2025–26 Women's Super League 2

Women's Super League 2
Season2025–26
Dates6 September 2025 – 3 May 2026[1][2]
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 Women's Super League 2 will be the first season of the Women's Super League 2 since it was reverted to the WSL2 name, and the 11th since the creation of the WSL 2 in 2014. The season will begin on 6 September 2025 and will end on 3 May 2026.[1][2]

On 16 June 2025 it was announced that the Women's Super League would be expanding to 14 teams for the 2026–27 season. Because of this, the 2025–26 WSL 2 season will have two promotions and a promotion/relegation play-off for the 3rd placed team.[3]

Teams

Location of clubs for the 2025–26 season

Twelve teams were set to compete in the WSL2 for the 2025–26 season, an increase of one from the previous season,[4] however this number was reduced back to eleven prior to the season commencing.

London City Lionesses were promoted to the Women's Super League as 2024–25 Women's Championship winners.[5] They are replaced by Crystal Palace who returned to the division following relegation from the Women's Super League after one season.[6]

Nottingham Forest, winners of the 2024–25 FA Women's National League North,[7] and Ipswich Town, winners of the 2024–25 FA Women's National League South were both promoted.[8] Both clubs are making their WSL2 debuts.

On 20 May 2025, it was announced Blackburn Rovers had withdrawn from the WSL2 due to the club owner's unwillingness to meet league requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.[9][10] They will re-enter at the fourth tier (Division One North). Sheffield United who were set to be relegated to the FA Women's National League after spending seven seasons in the Championship were reprieved from relegation.[11]

Team Location Ground Capacity Manager
Birmingham City Birmingham (Bordesley) St Andrew's 29,902 Amy Merricks
Bristol City Bristol (Ashton Gate) Ashton Gate 27,000 Charlotte Healy
Charlton Athletic London (Charlton) The Valley 27,111 Karen Hills
Crystal Palace London (Sutton) Gander Green Lane 5,013 Jo Potter
Durham Durham Maiden Castle 1,800 (League)
2,400 (Cup)		 Adam Furness
Ipswich Town Colchester Colchester Community Stadium 10,105 Joe Sheehan
Newcastle United Newcastle upon Tyne (Kingston Park) Kingston Park Stadium 10,200 Becky Langley
Nottingham Forest Nottingham (West Bridgford) The City Ground 30,404 Carly Davies
Portsmouth Havant Westleigh Park 5,300 Jay Sadler
Sheffield United Sheffield Bramall Lane 32,050 Ash Thompson
Southampton Southampton St Mary's Stadium 32,384 Simon Parker
Sunderland Hetton-le-Hole Eppleton CW 2,500 Melanie Reay

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Crystal Palace Leif Gunnar Smerud Mutual agreement 11 May 2025[12] Pre season Jo Potter 24 June 2025[13]
Bristol City Stephen Kirby Mutual agreement 13 May 2025[14] Charlotte Healy 24 June 2025[15]
Southampton Marieanne Spacey-Cale (interim) End of interim period 4 May 2025 Simon Parker 4 July 2025[16]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Birmingham City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the WSL[a]
2 Bristol City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Charlton Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualifcation for promotion/relegation play-off
4 Crystal Palace 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Ipswich Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Newcastle United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Nottingham Forest 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Portsmouth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Sheffield United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Southampton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the Women's National League North or South
12 Sunderland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 September 2025. Source: Women's Championship League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Results

Home \ Away BIR BRI CHA CRY DUR IPS NEW NOT POR SHU SOU SUN
Birmingham City
Bristol City
Charlton Athletic
Crystal Palace
Durham
Ipswich Town
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth
Sheffield United
Southampton
Sunderland
First match(es) will be played: 6 September 2025. Source: Women's Championship Results and Fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b "Key dates confirmed for 2025–26 Barclays WSL and Barclays Women's Championship season". The Football Association. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Key dates confirmed for 2025/26 Women's Championship season". Yahoo Sports. 9 April 2025.
  3. ^ Sanders, Emma (16 June 2025). "WSL expanding to 14 teams - but relegation remains". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ^ Veevers, Nick (30 June 2024). "FA and Women's Professional Game statement on Reading FC Women". The FA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ^ "London City Lionesses promoted to Women's Super League after clinching Women's Championship". Sky Sports. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  6. ^ Nelson, Joe (27 April 2025). "What next for Crystal Palace after WSL relegation?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Forest Women Crowned League Champions". Nottingham Forest F.C. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  8. ^ Cunningham, Alice (28 April 2025). "Ipswich Town Women exhilarated after promotion". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  9. ^ "WSL Football Statement: Blackburn Rovers FC Women". The Football Association. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  10. ^ Sanders, Emma (20 May 2025). "Blackburn withdraw from Women's Championship". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  11. ^ Garry, Tom (5 June 2025). "Sheffield United get reprieve to stay in WSL 2 after Blackburn withdrawal". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Statement: Leif Smerud". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Palace Women appoint Jo Potter as manager". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Bristol City Women part company with Steve Kirby". Bristol City F.C. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Healy announced as women's Head Coach". Bristol City F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Simon Parker appointed Women's Head Coach". Southampton F.C. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
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