2025–26 Women's Super League 2
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 5 September 2025 – 3 May 2026[1][2] |
| Matches | 100 |
| Goals | 307 (3.07 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Rio Hardy (Bristol City) (8 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Bristol City 7–0 Ipswich Town (9 November 2025) |
| Biggest away win | Sheffield United 0–4 Sunderland (5 September 2025) Ipswich Town 0–4 Birmingham City (12 October 2025) Portsmouth 0–4 Birmingham City (24 January 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Crystal Palace 4–4 Southampton (14 September 2025) |
| Longest winning run | (5 games) Crystal Palace (16 November 2025 – 25 January 2026) |
| Longest unbeaten run | (16 games) Charlton Athletic (7 September 2025 – 18 February 2026) |
| Longest winless run | (9 games) Ipswich Town (5 October 2025 – 1 February 2026) |
| Longest losing run | (6 games) Portsmouth (21 December 2025 – 15 February 2026) |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 15 March 2026. | |
The 2025–26 Women's Super League 2 is the first season of the Women's Super League 2 since it was reverted to the WSL2 name, and the 11th since the creation of the WSL 2 in 2014. The season began on 5 September 2025 and will end on 3 May 2026.[1][2]
On 16 June 2025 it was announced that the Women's Super League would be expanding to 14 teams for the 2026–27 season. Because of this, the 2025–26 WSL 2 season will have two promotions and a promotion/relegation play-off for the 3rd placed team.[3]
Teams
Location of clubs for the 2025–26 season
Twelve teams compete in the WSL2 for the 2025–26 season, an increase of one from the previous season,[4].
London City Lionesses were promoted to the Women's Super League as 2024–25 Women's Championship winners.[5] They are replaced by Crystal Palace who returned to the division following relegation from the Women's Super League after one season.[6]
Nottingham Forest, winners of the 2024–25 FA Women's National League North,[7] and Ipswich Town, winners of the 2024–25 FA Women's National League South were both promoted.[8] Both clubs are making their WSL2 debuts.
On 20 May 2025, it was announced Blackburn Rovers had withdrawn from the WSL2 due to the club owner's unwillingness to meet league requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.[9][10] They will re-enter at the fourth tier (Division One North). Sheffield United who were set to be relegated to the FA Women's National League after spending seven seasons in the Championship were reprieved from relegation.[11]
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | Birmingham (Bordesley) | St Andrew's | 29,902 | Amy Merricks |
| Bristol City | Bristol (Ashton Gate) | Ashton Gate | 27,000 | Charlotte Healy |
| Charlton Athletic | London (Charlton) | The Valley | 27,111 | Karen Hills |
| Crystal Palace | London (Sutton) | Gander Green Lane | 5,013 | Jo Potter |
| Durham | Durham | Maiden Castle | 1,800 (League) 2,400 (Cup) |
Adam Furness |
| Ipswich Town | Colchester | Colchester Community Stadium | 10,105 | Joe Sheehan |
| Newcastle United | Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 | Tanya Oxtoby |
| Nottingham Forest | Nottingham (West Bridgford) | The City Ground | 30,404 | Carly Davies |
| Portsmouth | Havant | Westleigh Park | 5,300 | Jay Sadler |
| Sheffield United | Sheffield | Bramall Lane | 32,050 | Ash Thompson |
| Southampton | Southampton | St Mary's Stadium | 32,384 | Simon Parker |
| Sunderland | Hetton-le-Hole | Eppleton CW | 2,500 | Melanie Reay |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | Leif Gunnar Smerud | Mutual agreement | 11 May 2025[12] | Pre season | Jo Potter | 24 June 2025[13] |
| Bristol City | Stephen Kirby | Mutual agreement | 13 May 2025[14] | Charlotte Healy | 24 June 2025[15] | |
| Southampton | Marieanne Spacey-Cale (interim) | End of interim period | 4 May 2025 | Simon Parker | 4 July 2025[16] | |
| Sheffield United W.F.C. | Ash Thompson | Mutual Agreement | 30 September 2025[17] | 12th | Luke Turner (interim) | 30 September 2025[17] |
| Newcastle United | Becky Langley | Sacked | 20 October 2025[18] | 9th | Claire Ditchburn (interim) | 22 October 2025[19] |
| Claire Ditchburn (interim) | End of interim spell | 22 November 2025 | 4th | Tanya Oxtoby | 22 November 2025 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlton Athletic | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 12 | +14 | 41 | Promotion to the WSL[a] |
| 2 | Birmingham City | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 40 | 20 | +20 | 32 | |
| 3 | Crystal Palace | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 31 | Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off |
| 4 | Newcastle United | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 20 | +9 | 30 | |
| 5 | Bristol City | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 37 | 26 | +11 | 27 | |
| 6 | Southampton | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 24 | |
| 7 | Sunderland | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 29 | −5 | 20 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 20 | |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 15 | |
| 10 | Durham | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 14 | |
| 11 | Ipswich Town | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 35 | −19 | 14 | |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 21 | 43 | −22 | 14 | Relegation to the Women's National League North or South |
Updated to match(es) played on 18 March 2026. Source: WSL 2 League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
- ^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.
Matches
Season statistics
Top scorers
- As of 15 March 2026
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[20] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Hardy | Bristol City | 8 |
| 2 | Jessie Gale | Bristol City | 7 |
| Beth Hepple | Durham Women | ||
| Abbie Larkin | Crystal Palace | ||
| Lexi Lloyd-Smith | Bristol City | ||
| Veatriki Sarri | Birmingham City | ||
| 7 | Ellie Brazil | Southampton | 6 |
| Lily Crosthwaite | Birmingham City | ||
| Megan Hornby | Portsmouth | ||
| Emily Murphy | Newcastle United | ||
| Emily Scarr | Sunderland | ||
| 12 | Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah | Nottingham Forest | 5 |
| Rianna Dean | Ipswich Town | ||
| Lucy Fitzgerald | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Kirsty Howat | Crystal Palace | ||
| Jodie Hutton | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Katie Kitching | Sunderland |
Clean sheets
- As of 28 January 2026
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[21] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophie Whitehouse | Charlton Athletic | 6 |
| 3 | Fran Bentley | Bristol City | 4 |
| 4 | Adrianna French | Birmingham City | 3 |
| Fran Stenson | Southampton F.C. | ||
| Shae Yanez | Crystal Palace | ||
| Emily Batty | Nottingham Forest | ||
| 5 | Catriona Sheppard | Durham | 2 |
| Grace Moloney | Sunderland | ||
| 9 | 5 players | 1 | |
Discipline
- As of 28 January 2026
| Most yellow cards | Total | Most red cards | Total | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player |
Charlie Devlin (Bristol City) |
5 |
Sophie Barker (Plymouth) |
1 | [22][23] |
Awards
Monthly awards
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | ||
| September | Amy Merricks | Birmingham City | Emily Scarr | Sunderland | [24][25] |
| October | Simon Parker | Southampton | Jodie Hutton | Charlton Athletic | [26] |
| November | Karen Hills | Charlton Athletic | Megan Hornby | Portsmouth | [27] |
| December | Jo Potter | Crystal Palace | Jordan Nobbs | Newcastle | [28][29] |
References
- ^ a b "Key dates confirmed for 2025–26 Barclays WSL and Barclays Women's Championship season". The Football Association. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Key dates confirmed for 2025/26 Women's Championship season". Yahoo Sports. 9 April 2025.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (16 June 2025). "WSL expanding to 14 teams - but relegation remains". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ Veevers, Nick (30 June 2024). "FA and Women's Professional Game statement on Reading FC Women". The FA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "London City Lionesses promoted to Women's Super League after clinching Women's Championship". Sky Sports. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Nelson, Joe (27 April 2025). "What next for Crystal Palace after WSL relegation?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Forest Women Crowned League Champions". Nottingham Forest F.C. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Cunningham, Alice (28 April 2025). "Ipswich Town Women exhilarated after promotion". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "WSL Football Statement: Blackburn Rovers FC Women". The Football Association. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (20 May 2025). "Blackburn withdraw from Women's Championship". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Garry, Tom (5 June 2025). "Sheffield United get reprieve to stay in WSL 2 after Blackburn withdrawal". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Statement: Leif Smerud". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Palace Women appoint Jo Potter as manager". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Bristol City Women part company with Steve Kirby". Bristol City F.C. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Healy announced as women's Head Coach". Bristol City F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Simon Parker appointed Women's Head Coach". Southampton F.C. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ a b FC, Sheffield United (30 September 2025). "Club statement". Sheffield United FC. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Newcastle United Women and Becky Langley part ways". Newcastle United F.C. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ "Claire Ditchburn to lead Newcastle United Women on interim basis". Newcastle United F.C. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Women's Super League 2 top scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "England - WSL 2 clean sheets". soccerstats.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Yellow Cards - WSL 2 Season 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Red Cards - WSL 2 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Amy Merricks Wins WSL2 Manager of the Month Award for September". www.bcfc.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Emily Scarr wins Barclays Player of the Month award". www.safc.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ Football, W. S. L. (24 October 2025). "Barclays Women's Super League 2 October award winners announced". WSL Football. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Football, W. S. L. (28 November 2025). "Barclays Women's Super League 2 November award winners announced". WSL Football. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Jo Potter named WSL2 Manager of the Month for December - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Nobbs bags Barclays WSL 2 and PFA Fans' December Player of the Month awards - Newcastle United". www.newcastleunited.com. Retrieved 28 January 2026.