The Women’s Super League (WSL) championship promises strong emotions with the announcement of its schedule for the 2025-26 season. Fans will be able to enjoy vibrant matches from the start, with key encounters and the arrival of new teams.
The season will kick off with a stellar duel on Friday night, where the champion Chelsea will face Manchester City at home. At the same time, Arsenal will host the newly promoted London City Lionesses.
The opening day will take place during a FIFA date, between September 5th and 7th. The WSL2, formerly known as the Championship, will also begin on the same weekend.
Another of the standout matches of the first day will be the expected Merseyside derby, with Liverpool hosting Everton. In addition, Brighton & Hove Albion will face Aston Villa, Manchester United will play Leicester City, and Tottenham Hotspur will debut in a London derby against West Ham United.
The competitiveness in the WSL was a recurring theme at the end of last season, when Chelsea was crowned champion for the sixth consecutive time, and for the first time under the direction of coach Sonia Bompastor. Arsenal placed second and United third.
The new season will see the incorporation of the London City Lionesses, owned by Michele Kang, the only independent club in the WSL, marking their debut in the top category of English women’s football.Chelsea celebrated their sixth consecutive WSL title last season.Regarding the classics, the two London derbies between Arsenal and Chelsea are scheduled for November 8 and January 25, while the Manchester derbies will be played on November 16 and March 29.
The winter break will take place between December 22nd and January 10th. Arsenal and United will face each other on January 11th in their first match after the Christmas period.
The 2025-26 WSL season will be the last in its current format. Starting from the 2026-27 season, the league will expand to 14 teams, which means that the WSL team that finishes in last place will face the WSL2 team that occupies third place in a playoff, with the top two WSL2 teams earning direct promotion.
The playoff weekend is scheduled between May 22nd and 25th.
In addition, the WSL is taking measures to mitigate scheduling conflicts with the Women’s Champions League and the Europa League. Early October matches involving Arsenal, Chelsea, or United will be scheduled on Fridays or Saturdays to ensure they have at least two days of rest before a European match.
The WSL season will end between May 15 and 17, with Chelsea hosting Manchester United on the final matchday.
Arsenal will travel to Liverpool, and the London City Lionesses will face Aston Villa.
The WSL 2 season will conclude two weeks earlier, during the first weekend of May.
