 | |
| Organising body | WSL Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 2010; 15 years ago (2010-03) |
| First season | 2011 |
| Country | England |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Women's Super League 2 |
| Domestic cup | Women's FA Cup |
| League cup | Women's League Cup |
| International cup | UEFA Women's Champions League |
| Current champions | Chelsea (8th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships |
|
| Top scorer | Vivianne Miedema (90) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Sky Sports BBC Sport seebroadcasting for international |
| Website | www |
| Current:2025–26 Women's Super League | |
TheWomen's Super League (WSL), also known as theBarclays Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons, and formerly theFA WSL, is a professionalassociation football league and the highest level ofwomen's football in England. Currently operated byWSL Football, the league was established in 2010 bythe Football Association (FA) and features twelve fully professional teams. The league replaced theFA Women's Premier League National Division as the highest level of women's football in England, with eight teams competing in theinaugural 2011 season. In the WSL's first two seasons, there was no relegation from the division.
The WSL discarded the winter football season for six years, between 2011 and 2016, playing through the summer instead (from March until October). Since2017–18, the WSL has operated as a winter league running from September to May, as was traditional before 2011. From 2014 to 2017–18, the Women's Super League consisted of two divisions — FA WSL 1 andFA WSL 2 — and brought a promotion and relegation system to the WSL. Ahead of the 2018–19 season, the second division was renamed theFA Women's Championship. After the 2024–25 season, it was rebranded once again and is now known as theWomen's Super League 2.
The WSL champions, runners-up and third-placed team qualify for theUEFA Women's Champions League the following season. Since its inception, four clubs have won the title:Chelsea (8),Arsenal (3),Liverpool (2) andManchester City (1).[a] The current WSL champions are Chelsea, who won their record-extending eighth title in the2024–25 season, as well as their sixth consecutive title.
The FA WSL was due to start in 2010 to replace theFA Women's Premier League National Division as the top level of women's football in England but was deferred for a year due to theglobal economic downturn.[1] Sixteen clubs applied for 8 places in the inaugural season of the league:Arsenal,Barnet,Birmingham City,Bristol Academy,Chelsea,Colchester United,Doncaster Rovers Belles,Everton,Leeds Carnegie,Leicester City,Lincoln Ladies,Liverpool,Millwall Lionesses,Newcastle United,Nottingham Forest, andSunderland.[2] Leeds Carnegie later withdrew their application.[3] Women's Premier League clubsBlackburn Rovers andWatford declined to apply.[4] FA Chief ExecutiveIan Watmore described the creation of the league as a "top priority" in February 2010.[5]
Theinaugural WSL season kicked off on 13 April 2011 at Imperial Fields, Chelsea's home ground, with a match between Chelsea and Arsenal, which Chelsea lost 1–0.[6]
For the 2014 season, a second division was created namedFA WSL 2, with nine teams and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remained as eight teams, with the WSL 2 having ten teams.[7][8][9][10] The new WSL 1 licence was awarded toManchester City. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to the WSL 2. They appealed against their demotion but were unsuccessful.[11]
In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand the WSL 1 from an eight to a ten-team league. Two teams were promoted from the WSL 2 at the end of the 2015 season, while one team was relegated to the WSL 2 with the same happening at the end of the 2016 season.[12][13] Also, for the first time, a team from the FA Women's Premier League earned a promotion to WSL 2, effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of theEnglish women's football pyramid.[14]
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The FA announced in July 2016 that the league would move from a summer league format to a winter league, in line with the traditional football calendar in England, with matches played from September to May the following year. A shortened bridging season took place, branded as theFA WSL Spring Series, with teams playing each other once from February to May 2017.[15]
Following the2017–18 FA WSL season, WSL 1 was renamed back to the FA Women's Super League, becoming a fully professional league for the first time, with eleven teams for the2018–19 season.[16][17] Teams had to re-apply for their licence to earn their place in the league, requiring clubs to offer their players a minimum 16-hour a week contract and to form a youth academy as compulsory for the new licence criteria. Sunderland was moved down to tier 3 in the women's football pyramid after not receiving a licence whilstBrighton & Hove Albion andWest Ham United were added to the league.[18]
The league was extended to twelve teams for the2019–20 season, withYeovil Town relegated after going into administration and being replaced byManchester United andTottenham Hotspur, who gained promotion from theChampionship.[19]
In May 2020, the league was curtailed by theCOVID-19 pandemic. Chelsea were declared champions of the season based on apoints-per-game average.[20]
At the conclusion of the2020–21 season, four first-team managers resigned from their positions at WSL clubs Birmingham, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Aston Villa. Birmingham's outgoing manager Carla Ward questioned the commitment of some of the clubs involved in WSL,[21] whilst Manchester United's outgoing managerCasey Stoney allegedly quit because of unresolved issues surrounding lack of training facilities and other infrastructure.[22]
In November 2023, all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs unanimously agreed to form a new organisation to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA. The organisation was named NewCo, and Nikki Doucet was named CEO.[23][24] Starting with the2024–25 season, the company was known as Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).[25][26] After the season, the organisation rebranded once again and is now known asWSL Football.[27]
In June 2025, it was announced that the WSL would expand to 14 teams from the 2026–27 season onwards. As a result, the2025–26 Women's Super League 2 season will directly promote two teams, while the bottom side WSL team will play in a promotion/relegation play-off against the third-placed WSL 2 side.[28]
| Season(s) | Teams |
|---|---|
| 2011–2015 | 8 |
| 2016–2017 | 9 |
| 2017–18 | 10 |
| 2018–19 | 11 |
| 2019–20 onwards | 12 |
The Women's Super League currently consists of twelve clubs. Initially the league was described as professional, with the top four players on each team being paid an annual salary in excess of £20,000.[29] However, in November 2010 it was confirmed that the WSL would besemi-professional, with only a "handful" of top players full-time.[30] Clubs' annual wage bills were expected to be approximately one-tenth of those in the now-defunct AmericanWomen's Professional Soccer.[30]
The 2011 season included a mid-season break from 12 May 2011, to allow for the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The season then resumed in early July, finishing in August 2011.[31]
All WSL teams compete in a knock-out cup competition, theWomen's League Cup.[32] For the2014 season, the teams were placed into three regional groups of six. The group winners and best-performing runners-up all advanced to a knockout semi-final.[33] Since the2015 season, the League Cup have been played simultaneously with the league season.
Following a review, the FA announced in September 2017 that a restructuring of the league and its licensing criteria would follow from the 2017–18 season with a goal of a fully professional top division of between 8 and 14 teams and a second division of up to 12 semi-professional teams.[34] For the 2018–19 season, the league became fully professional.[16]
The following twelve clubs compete in the2025–26 season:
| Team | Location | Main home ground | Capacity | 2024–25 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | London(Holloway) | Emirates Stadium | 60,704 | 2nd |
| Aston Villa | Birmingham | Villa Park | 42,640 | 6th |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Crawley | Broadfield Stadium | 6,134 | 5th |
| Chelsea | London(Kingston upon Thames) | Kingsmeadow | 4,850 | 1st |
| Everton | Liverpool | Goodison Park | 39,414 | 8th |
| Leicester City | Leicester | King Power Stadium | 32,312 | 10th |
| Liverpool | St Helens | BrewDog Stadium | 18,000 | 7th |
| London City Lionesses | London(Bromley) | Hayes Lane | 5,000 | WC, 1st |
| Manchester City | Manchester | Academy Stadium | 7,000 | 4th |
| Manchester United | Leigh | The Progress With Unity Stadium | 12,000 | 3rd |
| Tottenham Hotspur | London(Leyton) | Brisbane Road | 9,271 | 11th |
| West Ham United | London(Dagenham) | Victoria Road | 6,078 | 9th |
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In the first season of the WSL clubs were subject to a squad cap of 20 players. This proved unpopular with both managers and players.[35][36] Ahead of the 2012 season, the rule was reviewed and the cap increased to 23 players.[37] Players from outside theEuropean Union, like their male counterparts, are subject toHome Office work permit regulations.[38]
The FA said in April 2012 that the salary rule of allowing only four players per team to earn over £20,000 and that all clubs are paid £70,000 per season from a Club Development Fund should limit any financial "imbalance" between clubs.[39] However, the introduction of a genuinesalary cap remained under consideration for 2013 and beyond.[38] Doncaster managerJohn Buckley revealed that his club lostRachel Williams and other players to Birmingham City because he was working to a budget eight times smaller than that enjoyed by Birmingham.[40]
When the 2012 WPS season was cancelled in the United States, Lincoln Ladies manager Glen Harris said that the next destination of that league's British players would be decided by "pounds, shillings and pence."[41] UltimatelyKelly Smith,Alex Scott andGemma Davison all joined Arsenal,[42][43] whileIfeoma Dieke andAnita Asante joined the SwedishDamallsvenskan in preference to the WSL.
On 20 May 2023,Reading managerKelly Chambers noted that the team — the only WSL club not affiliated with a men'sPremier League club – struggled to compete with a smaller budget for wages than women's sides with Premier League backing. She cited the £250,000 fee paid byTottenham Hotspur forBethany England, while some Reading staff were required to work multiple roles from lack of investment by its affiliated men's side in theEFL Championship.[44]
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Teams in justbold indicatedoubles with theWomen's FA Cup. Teams inbold and initalics indicatetrebles with the Women's FA Cup andWomen's League Cup.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 8 | 2 | 2015,2017–18,2019–20,2020–21,2021–22,2022–23,2023–24,2024–25 | 2014,2016 |
| Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 2011,2012,2018–19 | 2021–22,2024–25 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 0 | 2013,2014 | |
| Manchester City | 1 | 6 | 2016 | 2015,2017–18,2018–19,2019–20,2020–21,2023–24 |
| Birmingham City | 0 | 2 | 2011,2012 | |
| Bristol Academy | 0 | 1 | 2013 | |
| Manchester United | 0 | 1 | 2022–23 |
Chelsea have won the most titles with 8 alongside the most consecutive wins, biggest title-winning margin, most points and most goals in a season. Since the2022–23 season,Arsenal have held the record for the highest average attendance per season and highest attendance game, breaking the record three more times during the2023–24 season. The club has the top three highest attendances in the WSL, all made at theEmirates Stadium, with the highest league attendance now set at 60,160 after the February 2024 match againstManchester United. Arsenal previously held the attendance record from 2012 until 2019 in a match against Chelsea with a crowd of 5,052. The club also holds the match record for the biggest win and highest scoring match with11–1 againstBristol City in the2019–20 season. Bristol City have experienced the most defeats in a season with 18 andReading the most draws with 9.
Vivianne Miedema holds numerous player records including the most WSL goals and goal contributions, most goals scored in a season with 22 (shared withRachel Daly), and quickest to reach 50 and 100 goals in the league. Further achievements include most goals scored in a single match with 6, most goal involvements in a game with 10, most assists in a match with 4, and most hat-tricks in a season with 3. OnlyKhadija Shaw, who has alsowon two golden boots, hasmore WSL hat-tricks than Miedema with 6.Beth Mead has provided the most assists and the most assists in a single season with 12,Jordan Nobbs has made the most WSL appearances with 210, andMary Earps has the most cleansheets with 56.Millie Bright has won the most titles as a player with 8, all of which were with Chelsea, andEmma Hayes as a manager has won the most titles with 7, also with Chelsea.In September 2021, the Women's Super League announced the first inductees into the BarclaysFA WSL Hall of Fame, recognising significant individuals who have contributed to the growth of the women's game in England and the WSL.[48]
As of 30 November 2022[update], the WSL's total annual sponsorship revenue was estimated to be about $14.72 million.[49]
In March 2019, the Women's Super League agreed a multi-million sponsorship deal with British bankBarclays from the start of the 2019–20 season. The three-year sponsorship deal is reported to be in excess of £10 million with a prize money pot of £500,000 for the league champions for the first time. The FA described the deal as "the biggest ever investment in UK women's sport by a brand".[50] Barclays renewed the sponsorship with an additional three-year deal on 15 December 2021, doubled its rights fee, and extended its sponsorship to theFA Women's Championship.[51][52]
The league's lead sponsor from 2012 to 2019 was Continental Tyres. Continental sponsored the FA's new commercial programme from 2014 to 2018 including theEngland women's national football team,FA Women's Cup and theFA WSL Continental Cup in addition to the WSL.[53][54] During the 2011 season,Yorkshire Building Society was also a sponsorship partner along with Continental.[55][30]
Most shirt sponsorships for women's sides affiliated with men's clubs are bundled and not sold or valued separately.[56]
In the 2022–23 season, 11 of the WSL's 12 teams were affiliates of men'sPremier League clubs,[57] with the only exception beingReading, who were affiliated with alower-tier men's side.[44]Arsenal,Chelsea,Liverpool,Manchester City,Manchester United, andTottenham Hotspur combined had spent a total of £123.6 million on their women's sides from the league's founding in 2011 to the 2022–23 season. A report inThe Telegraph compared this spending to the £186 million those clubs' spent onagents' fees for men's player transactions from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023. Those clubs spent £33 million on their women's sides over the same period.[58]
In July 2022, The FA declined a £150 million offer from an unnamed private equity firm to purchase the league. Baroness Sue Campbell had noted that The FA had refused other private equity offers.[59]
As of 2021[update], matches are broadcast and streamed in the United Kingdom and Ireland via The FA Player,Sky Sports, and theBBC (UK only). Internationally, select matches are broadcast in at least twelve countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden, and the United States.
FA women's competitions were initially broadcast onESPN from 2009 to 2013 as part of a four-year broadcast rights deal.[60] Six live matches were broadcast in 2011 in addition to weekly highlights, with ten games shown in 2012.[31] ESPN broadcast the opening game of the WSL between Chelsea and Arsenal atImperial Fields on 13 April 2011, a game Arsenal won 1–0 with a first half goal byGilly Flaherty. The second televised game took place on 12 May 2011 as Doncaster Belles lost 1–0 to Everton Ladies at theKeepmoat Stadium,Doncaster.[citation needed] In 2013,BBC Two broadcast four WSL programmes during the 2013–14 season. Each programme featured goal round-ups, highlights and features.[61]
During the 2017–18 season, many WSL games were broadcast on television byBT Sport, online and red-button by the BBC (UK only), and via the league's Facebook page.[62]BBC Sport continued to air one game a weekend digitally via theiriPlayer service and website,[63] while subscription channel Sky Sports also holds the rights to televise a selection of matches.[64][65] For the 2019–20 season, league matches were streamed via The FA Player, as well as someWomen's Championship games, highlights from theFA Cup,League Cup and internationalEngland games.[66][67] Some games in The FA Player were excluded, such as those broadcast on BT Sport in the UK and Ireland due to licensing rights.[68]
In March 2021, the FA WSL announced a new record-breaking three-year domestic television rights deal with Sky Sports and BBC, beginning with the 2021–22 season. Sky would broadcast 44 matches per season with a further 22 matches shown on BBC platforms including a minimum of 18 on BBC One or Two. All other fixtures would remain available to stream for free on The FA Player, the governing body's own overOTT service.[69] Believed to be worth around £8 million a season, it was the biggest broadcast deal of any professional women's football league in the world and marked the first time that the WSL's rights had been sold separately from the men's game.[70]
In July 2024,YouTube was listed as a new streaming service for non-broadcast WSL matches and select Women's Championship fixtures, as part of a transition from the FA Player. Sky Sports and BBC remained rights holders for the 2024–25 season, with Sky andNow TV broadcasting 44 matches, and the BBC broadcasting 22 matches on iPlayer, with 18 intended for BBC One or BBC Two.[71]
In October 2024, a five-year deal with Sky Sports and the BBC worth £65 million was agreed upon by the WSL, an increase from the estimated £7–8 million per season, and the first long-term agreement with broadcasters. As the main investor, Sky Sports are to broadcast 118 live matches per season, the BBC have committed to 21 matches, with the remaining games available on YouTube.[72]
For countries and regions without broadcast rights, all WSL matches are available on YouTube.[71]
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 Australia | Stan Sport[73] |
| Africa | Azam TV[74] |
 Austria | Sportdigital[75] |
 Germany | |
 Liechtenstein | |
 Switzerland | |
 France | W-Sport[75] |
 Lithuania | |
 Luxembourg | |
 Portugal | |
 Turkey | |
 Belgium | RTL-TVI[73] |
 Brazil | X-Sports[73] |
| GOAT[73] | |
| ESPN Brazil | |
 Canada | Sportsnet[76] |
| Caribbean | ESPN Caribbean[75] |
| Central America | Fox[73] |
 Mexico | |
 China | Huya Live[73] |
| iQIYI[73] | |
 Croatia | Sportklub[73] |
 Slovenia | |
 Israel | Charlton[73] |
 Italy | Sky Sport (highlights only)[73] |
 Japan | U-Next[73] |
 MENA | Dubai Sports[73] |
 Netherlands | Ziggo Sport[73] |
 New Zealand | Sky New Zealand[75] |
 Norway | VG[73] |
| South America | ESPN Latin America[75] |
| South East Asia | beIN Sports[74] |
 Spain | Movistar+[73] |
 United States | ESPN[77] |
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