Women’s Super League 2025/26: Everything you need to know ahead of the new season

The Women’s Super League returns this weekend with a star-studded opener as champions Chelsea take on Manchester City on Friday night.

From Chelsea’s domestic dominance and Arsenal’s European triumph last season to an exciting new team entering the league, here’s your guide to the 2025 WSL season.

Chelsea were unstoppable last year, completing an unbeaten league campaign, finishing 12 points and lifting a domestic treble under Sonia Bompastor – her first season in charge after Emma Hayes’ departure in the summer of 2024.

Arsenal finished runners-up in the league and while they were not able to challenge for the WSL title, they had their moment of glory in Europe, defeating Barcelona in a dramatic Champions League final in Lisbon. Manchester United secured third place, while Manchester City slipped to fourth, missing out on European football.

At the bottom, Crystal Palace were relegated after just one season in the top flight. Taking their place this season are London City Lionesses, the first fully independent women’s club to reach the WSL, backed by investor Michele Kang.

This season, the 12 WSL clubs will each play 22 league fixtures, playing each team home and away. Here is a breakdown of the teams…

Chasing a seventh consecutive title, Chelsea look as strong as ever. Captain Millie Bright returns after being notably absent from the Euros, something she insists was ‘the best decision she ever made’.

Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kanerd ahead of new season

Fans will be wondering about Lucy Bronze’s recovery after she famously played the Euros with a fractured tibia, while star goalkeeper from the summer Hannah Hampton will be between the sticks for her third season in west London. Star striker Sam Kerr is set to return from her ACL injury after being out all of last season.

Key signings? Australian right-back Ellie Carpenter joins from Lyon.

Fresh from Champions League success, Arsenal boast a glittering squad: captain Kim Little is joined by Lionesses Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly, whose loan move to north London was made permanent this summer. Last year’s Player of the Season Mariona Caldentey conducts the midfield at the Emirates, the ground where all home WSL games will be played this season. Renee Slegers took charge after Jonas Eidevall’s departure last October and she will be looking to build on their European success in her first full season in charge.

Key signings? In a bid to close the gap on Chelsea, Arsenal made a world-record £1m signing of Canada forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool.

Marc Skinner’s side finished third and reached the FA Cup final. They have started their Champions League qualifying group well and will be hoping to progress in Europe this time out, after they failed to progress past the qualifications two years ago. Captain Maya Le Tissier leads a squad featuring her compatriot Ella Toone. The rumoured loss of Grace Clinton to Manchester City will be tough to take, but Jess Park coming in will soften that blow.

Key Signings? Julia Zigiotti Olme and Fridolina Rolfö.

After narrowly missing out on the title two years ago, City ’s fourth-placed finish last season was a setback. Off the pitch, Gareth Taylor was dismissed, Nick Cushing stepped in temporarily, and now former Denmark coach Andrée Jeglertz takes permanent charge.

Manchester City boss Andree Jeglertz on opening WSL game

Key signing? Midfielder Sydney Lohmann arrives from Bayern Munich and Grace Clinton from Manchester United seems to be in the pipeline.

Brighton

Brighton enjoyed their best-ever WSL finish, coming fifth. After Vicky Losada’s departure, 22-year-old Maisie Symonds is the new captain. Meanwhile, WSL legend Fran Kirby enters her second season with the Seagulls, and 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang returns on loan from Arsenal after her special summer in Switzerland, where her heroics won her Euro 2025’s young player of the tournament.

Villa surged to sixth last season, ending their campaign with five straight wins under manager Natalia Arroyo, who took over from the dismissed Robert de Pauw in January. Their notable summer signing is goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, back in the WSL after time at Barcelona.

Liverpool placed seventh last season. Coach Matt Beard was let go in February, with Gareth Taylor stepping in permanently over the summer. They lost their star forward Olivia Smith, sold to Arsenal in that record-breaking move but are yet to replace her.

Everton ended in eighth under Brian Sorensen, with the Danish manager heading into his fourth season in charge. A major development sees all home games moved to Goodison Park, a significant upgrade from 2000-capacity Walton Hall Park. With a capacity of 39,572, Goodison Park will now be the largest dedicated women’s football stadium in the country. They have shown intent in the transfer window, notably with their record-signing of midfielder Ruby Mace from Leicester.

West Ham

Rehanne Skinner’s West Ham finished ninth, boosted by January signing Shekiera Martinez, whose form earned her back-to-back WSL Player of the Month awards in March and April – the first Hammer ever to claim the honour. They will be hoping to build on the momentum they saw in the second half of their season.

Leicester placed tenth but are now precariously-balanced after the sudden departure of manager Amandine Miquel. They remain the only WSL club whose men’s team is not in the Premier League and have had a quiet transfer window. They could be in trouble this year.

Spurs struggled as they finished 11th, prompting a change in the dugout. Robert Vilahamn was replaced by Martin Ho, formerly Manchester United assistant and most recently head coach at Norwegian side Brann. Captain Bethany England remains their talisman, though Spurs must reduce their reliance on her to ensure a consistent season.

Tottenham’s Bethany England excited for new season

The newcomers bring an exciting story to the top-flight as they arrive as the first fully independent women’s club in the WSL. Backed by influential women’s sport investor Michele Kang, they already had a star-studded line up of players including their captain, Sweden international Kosovare Asllani.

They have bolstered their squad this summer, signing established WSL stars Danielle van de Donk, Nikita Parris, Katie Zelem and Alanna Kennedy to ensure they compete in this league from the start. Kang has publicly set the target of making them a mid-table force straight away.

The WSL is preparing for a major shake-up, with plans to expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026/27 season to increase competition and excitement.

This season: Two clubs from WSL 2 will be promoted automatically, while the 12th-placed WSL side faces a play-off against the third-placed WSL 2 team.

From 2026/27 onwards: The bottom team in the WSL will be automatically relegated, and the 13th-placed side will contest a play-off with the WSL 2 runners-up.

With Chelsea chasing history, Arsenal hungry for a league title, new stars arriving, and expansion on the horizon, the 2025/26 WSL season promises drama and excitement from start to finish.