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WSL 2026-27 season kicks off with expanded league and major signings

The Women's Super League 2026-27 season begins today, 4 September 2026, with an expanded format of 14 teams and several high-profile player transfers.

  • The WSL has expanded from 12 to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season.
  • London City Lionesses have signed two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, and Mary Earps.
  • The season runs from 4 September 2026 to 22 May 2027, with 182 fixtures.

The 2026-27 Women's Super League season is set to begin today, 4 September 2026, with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United at 19:00 BST. This season marks a significant expansion for the league, growing from 12 to 14 teams, which will see 182 matches played across the campaign.

Among the new additions to the league are Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic, all promoted from WSL 2. Leicester City has moved in the opposite direction. Reigning champions Manchester City will aim to defend their title, their first league win in a decade.

The transfer window has seen some notable moves, with London City Lionesses making headlines by securing two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas on a free transfer from Barcelona. They have also added her former Barcelona teammate Mapi Leon and former England goalkeeper Mary Earps from Paris St-Germain. Arsenal has brought in England midfielder Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich, while Beth Mead has departed Arsenal for Manchester City. Liverpool has signed Mao Itamura, the Women's Eredivisie player of the season, from Feyenoord.

The WSL calendar runs until 22 May 2027, including a winter break from 21 December to 10 January. The Women's FA Cup final is scheduled for 15 May 2027. Fans can watch 25 matches on BBC TV and iPlayer, starting with Chelsea v Aston Villa on 5 September at 12:30 BST, with Sky Sports broadcasting the majority of games.

Why this matters: The expansion of the WSL and the influx of high-profile players could intensify competition and increase the league's profile.

What this means for you: You can watch 25 WSL matches on BBC TV and iPlayer, with the first free-to-air game being Chelsea v Aston Villa on Saturday, 5 September at 12:30 BST.

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