The Women's Super League (WSL) 2025-26 season has come to a close, and it was a season of surprises, triumphs, and challenges. Manchester City emerged as champions, a decade-long wait for the title finally coming to an end. But the real story lies in the unexpected performances and the clubs that rose to the occasion, while others struggled to meet expectations. Let's take a closer look at the season's highlights and lowlights, and what it all means for the future of women's football.
Manchester City: A Dominant Force
Manchester City's victory was no fluke. They entered the season with a clear focus and a squad packed with talent. Manager Andree Jeglertz's debut campaign was a masterclass in strategy, with no distractions from the Champions League allowing them to throw everything at the WSL title. The 13-game winning streak between September and February was a testament to their dominance, and their 12-point lead over Chelsea at one point was a clear indicator of their strength. The key players, Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema, were kept fit and on form, scoring a combined 31 goals, half of the club's overall tally. With a squad of this depth and quality, City will be a force to be reckoned with in Europe next year, but they must replace Shaw, who looks set to leave.
Arsenal: A Strong Runner-Up
Arsenal, European champions last year, had high hopes for a first WSL title since 2019. However, injuries and a handful of disappointing performances left them chasing early on, and City took the advantage. Despite this, Arsenal had a strong run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, a welcome addition to an otherwise steady season. The club will go through a transitional period in 2026-27 with senior players departing and fresh faces arriving, but they are in a good place to challenge for more silverware. The future looks bright for the Gunners, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
Chelsea: A Disappointing Season
After winning six successive WSL titles, Chelsea signed forward Alyssa Thompson and defender Ellie Carpenter, so it was hard to look past them in the summer. However, an injury crisis up front and disruption behind the scenes, with the departure of head of women's football Paul Green, impacted a disappointing season. Manager Sonia Bompastor faced heat from fans for most of 2026, but her side were still able to win the League Cup in March. However, a team of Chelsea's stature want to win bigger things, and Bompastor has rightly called on the club to ensure they build a deep squad next season. The Blues will need to bounce back strongly if they are to regain their title-winning form.
Manchester United: A Respectable Performance
Manchester United had a challenging season, always going to be hard to finish above their top three rivals and navigate a debut campaign in the Champions League. They can be pleased with their European exploits, reaching the quarter-finals with a relatively small squad. However, their league form took a hit when they reached the knockout stages, with key midfielder Ella Toone unavailable for most of 2026. The Red Devils need to provide more competition for the top three rivals, and their lack of WSL goals against Chelsea, City, and Arsenal is a frustration. Marc Skinner's side has a lot of work to do if they are to challenge for the title in the coming years.
Tottenham: A Surprising Revival
The biggest surprise of the season was Tottenham's revival under manager Martin Ho. Having arrived last summer, Ho took over a squad that finished second bottom in 2024-25 and were tipped to be involved in another relegation battle. However, he turned them into one of the league's most competitive sides, impressing in showdowns with Manchester United and Arsenal. Shrewd business in the January transfer window gave Spurs another boost, and the club look ambitious for next season. It has been a hugely successful year for the Lilywhites, and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
London City Lionesses: A Successful Debut
The WSL newcomers, backed by billionaire Michele Kang and with no affiliation to a men's club, attracted a mountain of intrigue before the season began. They showed signs of what they could do, and a sixth-placed finish in their debut season in the top flight is certainly an achievement. However, sacking manager Jocelyn Precheur at the midway point felt unnecessary, and it is still unclear what direction Eder Maestre will take the club next season. The Lionesses have the potential to be a disruptive force in the WSL, but they will need to build on their success and establish themselves as a consistent contender.
Brighton: A Season of Ups and Downs
It has been a season of ups and downs for Brighton, who are preparing to play in their first FA Cup final on Sunday, which is a sign of growth. However, Dario Vidosic's side have shown on several occasions they have what it takes to finish higher up the table, they are just not able to produce it consistently enough. That will be a frustration, especially considering London City Lionesses and Tottenham had much more work to do in the summer. Tragedy hit in January when Vidosic's father and club employee Rado died, so Brighton can be proud of their response and resilience.
Everton: A Disappointing Season
It was a disappointing season for Everton, who had high hopes following the arrival of new owners and a strong foundation built by former boss Brian Sorensen. However, a poor start to the campaign led to Sorensen's sacking, a day after the winter transfer window shut, and, while they recovered, it stumped their progress. Interim boss Scott Phelan has steadied the ship, but Everton go into the summer with work to do to improve the squad and to appoint a permanent manager. The Toffees will need to bounce back strongly if they are to regain their form and challenge for the title.
Aston Villa: Inconsistent Performances
Aston Villa had high hopes for the new season after bringing in young talent in the transfer window, but it has not gone to plan. Natalia Arroyo's side have been inconsistent and have not been able to compete as much as they would have liked with teams around them. Defeats by London City Lionesses and West Ham in May were concerning results, but Villa performed well against Chelsea and Manchester City in March. The Villans desperately crave stability, so they need to perform better next season, particularly with the budget available to them, if they are to progress.
West Ham: A Season of Transition
West Ham sacked manager Rehanne Skinner after winning only one of their opening 11 games and hired Rita Guarino in December. They lost key players again in January but did boost the squad with fresh additions who fitted Guarino's philosophy. That helped them move away from relegation danger and they finished the season strongly, bringing a sense of optimism for next year. However, West Ham have toyed with relegation for a number of years, and the club must invest if they are to stay in the WSL, with ambitious sides coming into the league. The Hammers have a lot of work to do if they are to establish themselves as a consistent contender.
Liverpool: A Difficult Campaign
Liverpool warned supporters it could be a difficult campaign following a disruptive summer which included the departure of star player Olivia Smith and vice-captain Taylor Hinds, both to Arsenal. Manager Gareth Taylor was appointed late because of issues with his previous contract at Manchester City, and serious injuries to key players contributed to Liverpool dropping to the bottom of the table. The death of former manager Matt Beard in September also led to unimaginable challenges for the club. However, new signings in January were a welcome boost, and Liverpool clawed their way off the bottom of the table with encouraging performances. The Reds will need to build on this and establish themselves as a consistent contender in the coming years.
Leicester City: A Sad Farewell
Leicester City were relegated after a five-year stay in the WSL. Sacking Amandine Miquel 10 days before their season opener against Manchester United meant Leicester was always on the backfoot. The squad lacked identity and netted only 11, the league's lowest scorers. A 13-game losing run in 2026 left them bottom of the table, and they could not secure their survival in the play-off defeat by Charlton. It will be an uncertain time for players facing contract renewal discussions in the next few weeks, and Leicester will have to compete with richer clubs in WSL 2. The Foxes will need to rebuild and regroup if they are to return to the top flight.
In conclusion, the WSL 2025-26 season was a rollercoaster of emotions and performances. Manchester City emerged as champions, but the real story lies in the unexpected performances and the clubs that rose to the occasion. The future of women's football looks bright, with ambitious sides coming into the league and a new generation of talent emerging. However, there is still work to be done to establish the WSL as a consistent and competitive league, and the clubs will need to invest and build on their successes if they are to challenge for the title in the coming years.
