Birmingham City
Last season: 2nd. Predicted finish: 2nd
After missing out on promotion on the final day of last season, finishing just two points behind London City Lionesses, Birmingham looked virtually WSL-ready on and off the pitch but were the victims of the old format’s lone promotion spot. Under Amy Merricks, they had the best defensive record in the division but too many draws ultimately cost Birmingham dearly. With a second automatic promotion spot up for grabs – and one playoff spot too – they should just about have enough, after some strong summer signings, including the return of the Greece winger Veatriki Sarri and the Haiti forward Batcheba Louis.
Bristol City
Last season: 6th. Predicted finish: 3rd
Charlotte Healy is the new head coach after building a strong reputation as an assistant coach at Manchester United. A promising transfer window sees the arrival in midfield of the former Wales captain Sophie Ingle and the former Barcelona captain Vicky Losada. Forward Lexi Lloyd-Smith says of Healy: “So far, she’s unreal. She communicates really well and I feel like she’s going to get the best out of the players by being like that. Last season, there was a disappointing end because at Christmas we were joint first, and I really did see the potential in the squad to go all the way, but the ambition now is to get that promotion, [there] is unfinished business.”
Charlton Athletic
Last season: 3rd. Predicted finish: 4th
Hard to beat, well-coached and organised at the back, Charlton lost only three league games last season and are likely contenders once again. Pushing above their weight, achieving more than expected on a budget not be in the same bracket as Newcastle and Birmingham, pulling off promotion would be a shock. Still, the defender Kiera Skeels says: “Everyone is really excited, with the new league structure and the promotion places. We’ve had two quite successful years and we’re looking to build on that and hopefully be part of it. We want to show what we’re about.”
Crystal Palace
Last season: 12th in the WSL. Predicted finish: 5th
Since their relegation, Palace have lost some quality players to NWSL clubs, including Katie Stengel and Clarissa Larisey, but have held on to Annabel Blanchard, whose 11 goals in 19 league games helped win promotion two seasons ago. The acquisition of the Belgium midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet from Everton brings experience and invaluable height at set-pieces. New head coach Jo Potter is now in her second managerial job after winning two Scottish Cups and two Scottish Premier League Cups with Rangers.
Durham
Last season: 4th. Predicted finish: 6th
Ever-present members of the second tier since 2014, Durham are a well-run club, closely connected with their community and have stepped up their ambitions after selling a 25% stake in the club to two long-term supporters, the lottery winners Patrick and Frances Connolly. New signing Mariana Speckmaier boosts their attack. Centre-back Sarah Wilson says: “I think because we’ve always had that family feel as a club we’re very close-knit with a core group who have been around for a long time, and that’s what makes this club so special. It’s the trust you have [in each other].”
Ipswich
Last season: Promoted from FAWNL. Predicted finish: 11th
Champions of the southern region’s third tier after averaging more than four goals per game, Joe Sheehan’s side have a shot at second-tier football and they might just be capable of staying there, especially if Sophie Peskett can keep firing in the goals. Youth graduate Paige Peake was their first signing of the summer after three years at Southampton. “It was really exciting to be back home,” she says. “Now we’re full-time professionals, so that jump in the space of four years is great and the facilities at the training ground have really improved.”
Newcastle
Last season: 5th. Predicted finish: 1st
What a summer on Tyneside. With the extra promotion places up for grabs, Newcastle are clearly going for it, signing Jordan Nobbs, a title winner with Arsenal, and Aoife Mannion, an FA Cup winner with Manchester United. That signalled their intent even before the loan signing of Morgan Gautrat, twice a world champion with the USA, from Orlando Pride. Grace Williams arrives as their new director of football, and she oversaw promotions at Bristol City in 2023 and Crystal Palace in 2024. Favourites to win the division.
after newsletter promotion
Nottingham Forest
Last season: Promoted from FAWNL. Predicted finish: 7th
Carly Davies’ side completed an unbeaten league campaign to clinch promotion and their summer recruitment suggests they intend to be competitive at second-tier level. Among the arrivals are players with top-flight experience such as Rachel Rowe, Deanne Rose and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. The Scotland defender Kirsty Smith arrives from West Ham. “I want to get back to enjoying football and also the style of play here suited me,” she says. “They have ambition, they want to compete in this league. It was a tough decision to go down [a league] but this division is so competitive. It’s just nice to be part of a team that’s pushing to be at the top half of the table and I hope that’s where we’re going to be. They made the decision easy for me.”
Portsmouth
Last season: 9th. Predicted finish: 12th
Having had to wait until March to win their first league game in their first campaign at this level after their promotion in 2024, Portsmouth finished strongly and won two of their final five fixtures to avoid relegation. Surviving again this season will not be a simple task because of the strength of the promoted teams. Still, midfielder Ava Rowbotham remains positive, saying: “We really kicked on after Christmas, so to stay up and continue our spot in WSL2 was really good and everyone is just buzzing and excited to kick on.”
Sheffield United
Last season: 12th. Predicted finish: 10th
Finishing rock-bottom of the then 11-team league, Sheffield United were handed a reprieve on 4 June when the Football Association handed them the place left vacant by the financially troubled Blackburn Rovers. Sheffield United, having met all the requirements for a full-time licence, were the natural choice. They have added the former England youth international Charlie Devlin to the squad and turned Alyssa Aherne’s loan from Manchester United into a permanent transfer. They will be desperate to make the most of their chance for redemption.
Southampton
Last season: 8th. Predicted finish: 9th
After manager Remi Allen’s exit in February, Simon Parker arrived this summerhaving spent two years overachieving in charge of Blackburn, and he will want to show what can be achieved with stronger financial backing. That said, Southampton are hardly overburdened with cash so it would be unrealistic to expect a sudden title charge. But the new signings Emma Harries and Ellie Brazil in particular should add some much-needed goals: only Portsmouth, Blackburn and Sheffield United scored fewer last term.
Sunderland
Last season: 7th. Predicted finish: 8th
Sunderland were solid if unspectacular last season and seem the benchmark for mid-table stability under their long-serving head coach Melanie Reay. The Republic of Ireland and former Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney at 32 brings experience between the posts. Defender Brianna Westrup, before her fourth season with the club, says: “Every year I’ve been in this league it’s very much felt like anyone can win on any day. It’s been rare when we’ve felt one team is running away with it. [This summer] there has been quite a lot of movement within the league, players switching teams. Overall we feel positive, in fairly good stead. It feels a bit more like the year before last when we had a good run [finishing third in 2024].”
