2025–26 Women's Super League 2

Women's Super League 2
Season2025–26
Dates5 September 2025 – 3 May 2026[1][2]
Matches86
Goals270 (3.14 per match)
Top goalscorerRio Hardy (Bristol City)
Beth Hepple (Durham )
Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City)
Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City)
(7 goals each)
Biggest home winBristol City 7–0 Ipswich Town
(9 November 2025)
Biggest away winSheffield 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 scoringCrystal Palace 4–4 Southampton
(14 September 2025)
Longest winning run(5 games)
Crystal Palace
(16 November 2025 – 25 January 2026)
Longest unbeaten run(14 games)
Charlton Athletic
(7 September 2025 – Present)
Longest winless run(9 games)
Ipswich Town
(5 October 2025 – 1 February 2026)
Longest losing run(5 games)
Ipswich Town
(5 October 2025 – 16 November 2025)
Portsmouth (21 December 2025 – Present)
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 8 February 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On 20 May 2025, it was announced Blackburn Rovers had withdrawn from the WSL2 due to the club owner's unwillingness to meet league requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.[9][10] They will re-enter at the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 England Amy Merricks
Bristol City Bristol (Ashton Gate) Ashton Gate 27,000 England Charlotte Healy
Charlton Athletic London (Charlton) The Valley 27,111 England Karen Hills
Crystal Palace London (Sutton) Gander Green Lane 5,013 England Jo Potter
Durham Durham Maiden Castle 1,800 (League)
2,400 (Cup)		 England Adam Furness
Ipswich Town Colchester Colchester Community Stadium 10,105 England Joe Sheehan
Newcastle United Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 Australia Tanya Oxtoby
Nottingham Forest Nottingham (West Bridgford) The City Ground 30,404 England Carly Davies
Portsmouth Havant Westleigh Park 5,300 England Jay Sadler
Sheffield United Sheffield Bramall Lane 32,050 England Ash Thompson
Southampton Southampton St Mary's Stadium 32,384 England Simon Parker
Sunderland Hetton-le-Hole Eppleton CW 2,500 England Melanie Reay

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Crystal Palace Norway Leif Gunnar Smerud Mutual agreement 11 May 2025[12] Pre season England Jo Potter 24 June 2025[13]
Bristol City England Stephen Kirby Mutual agreement 13 May 2025[14] England Charlotte Healy 24 June 2025[15]
Southampton England Marieanne Spacey-Cale (interim) End of interim period 4 May 2025 England Simon Parker 4 July 2025[16]
Sheffield United W.F.C. England Ash Thompson Mutual Agreement 30 September 2025[17] 12th England Luke Turner (interim) 30 September 2025[17]
Newcastle United England Becky Langley Sacked 20 October 2025[18] 9th England Claire Ditchburn (interim) 22 October 2025[19]
England Claire Ditchburn (interim) End of interim spell 22 November 2025 4th Australia Tanya Oxtoby 22 November 2025

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Charlton Athletic 15 11 4 0 24 9 +15 37 Promotion to the WSL[a]
2 Birmingham City 15 9 2 4 39 18 +21 29
3 Crystal Palace 16 8 4 4 31 22 +9 28 Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off
4 Bristol City 16 8 2 6 35 24 +11 26
5 Newcastle United 15 7 5 3 26 19 +7 26
6 Southampton 16 7 3 6 32 20 +12 24
7 Nottingham Forest 15 6 1 8 20 28 −8 19
8 Sunderland 13 4 3 6 18 23 −5 15
9 Durham 15 3 5 7 18 25 −7 14
10 Sheffield United 14 3 4 7 11 22 −11 13
11 Ipswich Town 14 2 4 8 13 33 −20 10
12 Portsmouth 16 3 1 12 17 41 −24 10 Relegation to the Women's National League North or South
Updated to match(es) played on 16 February 2026. Source: Women's Championship League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Matches

Home \ Away BIR BRI CHA CRY DUR IPS NEW NOT POR SHU SOU SUN
Birmingham City 5–1 0–1 1–3 3–0 26 Apr 4–2 5–1 5–2 22 Mar 1–2 5 Apr
Bristol City 29 Mar 22 Mar 2–3 2–1 7–0 26 Apr 1–2 2–0 4–0 0–2 3–0
Charlton Athletic 3 May 2–0 1–0 4–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 4 Apr 1–1 2–1 15 Mar
Crystal Palace 3–0 2–1 29 Mar 4–0 5 Apr 2–2 15 Mar 3 May 1–2 4–4 1–1
Durham 1–1 5 Apr 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–1 26 Apr 22 Mar 20 Feb
Ipswich Town 0–4 1–1 18 Feb 1–2 15 Mar 1–4 0–1 3–2 TBD 29 Mar 3 May
Newcastle United 18 Mar 2–2 0–1 22 Mar 3 May 1–1 5 Apr 2–0 1–1 1–0 3–1
Nottingham Forest 0–3 2–4 0–2 1–2 29 Mar 22 Mar 1–2 4–1 1–0 3 May 3–1
Portsmouth 0–4 15 Mar 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–2 1–2 26 Apr 1–0 2–5 22 Mar
Sheffield United 1–2 3 May 1–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 14 Mar 0–0 28 Mar 0–2 0–4
Southampton 15 Mar 0–1 26 Apr 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 2–3 4–0 4 Apr 1–1
Sunderland 1–1 2–4 0–2 26 Apr 2–1 2–1 29 Mar TBD 2–3 18 Mar 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 16 February 2026. Source: Women's Championship Results and Fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 28 January 2026[20]
Rank Player Club Goals[21]
1 England Rio Hardy Bristol City 7
Greece Veatriki Sarri Birmingham City
3 England Lily Crosthwaite Birmingham City 6
England Beth Hepple Durham Women
England Emily Scarr Sunderland
5 England Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah Nottingham Forest 5
England Meg Hornby Portsmouth
England Jessie Gale Bristol City
Wales Kirsty Howat Crystal Palace
England Lexi Lloyd-Smith Bristol City
England Abbie Larkin Crystal Palace
England Jodie Hutton Charlton Athletic
9 8 players 4
10 14 players 3

Clean sheets

As of 28 January 2026
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[22]
1 Republic of Ireland Sophie Whitehouse Charlton Athletic 6
3 England Fran Bentley Bristol City 4
4 United States Adrianna French Birmingham City 3
England Fran Stenson Southampton F.C.
United States Shae Yanez Crystal Palace
England Emily Batty Nottingham Forest
5 United States Catriona Sheppard Durham 2
Republic of Ireland Grace Moloney Sunderland
9 5 players 1

Discipline

As of 28 January 2026
Most yellow cards Total Most red cards Total Ref.
Player

England Charlie Devlin (Bristol City)
England Jess Reavill (Sheffield United)

5

England Sophie Barker (Plymouth)
England Katie Bradley (Charlton Athletic)
England Georgia Brougham (Nottingham Forest
England Izzy Collins (Portsmouth)
Wales Sophie Ingle (Bristol City)
England Beth Roe (Ipswich Town)
Republic of Ireland Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest)
England Emily Syme (Bristol City)

1 [23][24]

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
September England Amy Merricks Birmingham City England Emily Scarr Sunderland [25][26]
October England Simon Parker Southampton England Jodie Hutton Charlton Athletic [27]
November England Karen Hills Charlton Athletic England Megan Hornby Portsmouth [28]
December England Jo Potter Crystal Palace England Jordan Nobbs Newcastle [29][30]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "Key dates confirmed for 2025/26 Women's Championship season". Yahoo Sports. 9 April 2025.
  3. ^ Sanders, Emma (16 June 2025). "WSL expanding to 14 teams - but relegation remains". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "London City Lionesses promoted to Women's Super League after clinching Women's Championship". Sky Sports. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  6. ^ Nelson, Joe (27 April 2025). "What next for Crystal Palace after WSL relegation?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Forest Women Crowned League Champions". Nottingham Forest F.C. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  8. ^ Cunningham, Alice (28 April 2025). "Ipswich Town Women exhilarated after promotion". BBC. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  9. ^ "WSL Football Statement: Blackburn Rovers FC Women". The Football Association. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  10. ^ Sanders, Emma (20 May 2025). "Blackburn withdraw from Women's Championship". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  11. ^ Garry, Tom (5 June 2025). "Sheffield United get reprieve to stay in WSL 2 after Blackburn withdrawal". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Statement: Leif Smerud". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Palace Women appoint Jo Potter as manager". Crystal Palace F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Bristol City Women part company with Steve Kirby". Bristol City F.C. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Healy announced as women's Head Coach". Bristol City F.C. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Simon Parker appointed Women's Head Coach". Southampton F.C. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  17. ^ a b FC, Sheffield United (30 September 2025). "Club statement". Sheffield United FC. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Newcastle United Women and Becky Langley part ways". Newcastle United F.C. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Claire Ditchburn to lead Newcastle United Women on interim basis". Newcastle United F.C. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  20. ^ "WSL 2 Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Women's Super League 2 top scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  22. ^ "England - WSL 2 clean sheets". soccerstats.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Yellow Cards - WSL 2 Season 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Red Cards - WSL 2 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Amy Merricks Wins WSL2 Manager of the Month Award for September". www.bcfc.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  26. ^ "Emily Scarr wins Barclays Player of the Month award". www.safc.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  27. ^ Football, W. S. L. (24 October 2025). "Barclays Women's Super League 2 October award winners announced". WSL Football. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  28. ^ Football, W. S. L. (28 November 2025). "Barclays Women's Super League 2 November award winners announced". WSL Football. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  29. ^ "Jo Potter named WSL2 Manager of the Month for December - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  30. ^ "Nobbs bags Barclays WSL 2 and PFA Fans' December Player of the Month awards - Newcastle United". www.newcastleunited.com. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.