An Introduction to the Barclay's Women's Super League

The Barclay’s Women’s Super League consists of 12 teams battling it out each week to stay up in the WSL and reaching the top spots for Champions League Qualification. 

Each season we will see teams leave and join the league. This is what we call the “relegation” or “promotion”.   

Promotion, in the WSL, means one team will get promoted to the WSL from the Barclay’s Women’s Championship.  

Following on, relegation, in the WSL, means one team will get relegated to the Barclay’s Women’s Championship.  

Each team will play a series of 22 games each to try and win the WSL title. 

The previous winner, during the 23/24 season, was Chelsea Women’s Football Club, who have now won the league five consecutive times.   

During these 22 games, each team will play each other once at home and the other away. 

What’s new to the WSL season during the 2024/25 campaign? 

The 2024/25 season is the first season that the Women’s Super League will operate independently from the FA (Football Association). 

As a result, a company named Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) will be responsible for the league. 

The WPLL has stated that they want to “transform women’s football by building the most distinctive, competitive, and entertaining women’s football club competition in the world. 

What teams are in the Women’s Super League during the 24/25 season? 

As stated before, the WSL involves 12 teams all over England, these teams are, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham. 

Crystal Palace being the new addition, who gained promotion off the 23/24 Barclay’s Women’s Championship season.  

This will be their first season in the WSL, but do they have what it takes to stay up during the 24/25 campaign? 

What games are on Matchday One? 

The Women’s Super League kicks off on Friday 20th September at 19:00 with Chelsea vs Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow, home of Chelsea Women. 

On Saturday 21st of September, we will see Manchester United take on West Ham at 12:00 at Old Trafford.  

We will also see Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton at 12:30 at Broadfield Stadium, home of Brighton Women. 

Finally, on Sunday, we will see 3 games, we start off with Arsenal vs Manchester City at The Emirates Stadium which is the new and official home ground of Arsenal Women, this will kick off at 12:30. 

After that, we will see Tottenham take on Crystal Palace at the first London Derby of the season; this takes place at Brisbane Road and will kick off at 14:00. 

The final game of Matchday one of the Women’s Super League is Liverpool vs Leicester City which will also kick off at 14:00pm at St Helens Stadium.  

St Helens Stadium is the new stadium that belongs to Liverpool Women. 

Where to watch Matchday 1 of the Women’s Super League? 

Chelsea vs Aston Villa will be streamed on BBC TWO. 

While, Manchester United vs West Ham will be streamed on the new WSL YouTube Channel, along with games: Brighton vs Everton, Liverpool vs Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace.  

Arsenal vs Manchester City will be the only game streamed on Sky Sports. 

Tune in to these broadcast channels over the weekend commencing Friday 20th of September – Sunday 22nd of September 2024.