The Women’s Super League is set to kick off on September 4 with a mouth-watering opening fixture between London City Lionesses and Manchester United. This match could see the highly anticipated debut of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who joined London City Lionesses as a free agent from Barcelona. Putellas’s signing is a major coup for the Lionesses, and her presence is expected to make a significant impact on the team’s performance. Meanwhile, Manchester City will begin their title defence at home to promoted side Birmingham City on Sunday, September 6. The Blues have added the former Arsenal forward Beth Mead and Chelsea defender Niamh Charles to their ranks, bolstering their squad ahead of the new season.
The expanded 14-team top flight promises an exciting season, with newly promoted teams Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, and Crystal Palace looking to make their mark. Charlton Athletic will start their first-ever WSL1 match at home to Liverpool, while Crystal Palace plays Everton. The last of the three promoted teams, Birmingham City, faces the toughest test as they travel to champions Manchester City in a 2.30pm kick-off. The Women’s Super League has undergone significant changes, with the top flight expanding from 12 to 14 teams and new relegation and promotion rules in place. The team that finishes top of the WSL2 will be promoted to replace the team relegated from the WSL in bottom place, and the teams that finish in second and third place in WSL2 will meet to determine who will face the team that finishes 13th in the WSL in a playoff for a place in the top flight.
Manchester City’s title defence will be put to the test from the outset, with a tough opening fixture against Birmingham City. The Blues have a strong squad and will be looking to build on their success from last season, when they claimed the title with a game to spare and equalled their best-ever points total. Andrée Jeglertz’s side led the way from mid-November and maintained a 100% home record across the league campaign. With the team returning for pre-season training last week, all eyes are now on the 2026/27 season and their defence of the WSL crown.
The Women’s Super League has also announced its key dates and questions from the new season schedule. The season will feature five live games on the opening weekend, including the match between London City Lionesses and Manchester United. The WSL has run more than 1.5 billion fixture scheduling iterations to produce the calendar, taking into account stadium availability, broadcast requirements, and clashes with domestic and European competitions in both the men’s and women’s game. With the new season just around the corner, fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the Women’s Super League and the exciting matches that it promises to bring.
As the season gets underway, all eyes will be on the newly promoted teams and the big-name signings that have taken place over the summer. Alexia Putellas’s debut for London City Lionesses is highly anticipated, and her performance will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike. With the expanded top flight and new relegation and promotion rules in place, the Women’s Super League is set to be more exciting than ever. The opening weekend promises to be an thrilling start to the season, with five live games and some mouth-watering fixtures. The Women’s Super League is definitely one to watch this season, with its unique blend of exciting matches, talented players, and competitive teams.
