Manchester City have won 14 of their 16 matches without a single draw — the most dominant WSL season since Chelsea’s peak run. Gareth Taylor’s side have a goal difference of +34 and look all but certain to end Chelsea’s six-year stranglehold on the title.

Chelsea won their record 8th WSL title under new boss Sonia Bompastor in May 2025, but three early-season defeats have left them 9 points adrift in 3rd. They remain in the UWCL and title race, but City’s unbeaten run makes a comeback look daunting.

Liverpool (10 pts) and Leicester City (9 pts) sit in the two relegation places. Due to WSL expansion to 14 teams in 2026–27, only the bottom club faces a new promotion/relegation play-off against 3rd-placed WSL2 — adding fresh drama to the season run-in.

Promoted as WSL2 champions, the Lionesses play at the 20,000-capacity Copperjax Community Stadium and sit a very creditable 6th place. Owner Michele Kang’s investment is making them one of the most ambitious projects in women’s football.

Charlton Athletic hold an extraordinary 25-game unbeaten run and lead the WSL2 table by a healthy margin. Manager Karen Hills has built a deadly counterattacking side, averaging just 41% possession — the lowest in the division — yet are the most clinical in front of goal.

Birmingham sit 2nd but are only narrowly clear of Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Newcastle in a tight play-off battle. The 3rd-placed team earns a tantalising play-off versus the bottom WSL club — meaning a top-five finish could still lead to promotion this season.

Three newly promoted clubs are making their WSL2 bow. Nottingham Forest (WNL North champions) sit a solid 7th, while Ipswich (WNL South champions) and Portsmouth are locked in an early relegation battle in 11th and 12th respectively.

Burnley Women top the FA WNL Northern Premier and are chasing what would be a landmark promotion to the second tier. Wolves sit second and will contest the inter-divisional play-off vs the Southern runners-up for one of three WSL2 promotion places this season.

Lewes FC Women, the first professional club in the world to offer equal pay for both their men’s and women’s teams, are top of the WNL Southern Premier and on the verge of promotion to WSL2. Real Bedford — backed by Peter Crouch’s former teammate and owner — are close behind in 2nd.

Because the WSL expands to 14 teams from 2026–27, the FA WNL this season offers an extra WSL2 promotion spot via an inter-divisional play-off between the runners-up of the North and South Premier Divisions — making every game at the top of the table even more consequential.