The Women’s Super League is set to expand from 12 clubs to 14 for the 2025/26 season. in a significant shakeup.
Women’s Super League expansion confirmed
The WSL will now have 14 clubs from the 2026-27 campaign following a change that was approved on Monday. In order to achieve this target, the top two clubs in WSL 2 will be promoted into the top flight at the end of this coming season. Previously, only one team earned promotion to the Women’s Super League at the end of the campaign. Relegation from the WSL will also remain, contrast to the controversial proposition of temporarily ending relegation.
The idea was widely criticised, with many believing it contradicts the essence of what sport is, and with fears it could ultimately serve as a pathway to make the top flight a closed shop in the future. Also, the bottom club in the top flight standings will contest a relegation play-off against WSL 2’s third-placed team.
What the WSL said
“Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential,” WSL Football CEO Nikki Douet said in a statement.
Read: Manchester City end WSL season with win over relegated Palace
“Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board. Subject to the approval from The FA Board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities. The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for the women’s game and introduces a high-profile, high stakes match.”
What’s next?
The 2025-26 WSL season is bound to be a crucial on for women’s football in England. Following England’s success at Euro 2022 and journey to the 2023 World Cup final, attendances at top flight club level went down by 10% in 2024-25.
There had been no international tournament to pump up the number of spectators going into the domestic season. It is most important that England do well at Euro 2025 next month to recapture that momentum and wider interest.
DC is a sport reporting platform crafted to dish out reliable updates on sporting activities worldwide.
One Response