Women's Super League The new WSL season starts with a bang
Football emotions return already on the first weekend of September, and the schedule of the opening fixtures looks excellent: from the opening hit at Stamford Bridge, through the debutants at the Emirates, to local derbies and clashes full of ambition. Here is an overview of the most interesting storylines of the first round.
The 2025/26 Women’s Super League season will begin on September 5. It will be a short but intense football weekend, the matches spread from September 5 to 7 will create a spectacular opening of the league competition.
Chelsea – Manchester City
The season will open with a hit clash at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, the current champion, enters the new campaign with confidence, confirming the dominance of recent years. Lauren James – her creativity, dribbling, and ability to score goals in surprising moments can decide the fate of many matches.
Manchester City arrives with a strong lineup: Vivianne Miedema, Lauren Hemp, and Khadija Shaw are players who in a single action can turn the score around. City is never an easy rival, even if before the season it seems not fully prepared. The result may be decided by tactics, rotations forced by European competitions (on Chelsea’s side), and the freshness of City’s attack after summer squad changes. It’s a clash of styles, class, and experience, a perfect season opener.
Arsenal – London City Lionesses
Arsenal enters a new era under Renée Slegers. The club plans to play part of its WSL home matches at the Emirates Stadium to attract a larger audience and give the games a more spectacular setting.
For London City Lionesses it is a historic moment, a debut in the top division. The project supported by Michele Kang has been strengthened both organizationally and in the squad. Kosovare Asllani (5 goals and 8 assists in the previous season) and Sofia Jakobsson (3 goals, 5 assists) add quality and experience to the team. Meanwhile, Isobel Goodwin, who stood out in the Championship (16 goals), can be the promoted side’s offensive ace.
The narrative of this match is clear: Arsenal wants to confirm its championship aspirations, while the Lionesses want to prove that promotion was not accidental. The debut at the Emirates is an extra dose of motivation for both sides.
Liverpool – Everton
The Merseyside Derby always has a special flavor. This time Liverpool will host Everton at Anfield. It’s a clash in which history and local rivalry matter as much as the table. Everton will want to maintain a good run in important matches, and Liverpool to use the advantage of its own stadium and fans. Derbies are unpredictable – pressure, intensity, and emotions of the stands can influence the result more than statistics.
Tottenham – West Ham
Another London derby. Tottenham’s meetings with West Ham have been gaining intensity for several seasons – geographical closeness, transfers, and rivalry make these matches fierce and full of fire. West Ham can cause problems for stronger opponents, and Spurs will want to prove they can regularly collect points in such clashes.
Manchester United – Leicester City
For Manchester United, a win in the opener is a clear signal: fighting for the top. After a successful previous season, the team is aiming for the highest places. Leicester, on the other hand, needs points to start the competition well. Here the key will be mental strength and effectiveness in decisive moments.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Aston Villa
Although it is not a match with as much media weight as Chelsea – City, it can strongly influence the shape of the table after the first round. Aston Villa proved good form in recent months and will certainly not come “just to show up.” Brighton, on the other hand, will want to confirm that it really aspires to play in the upper part of the table. It’s the promise of an open, offensive game.
Players to watch:
- Chelsea: Lauren James (3 goals, 1 assist), Sandy Baltimore (4 goals, 3 assists) — game creators. Plus Agnes Beever-Jones, revelation of the previous season (9 goals).
- Manchester City: Vivianne Miedema (7 goals, 1 assist) and Khadija Shaw (12 goals, 1 assist). Together with Russo they were the most effective in the previous campaign.
- Arsenal: Chloe Kelly (2 goals, 3 assists in 8 games) – potential for a breakthrough season. Alessia Russo – top scorer of the previous season (12 goals).
- London City Lionesses: Isobel Goodwin – 16 goals and 3 assists in the Championship, an interesting figure of the debuting team.
Inauguration of the WSL 2025/26
The weekend of September 5–7 promises to be extremely exciting: the Chelsea – Manchester City hit, the London City Lionesses debut on the big stage, local derbies, and matches that will immediately set the tone for the entire season. It’s a perfect moment to renew your season ticket, meet with friends, and enjoy the fact that women’s football in England once again delivers football of the highest quality.
