The 2025-26 Women's Super League (WSL) season is set to kick off on Friday, September 5, 2025, with defending champions Chelsea taking on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. This season promises to be more competitive than ever, with 12 teams battling it out over 22 rounds of matches.

Key Highlights of the Season

• Opening Match: Chelsea vs. Manchester City (September 5, 2025)
• Season Conclusion: Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Champions League Qualification: Top two teams qualify for the league phase of the Women's Champions League; third-place team enters the third qualifying round.

New Format and Relegation Play-off

In a significant change to the WSL format, the team finishing bottom of the 12-team table will face a relegation play-off against the team that finishes third in WSL 2. This is due to the expansion of the WSL at the start of the 2026-27 season, when it will become a 14-team league.

Teams to Watch

The 2025-26 season welcomes London City Lionesses, the first club to be promoted to the top tier without any affiliation to a men's team. Their majority owner, Michele Kang, also owns Washington Spirit and Lyon's women's team.

Full List of Competing Teams:

1. Arsenal
2. Aston Villa
3. Brighton & Hove Albion
4. Chelsea
5. Everton
6. Leicester City
7. Liverpool
8. London City Lionesses
9. Manchester City
10. Manchester United
11. Tottenham Hotspur
12. West Ham United

How to Watch

• BBC Coverage: 21 WSL matches will be shown across BBC TV and iPlayer. The first game on the BBC is Arsenal vs. London City Lionesses on September 6, 2025.
• Digital Highlights: Available via the BBC Sport website, app, and social channels.
• Sky Sports and TNT Sports: Other WSL matches and the Women's FA Cup will be broadcasted on these platforms.

Conclusion

The 2025-26 WSL season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet, with new teams, a revised format, and extensive coverage. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer to women's football, there's plenty to look forward to.