Barclays WSL 2025/26: A Season Rewritten

The Barclays Women’s Super League 2025/26 season has officially come to a close, delivering another unforgettable year of top class football. Across the campaign, fans were treated to big fixtures, dramatic results, and electric atmospheres that continued to show just how rapidly the women’s game is growing in England.

Manchester City

Manchester City secured the WSL title with a season defined by consistency, control, and key contributions across the pitch, finishing on 55 points at the top. A solid defensive platform was reinforced by the reliability of Ayaka Yamashita, who kept composure and consistency in goal, providing stability in crucial moments throughout the campaign. Whilst in attack, Khadija Shaw once again proved decisive with her goal scoring ability and strong presence, delivering regularly in important games. 

Arsenal

Down to North London, Arsenal finished second in this season’s campaign with 51 points, pushing the title race right to the end but ultimately falling just short of top spot. Their season was shaped by a strong attacking identity and consistent performances, with Alessia Russo playing a central role through her movement, and crucial goals in big moments. Following was Stina Blackstenius who provided a constant threat in behind with her pace and directness, giving Arsenal a different attacking dimension and ensuring they remained dangerous throughout the campaign.

Chelsea

Finishing in third with 49 points was Chelsea, the reigning champions from the 2024/25 campaign, as they were unable to retain their league title despite remaining firmly in the mix at the top end of the table. It was a season of transition in some ways, with new arrivals beginning to settle into the squad, including Alyssa Thompson, who made her first season at the club a promising one as she adapted to the style of English football and added pace with direct threat in wide areas. Meanwhile, long term player Sam Kerr continued to be a key figure for the side, but the campaign was also marked by the announcement of her departure from the club this summer, bringing an emotional end to a hugely influential chapter in Chelsea’s history.

Manchester United

Manchester United, who finished fourth, maintained their place among the league’s top teams with another competitive campaign, finishing just outside the Champions League spots but continuing to show consistency at the upper end of the table. A key story line of their season was the impact of new signing Jess Park, who impressed in her first season at the club with her creativity, energy, and ability to influence games in advanced midfield areas, quickly becoming an important part of United’s attacking structure. Alongside her, Melvine Malard provided pace and directness in the forward line, offering a constant threat in behind defences and adding valuable depth and dynamism to United’s attacking options throughout the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur

Finishing fifth were Tottenham Hotspur, who enjoyed another competitive season in the Barclays Women’s Super League, continuing to establish themselves as a consistent top-half side with strong performances across the campaign. Creativity and control were boosted by Olivia Holdt, whose technical quality and ability to link play added an important dimension to Spurs’ attacking phases, while club captain Bethany England remained a key figure in the squad, contributing goals and leadership throughout her final season at the club, marking the end of a significant chapter in Tottenham’s recent development.

London City Lionesses

Finishing sixth in their historic first Barclays Women’s Super League campaign were London City Lionesses, who impressed in their debut top-flight season by establishing themselves as one of the league’s most competitive newcomers and comfortably securing a solid mid table finish. Their transition into the WSL was underpinned by energetic performances and a fearless approach, with Freya Godfrey providing creativity and drive, consistently helping the team progress play and influence attacking phases, while Isobel Goodwin offered a sharp attacking outlet, contributing goals and direct running that proved vital in key moments as the club adapted quickly to life at the highest level.

Brighton & Hove Albion

In seventh were Brighton & Hove Albion, who experienced a mixed but eventful 2025/26 WSL campaign, combining strong performances with periods of inconsistency to settle into a mid-table finish. While league form fluctuated with a blend of impressive wins and frustrating defeats, their standout achievement has come in the FA Cup, where they have reached the final at Wembley Stadium on the 31st May.

A key influence throughout the season was Kiko Seike, whose movement, technical quality, and attacking versatility added a consistent threat in forward areas, while loan signing Rosa Kafaji brought creativity and flair, helping Brighton unlock defences and maintain a competitive edge.

Everton

Up to Merseyside, Everton finished eighth in the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, delivering a season of steady progression marked by competitive performances and flashes of real quality against higher ranked oppositions. While consistency proved a challenge at times, they remained a difficult team to break down and showed resilience across the campaign, particularly in tightly contested fixtures.

A standout player throughout the season was Ornella Vignola, whose creativity and attacking intent added an extra spark in forward areas, helping Everton carry more threat in transition and build momentum in key spells of the season. At the other end of the pitch, Courtney Brosnan was once again a crucial presence in goal, producing important saves and maintaining stability as Everton worked through a demanding campaign.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa finished ninth, and their WSL 2025/26 campaign ended on a difficult note after a promising spell earlier in the season, with a late run of four consecutive defeats ultimately halting their momentum and dropping them down the table. Despite that finish, Villa showed glimpses of their attacking quality throughout the year and remained competitive in several tightly contested fixtures.

Key contributions came from Kirsty Hanson, whose creativity and attacking work rate provided a reliable outlet throughout the season, while Lynn Wilms added energy, composure and assists to help Villa maintain structure and threat in possession even during a testing run in the campaign.

West Ham

In 10th place, finishing with 19 points were West Ham, who also endured a difficult campaign but still showed strong moments of resilience and individual quality despite some inconsistent results. Ffion Morgan impressed in her first season at the club with her energy and direct attacking play, while Shakiera Martinez featured regularly, becoming one of the club’s top goal scorers, in what has been her last season at the club, moving to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of next season.

Liverpool

Finishing 11th were Liverpool, who endured a difficult 2025/26 WSL campaign but still showed strong quality and attacking threat despite inconsistency across the season. While results were tough overall, there were standout individual performances that offered positives to build on going forward.

Ceri Holland was a consistent creative spark, registering several excellent assists and providing real quality, while Beata Olsson enjoyed a hugely impressive debut season as the club’s top scorer, quickly establishing herself as a key attacking presence despite a challenging year for the team as a whole.

Leicester City

Finishing bottom of the table in 12th with 9 points were Leicester City, who endured a difficult 2025/26 WSL campaign, winning just two matches and ultimately falling into the relegation play-off. Their season was confirmed in heartbreaking fashion after a penalty shootout defeat to Charlton Athletic in the play off, sealing their relegation to WSL2 after a hard fight but disappointing year.

Despite the struggles, Hannah Cain provided moments of attacking threat and energy in forward areas, while Emily Van Egmond brought experience and composure in midfield, offering leadership during a challenging campaign that saw Leicester unable to find enough consistency to survive the drop.

Promoted Teams & League Expansion

The 2025/26 season also marked a major shift in the structure of the Barclays Women’s Super League, with confirmation that the league will expand from 12 to 14 teams, signalling a new era for the top flight and increased opportunities across the pyramid.

At the same time, the relegation picture brought heartbreak for Leicester City, who have dropped to the WSL2 after losing their relegation play-off on penalties to Charlton Athletic.

However, expansion means promotion for three clubs,, with Charlton Athletic, Birmingham City, and Crystal Palace all securing their return to the top flight, settling up an exciting new-look WSL for the 2026/27 campaign.