matches to move six points clear at the top of the table, and are unbeaten in 16 games across all competitions. Jeglertz believes his side is in a very different place now, pointing to clarity and confidence as key factors behind their form. “First of all, the confidence that we know what we’re supposed to do, we’re clear with our relationships and the game model,” he said. “That was the first game, but we’re in a different place. There’s definitely been a big change since then.”
City’s route to the last four has been emphatic. They topped Group A with victories over Everton and Nottingham Forest and a draw with Newcastle, before thrashing West Ham 5–1 in the quarter-finals. A 6–0 FA Cup win away at Bournemouth at the weekend extended their momentum, although there are absentees to contend with. Brazilian winger Kerolin will miss the match with a minor injury, while long-term absentee Mary Fowler and Sydney Lohmann have both returned to training but may not yet be ready to feature. January signing Sam Coffey is available and could make her debut. Much of City’s attacking threat will again rest on Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, the league’s leading scorer, whose all-round play has been central to their dominance.
Chelsea arrive in Manchester fresh from a comfortable 5–0 FA Cup win over Crystal Palace, but with several fitness concerns. Aggie Beever-Jones trained ahead of the trip and could return to the squad, while Keira Walsh is close to a comeback but will not be ready in time. Niamh Charles and Catarina Macario remain sidelined, and Nathalie Björn is not expected back until March. Bompastor confirmed her options at Cobham, saying: “We will probably have the same group as we had at the weekend. Maybe Aggie will be back in the group for Wednesday. Keira isn’t far from returning with the squad, probably on the weekend, but not for the one on Wednesday.” Despite the absences, Chelsea retains depth and experience, with Alyssa Thompson emerging as a key attacking outlet this season and the Blues’ tactical flexibility again likely to be a factor.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, Arsenal host Manchester United at Meadow Park in a semi-final shaped by familiarity and frustration. The two sides have already met twice in the WSL this season, drawing 0–0 on both occasions, most recently at the Emirates Stadium 10 days ago when United held firm despite playing with 10 players for the final 25 minutes. United also knocked Arsenal out of this competition in the 2023 quarter-finals, winning 1–0 on the back of a goal from Alessia Russo.
Arsenal come into the tie with a congested schedule and a lengthy injury list. Emily Fox is unavailable after a head injury sustained at the weekend, while Leah Williamson is sidelined with a calf problem. Chloe Kelly, Manu Zinsberger, Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid remain out, Naomi Williams is cup-tied, and Kyra Cooney-Cross is on compassionate leave. That leaves Renée Slegers with limited scope for rotation, although she stressed the importance of freshness given the short turnaround. “It’s a two-day preparation going into United, so I definitely take that into account,” she said. “We have to be good at both – beating a high press, but also breaking down lower defences.”
Manchester United arrive with renewed depth following January reinforcements, including Hanna Lundkvist and Lea Schüller, and head coach Marc Skinner has hinted at rotation after their FA Cup outing at the weekend. Sixteen-year-old Layla Drury, who scored on her debut, could again be involved. “She’s got that ‘I don’t care’ attitude around the challenge she’s going to face,” Skinner said. “She puts herself in a space where she can be thought about in contention even at 16.” United’s approach is unlikely to change significantly; their defensive structure has proved effective against Arsenal so far this season.
With two tightly poised semi-finals and four clubs accustomed to competing for honours, Wednesday night offers a compelling snapshot of the Women’s League Cup at its sharpest. Whether through dominance, discipline or a single decisive moment, only two sides will earn the chance to contest the final. Given recent history, the margins are likely to be as fine as ever.
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