A brand new season of the Barclays Women’s Super League kicks off this weekend. The 2026‑27 campaign begins with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United on Friday, as the league expands to 14 clubs for the first time.
Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic secured promotion from WSL 2. Moving forward, the Barclays WSL now features a revised promotion/relegation format: the top three finishers qualify directly for the Champions League, the bottom club is relegated outright, and the 13th‑placed team faces a play‑off against the WSL 2 runner‑up.
Manchester City enter the season as defending champions, having ended Chelsea FC’s six‑year title run. Arsenal remains a contender to join City and Chelsea as the league’s most dominant trio.
Now onto the rankings:
1. Manchester City
Last season’s champions open the power rankings. City handled a busy offseason by re‑signing Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and adding Beth Mead and Niamh Charles, strengthening an already deep squad.
2. Chelsea FC
The Blues slipped to third last term, a drop from their recent dominance. After several departures, manager Sonia Bompastor has rebuilt the roster and brought in Katie McCabe from Arsenal. With a narrowed margin for error, Chelsea must deliver consistent performances this year.
3. Arsenal
Key departures of Katie McCabe and Beth Mead were offset by the return of Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich. After four years abroad, Stanway adds depth, and the Gunners’ early‑season results will signal their championship prospects.
4. Manchester United
United made progress last campaign but missed a Champions League spot and parted ways with Marc Skinner. New head coach Eva Olid now leads a side built on solid defence—anchored by centre‑back Maya Le Tissier and goalkeeper Phallon Tulis‑Joyce—and a strong developmental pathway. Their ceiling remains largely self‑determined.
5. London City Lionesses
After a blockbuster offseason that saw the signing of two‑time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, the Lionesses aim to translate talent into results. Combined with existing stars such as Mary Earps, Kadidiatou Diani, Mapi León and Grace Geyoro, the team faces high expectations following a sixth‑place finish last term.
6. Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham settled into a comfortable midfield position last year, moving up from near the bottom to a respectable fifth place under head coach Martin Ho. Additions like Victoria Pelova (Arsenal) and Shekiera Martinez (West Ham) give them the potential to disrupt the top‑tier clubs.
7. Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton’s prospects have become uncertain following a coaching overhaul. With Dario Vidosic departing amid NWSL rumours and Arturo Ruiz stepping in as interim, the club’s new signings—Lia Waiti, Gabby George and Nadia Krezyman—offer quality, yet the transition casts doubt over an otherwise predicted breakout season.
8. Liverpool
Liverpool’s late‑season surge earned them a higher ranking despite the risks. Manager Gareth Taylor has bolstered the squad with Japan international Mao Itamura (Feyenoord) and England goalkeeper Khiara Keating (Manchester City), aiming to build on that momentum.
9. Everton
After an eighth‑place finish, Everton turned a corner with a permanent coaching appointment for Scott Phelan. Minimal new signings contrast with the high‑profile acquisition of Rylee Foster‑Inman from the Northern Super League and Australian forward Holly McNamara, setting the stage for an improved campaign.
10. West Ham United
West Ham must improve early‑season form to avoid repeating last year’s struggles. Manager Rita Guarino’s squad faces the challenge of replacing Shekiera Martinez, though the addition of Kelly Gago from Everton provides depth, and consistency will be key moving forward.
11. Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s primary question entering the season is goal‑scoring reliability. The departure of Kirsty Hanson has been offset by the signings of 20‑year‑old prospect Kamilla Melgard and veteran Amalie Vangsgaard. Manager Natalia Arroyo enters her third year needing noticeable progress.
12. Crystal Palace
Freshly promoted, Crystal Palace—led by Jo Potter—are positioned as the most capable of the new entries to avoid relegation. A significant signing of Bethany England bolsters their attacking options for the top‑flight challenge.
13. Birmingham City
WSL 2 champions Birmingham City bring experience and new talent, including Lisa Naalsund signed from Manchester United, into the top division. The club will face a steep learning curve in its return to the premier league.
14. Charlton Athletic
Charlton’s dramatic promotion via a penalty shoot‑out play‑off against Leicester City marks the most exciting addition to the league. Manager Karen Hills now faces a relegation battle, but the transition to the top level is a celebrated achievement.
