2025–26 Women's Super League 2

Women's Super League 2
Season2025–26
Dates5 September 2025 – 3 May 2026[1][2]
ChampionsBirmingham City
2nd D2 title
PromotedBirmingham City
Crystal Palace
Charlton Athletic
RelegatedPortsmouth
Matches132
Goals396 (3 per match)
Top goalscorerLexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City)
(11 goals)
Best goalkeeperSophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic) (8 clean sheets)
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)
Sheffield United 0–4 Bristol City
(2 May 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(16 games)
Charlton Athletic
(7 September 2025 – 18 February 2026)
Longest winless run(9 games)
Ipswich Town
(5 October 2025 – 1 February 2026)
Sheffield United
(16 November 2025 – 22 March 2026)
Longest losing run(6 games)
Portsmouth (21 December 2025 – 15 February 2026)
All statistics correct as of 2 May 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

Twelve teams competed 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 were 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 made 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On 20 May 2025, it was announced Blackburn Rovers had withdrawn from the WSL2 due to the club owner's unwillingness to meet league requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.[9][10] They re-entered at the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]

TeamLocationGroundCapacityManager
Birmingham CityBirmingham (Bordesley)St Andrew's29,902England Amy Merricks
Bristol CityBristol (Ashton Gate)Ashton Gate27,000England Charlotte Healy
Charlton AthleticLondon (Charlton) The Valley27,111England Karen Hills
Crystal PalaceLondon (Sutton)Gander Green Lane5,013England Jo Potter
DurhamDurhamMaiden Castle1,800 (League)
2,400 (Cup)		England Neil Redfearn (interim)
Ipswich TownColchesterColchester Community Stadium10,105England David Wright
Newcastle UnitedGatesheadGateshead International Stadium11,800Australia Tanya Oxtoby
Nottingham ForestNottingham (West Bridgford)The City Ground30,404England Carly Davies
PortsmouthHavantWestleigh Park5,300England Jay Sadler
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lane32,050England Stephen Healy
SouthamptonSouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium32,384England Simon Parker
SunderlandHetton-le-HoleEppleton CW2,500England 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 England Ash Thompson Mutual Agreement 30 September 2025 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[20]
Ipswich Town England Joe Sheehan Mutual agreement 7 January 2026[21] 12th England David Wright[a] 7 January 2026
Sheffield United England Luke Turner (interim) End of interim spell 25 January 2026 9th England Stephen Healey 25 January 2026[23]
Durham England Adam Furness Mutual agreement 15 March 2026 9th England Neil Redfearn (interim) 15 March 2026[24]
  1. ↑ Wright was initially appointed as an interim manager, but the move was made permanent on 24 April 2026.[22]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Birmingham City (C, P) 22 14 2 6 46 24 +22 44 Promotion to the WSL[a]
2 Crystal Palace (P) 22 13 5 4 44 26 +18 44
3 Charlton Athletic (P, O) 22 12 6 4 31 21 +10 42 Qualification for promotion play-off
4 Bristol City 22 11 4 7 47 31 +16 37
5 Southampton 22 10 5 7 44 26 +18 35
6 Newcastle United 22 8 9 5 32 25 +7 33
7 Nottingham Forest 22 9 3 10 27 35 −8 30
8 Sunderland 22 6 6 10 28 35 −7 24
9 Ipswich Town 22 6 5 11 26 42 −16 23
10 Durham 22 5 7 10 27 35 −8 22
11 Sheffield United 22 4 6 12 21 43 −22 18
12 Portsmouth (R) 22 4 2 16 23 53 −30 14 Relegation to the Women's National League South
Source: WSL 2 League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
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 0–3 4–2 5–1 5–2 2–1 1–2 1–0
Bristol City 0–1 2–1 2–3 2–1 7–0 2–1 1–2 2–0 4–0 0–2 3–0
Charlton Athletic 0–2 2–0 1–0 4–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–0
Crystal Palace 3–0 2–1 3–2 4–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 6–1 1–2 4–4 1–1
Durham 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–3
Ipswich Town 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–4 0–1 3–2 4–1 1–2 2–1
Newcastle United 2–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 3–1
Nottingham Forest 0–3 2–4 0–2 1–2 2–1 2–0 1–2 4–1 1–0 0–3 3–1
Portsmouth 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–0 2–5 0–1
Sheffield United 1–2 0–4 1–1 0–1 2–1 3–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–2 0–4
Southampton 0–1 0–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 2–3 4–0 5–2 1–1
Sunderland 1–1 2–4 0–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–2 1–0
Source: Women's Championship Results and Fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion play-off

Charlton Athletic0–0 (a.e.t.)Leicester City
Report
Penalties
 2–1
Attendance: 3,979
Referee: Emily Heaslip

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 2 May 2026
RankPlayerClubGoals[25]
1 England Lexi Lloyd-Smith Bristol City 11
2 England Rio Hardy Bristol City 10
3 England Amy Andrews Sheffield United 9
4 England Mary Bashford Southampton 8
England Lily Crosthwaite Birmingham City
England Jessie Gale Bristol City
England Beth Hepple Durham Women
England Megan Hornby Portsmouth
Scotland Kirsty Howat Crystal Palace
Republic of Ireland Abbie Larkin Crystal Palace
11 Ghana Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah Nottingham Forest 7
Sweden Wilma Leidhammar Birmingham City
Greece Veatriki Sarri Birmingham City
Suriname Ashleigh Weerden Crystal Palace
15 England Annabel Blanchard Crystal Palace 6
England Ellie Brazil Southampton
New Zealand Katie Kitching Sunderland
Republic of Ireland Emily Murphy Newcastle United
England Jordan Nobbs Newcastle United
England Emily Scarr Sunderland
England Jess Simpson Southampton
22 England Rianna Dean Ipswich Town 5
England Lucy Fitzgerald Charlton Athletic
England Jodie Hutton Charlton Athletic
United States Gillian Kenney Charlton Athletic
England Beth Lumsden Newcastle United
Scotland Michaela McAlonie Southampton
England Sophie Peskett Ipswich Town
England Molly-Mae Sharpe Crystal Palace

Clean sheets

As of 2 May 2026
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[26]
1 Republic of Ireland Sophie Whitehouse Charlton Athletic 8
2 England Fran Stenson Southampton F.C. 6
United States Shae Yanez Crystal Palace
4 England Fran Bentley Bristol City 5
England Emily Batty Nottingham Forest
6 United States Adrianna French Birmingham City 4
United States Catriona Sheppard Durham
Finland Anna Tamminen Newcastle United
9 England Lucy Thomas Birmingham City 3
10 Republic of Ireland Grace Moloney Sunderland 2
England Jess Gray Portsmouth
12 5 players 1

Discipline

As of 2 May 2026
Most yellow cardsTotalMost red cardsTotalRef.
Player

England Charlie Devlin (Bristol City)

 6

England Izzy Collins (Portsmouth)

 2 [27][28]

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
September England Amy Merricks Birmingham City England Emily Scarr Sunderland England Angelina Nixon Portsmouth [29][30][31]
October England Simon Parker Southampton England Jodie Hutton Charlton Athletic Spain Vicky Losada Bristol City [32][33][34]
November England Karen Hills Charlton Athletic England Megan Hornby Portsmouth England Mary Corbyn Sunderland [35][36][37]
December England Jo Potter Crystal Palace England Jordan Nobbs Newcastle United Greece Veatriki Sarri Birmingham City [38][39][40]
January England Charlotte Healy Bristol City England Lily Crosthwaite Birmingham City England Jessie Gale Bristol City [41][42][43]
February Australia Tanya Oxtoby Newcastle United Netherlands Ashleigh Weerden Crystal Palace England Lucy Watson Durham [44][45][46]
March England Amy Merricks Birmingham City England Aimee Everett England Amy Andrews Sheffield United [47][48][49]
April England David Wright Ipswich Town England Beth Hepple Durham England Jordan Nobbs Newcastle United [50][51][52]

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Club statement". Sheffield United F.C. 30 September 2025. 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. ↑ "Tanya Oxtoby appointed Newcastle United Women manager". Newcastle United F.C. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Joe Sheehan Departs". Ipswich Town F.C. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "David Wright appointed Town Women manager". Ipswich Town F.C. 24 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Healy named women's head coach". Sheffield United F.C. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Club Statement: First-Team Coaching Changes". Durham F.C. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  25. ↑ "Women's Super League 2 top scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "England - WSL 2 clean sheets". soccerstats.com. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  27. ↑ "Yellow Cards - WSL 2 Season 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Red Cards - WSL 2 2025/26". FotMob. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Amy Merricks Wins WSL2 Manager of the Month Award for September". Birmingham City F.C. 10 October 2026. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Emily Scarr wins Barclays Player of the Month award". Sunderland F.C. 10 October 2026. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  31. ↑ @barclayswsl2; (10 October 2025). "Angelina Nixon'd superb strike for Portsmouth 🆚️ Ipswich Town is your #BarclaysWSL2 September Goal of the Month!". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via Instagram.
  32. ↑ "Parker wins WSL2 October Manager of the Month". Southampton F.C. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Jodie Hutton Wins WSL 2 Player of the Month". Charlton Athletic F.C. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "Losada wins goal of the month". Bristol City F.C. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Karen Hills Wins Manager of the Month". Charlton Athletic F.C. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  36. ↑ @barclayswsl2; (28 November 2025). "Introducing your #BarclaysWSL2 Player of the Month for November, Portsmouth's Megan Hornby 🔥". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via Instagram.
  37. ↑ "Mary Corbyn wins Barclays WSL 2 November Goal of the Month award". Sunderland F.C. 28 November 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  38. ↑ "Jo Potter named WSL2 Manager of the Month for December". Crystal Palance F.C. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  39. ↑ "Nobbs bags Barclays WSL 2 and PFA Fans' December Player of the Month awards - Newcastle United". Newcastle United F.C. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  40. ↑ "Veatriki Sarri wins WSL2 December Goal of the Month". Birmingham City F.C. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  41. ↑ "Healy named Manager of the Month". Bristol City F.C. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  42. ↑ @bcfcwomen; (16 February 2026). "Lily Crosthwaite has won the Barclays Women's Super League 2 Player of the Month award for January. 🏆". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via Instagram.
  43. ↑ "Gale wins goal of the month". Bristol City F.C. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  44. ↑ "Oxtoby wins February's Barclays WSL2 Manager of the Month award". Newcastle United F.C. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  45. ↑ "Ashleigh Weerden wins WSL2 Player of the Month award". Crystal Palace F.C. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  46. ↑ "Lucy Watson wins Barclays Women's Super League 2 Goal of the Month Award". Durham F.C. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  47. ↑ @bcfcwomen; (17 April 2026). "Amy Merricks has won the #BarclaysWSL2 Manager of the Month award for March. 🏆". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via Instagram.
  48. ↑ "Aimee Everett wins WSL2 Player of the Month award". Crystal Palace F.C. 18 April 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  49. ↑ @sufc_women; (17 April 2026). "Amy Andrews is the Barclays Women's Super League 2 Goal of the Month winner for March. 🏆🥳". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via Instagram.
  50. ↑ "Wright wins Manager of the Month". Ipswich Town F.C. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "Beth Hepple wins Barclays WSL2 Player of the Month". Durham F.C. 6 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  52. ↑ "Nobbs wins April's WSL2 Goal of the Month award". Newcastle United F.C. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
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