The Women's Super League season is over, and the final day delivered drama, farewells and one very significant question mark — all centred on the woman who won the Golden Boot and helped Manchester City claim the title.

Shaw sends City fans into a spin

Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City swept West Ham aside 4-1, but the performance was almost secondary to the conversation swirling around her future. With her contract expiring this summer, Shaw has become the most talked-about free agent in the women's game, and her post-match comments on Sky Sports have done little to settle the matter.

"I've always said Manchester is my home, it's where I want to be," Shaw said, "but there's a lot of things which go on behind the scenes which I won't talk about now. Manchester is where I would want to be, but ultimately we'll see."

City supporters made their feelings abundantly clear at the club's title party on Sunday, chanting her name repeatedly. Given Shaw's output throughout the season, allowing her to leave on a free would represent a significant misstep. The noises out of her camp suggest she has affection for the club, but the detail in those behind-the-scenes comments will be keeping the City hierarchy busy this week.

An era ends at Arsenal

Second place and direct Champions League qualification will offer Arsenal only modest comfort after what coach Jonas Eidevall's successor Renée Slegers acknowledged has been a difficult campaign. The 3-1 victory over Liverpool served as a farewell match for four key players — Katie McCabe, Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina — all departing this summer.

McCabe and Mead made sure their exits were memorable. McCabe laid on the assist for Mariona Caldentey's opener, while Mead played a central role in one of Alessia Russo's two goals on the afternoon.

"They are both very vocal and create energy when it is needed," said Slegers. "They speak up when it is needed, so that is something we will miss: their energy, their presence and also their football intelligence. But football is always like that — players leave and there is room for new players to come in."

It is a frank assessment. The departures of McCabe and Mead in particular strip Arsenal of experience and personality, and the recruitment work this summer will define where the Gunners sit in next season's title race.

Kerr bows out at Stamford Bridge

Sam Kerr chose the perfect stage for a farewell. The Australian striker equalled Fran Kirby's Chelsea goalscoring record with her 116th goal for the club, a strike that secured a 1-0 home win over Manchester United. It was Kerr's eighth WSL goal against United — more than any other player has managed against them — and extended Chelsea's unbeaten WSL run against the Old Trafford club to 13 matches.

United, meanwhile, ended the campaign without a win in six games in all competitions and nine points short of a European place — a poor conclusion to the season for Marc Skinner's side.

London City make history, Leicester brace for playoff

London City Lionesses signed off their debut WSL campaign in style, coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to Freya Godfrey's stoppage-time winner. The result moved them into sixth place and, crucially, set records for the most wins and most points by a promoted WSL side in a single season.

"We've had a historic season," said Godfrey, who contributed ten goal involvements across the campaign. "This is just the start."

At the other end of the table, Leicester City head into the relegation playoff against Charlton after suffering an 11th consecutive league defeat — a 1-0 loss at Goodison Park settled by Maz Pacheco in stoppage time. Having conceded 52 league goals and scored just four since January, the odds look grim ahead of that tie.

What next?

The market will be busy this summer. Shaw's situation is the headline act, but Arsenal's rebuild, Chelsea's post-Kerr transition and Leicester's battle for WSL survival all give the women's game plenty to chew over before the new season begins.

  • Khadija Shaw — contract expires, future unresolved
  • Katie McCabe & Beth Mead — leaving Arsenal after the season's end
  • Sam Kerr — departs Chelsea having equalled the club's all-time scoring record
  • Leicester City — face WSL relegation playoff against Charlton
  • London City Lionesses — record-breaking debut WSL season ends in top half

Frequently asked

Is Khadija Shaw leaving Manchester City?
Shaw's contract at Manchester City expires this summer and her future remains unresolved. She has said Manchester is her home and where she wants to be, but acknowledged there are behind-the-scenes factors she is not ready to discuss publicly.
Who is leaving Arsenal this summer?
Katie McCabe, Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova and Laia Codina are all departing Arsenal at the end of the season. The departures represent a significant reshaping of the squad ahead of next campaign.
Are Leicester City relegated from the WSL?
Not automatically. Leicester City finished bottom of the WSL after 11 consecutive league defeats and must now face a relegation playoff against Charlton to retain their top-flight status.