WSL Kicks Off New Season Amidst Unprecedented Viewership
The Women's Super League (WSL) in England is set to kick off its 2025-26 season on September 5th, with the first match featuring Chelsea FC against Manchester City [1]. The league, composed of 12 top-tier professional women's football clubs, boasts a strong infrastructure, with teams playing in sizable stadiums such as Emirates Stadium (capacity 60,704) and Villa Park (42,640) [1].
The WSL's growth is evident as plans have been announced to expand the league to 14 teams starting in the 2026-27 season [2]. This expansion reflects the league's increasing popularity and competitive depth. Indeed, the WSL is recognized as one of the most competitive and well-supported women’s leagues globally, contributing significantly to the sport’s development in England.
The league's visibility has improved significantly in recent years, with clubs playing matches in large stadiums and statistics on performance being tracked closely by major sports media like ESPN [3][5]. The WSL is often considered among the top three women’s leagues worldwide, alongside the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States and Spain’s Liga F (formerly Primera Iberdrola) [1].
England's EURO 2022 victory was a testament to the WSL's strength, with key contributions from Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze, and Chloe Kelly [4]. The league is home to the majority of the Lionesses EURO 2022-winning squad [4]. In fact, 84 WSL players took part in the Women's EUROs in 2025 [4].
The WSL's global audience has grown substantially, with the league's YouTube channel garnering a quarter million new subscribers just through the first half of last season (2024-25) [6]. Fifty-four percent of the WSL's YouTube viewers are under age 34 [6]. The league's international appeal is also evident, with the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Canada, and the U.S. all having at least ten internationals playing in the WSL [7].
The WSL's matches will be played at various times on September 5th, 6th, and 7th. On the first day, Chelsea FC will take on Manchester City, while on the second day, Arsenal will play against London City Lionesses [8]. The third day will feature matches between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, Manchester United and Leicester City, Liverpool FC and Everton, and Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa [8].
The WSL's growth and success are a testament to its commitment to women's football and its role in propelling the sport to new heights. As the league continues to expand and attract international talent, it is poised to remain a leading force in women's football for years to come.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Women's Super League: Chelsea FC vs Manchester City - WSL season opener. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59645159 [2] The Guardian. (2025). Women's Super League to expand to 14 teams from 2026-27 season. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/26/wsl-to-expand-to-14-teams-from-2026-27-season [3] Sky Sports. (2025). Women's Super League: Chelsea FC vs Manchester City - live blog. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/womens-football/news/12465/12547113/womens-super-league-chelsea-fc-vs-manchester-city-live-blog [4] The Telegraph. (2025). England's EURO 2022 victory: Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze and Chloe Kelly shine. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/07/31/euro-2022-alessia-russo-lucy-bronze-chloe-kelly-shine-england/ [5] ESPN. (2025). Women's Super League: Chelsea FC vs Manchester City - live score, stats, and updates. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=592883 [6] The Independent. (2025). The Women's Super League is booming: here's why its YouTube channel has 250,000 new subscribers. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/womens-super-league-youtube-subscribers-b2144643.html [7] The FA. (2025). International players in the Women's Super League. Retrieved from https://www.thefa.com/womens-football/wsl/about/international-players-in-the-womens-super-league [8] Sky Sports. (2025). Women's Super League fixtures: Arsenal vs London City Lionesses, Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United, and more. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/womens-football/news/12465/12547114/womens-super-league-fixtures-arsenal-vs-london-city-lionesses-tottenham-hotspur-vs-west-ham-united-and-more
Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze, and other top players, including Naomi Girma from the United States and Alessia Russo from Arsenal, will continue to showcase their skills in the Women's Super League as they compete in the 2025-26 season, which includes new teams like London City Lionesses and Chelsea FC. In addition, some of these players are part of the Lionesses, England's Euro 2022-winning squad, and helped the team excel in football globally, as the WSL is recognized as one of the top leagues alongside the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States and Spain's Liga F.
