Ten months after England's women lifted the Euro 2025 trophy by beating Spain on penalties, the Women's Super League has completed a season shaped by that wave of momentum — and a lucrative new television deal designed to capitalise on it. What have we actually learned?

Manchester City are champions — but questions linger

The most significant story of 2025-26 is straightforward: after six consecutive years of Chelsea dominance, there is a new name on the WSL trophy. Manchester City wrapped up their first title in a decade before the final round of fixtures, and the manner of their success was convincing. Head coach Andree Jeglertz guided his squad from a fourth-placed finish last season to the summit, with City topping the charts for wins, goals scored, and finishing with the second-best defensive record in the division.

Central to everything was Khadija Shaw, the WSL's leading scorer for a third successive season and a strong candidate for the division's best player. Crucially, the absence of European football this season eased the burden on the squad — Shaw played nearly 800 fewer minutes than Arsenal's Alessia Russo across the campaign. How City adapt to Champions League demands next term remains the key question.

Then there is the matter of Shaw herself. Out of contract in the summer and reported to be attracting strong interest from Chelsea, the Jamaican forward's future could reshape the 2026-27 title race entirely.

The chasing pack have work to do

Chelsea's 15 league wins represented their lowest tally in a full WSL season since 2018-19. Arsenal's challenge dissolved under the weight of competing across multiple fronts, a familiar story at the Emirates. Both clubs will be expected to respond, and the investment will likely follow.

Further down the table, Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed their best-ever points total under head coach Martin Ho, climbing from 11th place the previous season. Ho has made clear that a top-four finish is only the beginning of his ambitions, targeting recognition as one of the leading clubs in European football. Manchester United, meanwhile, face harder questions. Despite a Champions League quarter-final appearance that was a genuine statement, their top-three push in the league fell away badly, and manager Mark Skinner's position came under scrutiny as a result.

Entertainment: the numbers are mixed

Individual matches delivered. Manchester City hammering Chelsea 5-1 felt like a genuine changing-of-the-guard moment. Tottenham's 7-3 win at Villa Park was extraordinary, and Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Aston Villa — featuring six goals in a chaotic 35-minute spell before the break — was exactly the kind of match neutral fans want to see more of.

Yet step back and the aggregate picture is less encouraging. Total goals this season reached 384, the lowest figure of any WSL campaign since 2021-22. There were more goalless draws — ten — than in any season this decade. Shots attempted also ranked second-lowest in the same period. The league is competitive in patches, but it has not yet cracked the formula for consistent, high-intensity football across an entire season.

Relegation drama was absent

With the WSL expanding to 14 clubs next season, only the bottom-placed side risks relegation — and even then only through a play-off against the third-placed team in WSL 2. Leicester City, despite a January transfer window that included signing Alisha Lehmann, were identifiable as the weakest side in the division for much of the campaign. Their fate was sealed mathematically with two games still to play. It is hard to generate genuine jeopardy at the bottom of the table when the safety net is that wide.

The backdrop matters

The wider context should not be overlooked. Euro 2025 success and a new broadcast deal have kept women's football prominent in the national conversation. Attendances and media coverage have benefited. The sport's task now is to ensure the product on the pitch keeps pace with the promotional infrastructure around it. This season was a step forward in some respects. In others, it highlighted that the WSL still has meaningful ground to cover.

Frequently asked

Who won the WSL title in 2025-26?
Manchester City won the Women's Super League title in 2025-26, their first championship in a decade. They clinched the trophy before the final round of games under head coach Andree Jeglertz.
Is Khadija Shaw leaving Manchester City?
Khadija Shaw is out of contract at Manchester City in the summer of 2026 and has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, though no transfer has been confirmed. Her departure would significantly alter the WSL title picture next season.
Which WSL team was relegated in 2025-26?
Leicester City finished bottom of the WSL and face a relegation play-off against the third-placed side in WSL 2. Their fate was confirmed mathematically with two matches of the season remaining.