Women’s Super League 2025-26 season: How to watch, what’s new and players to keep an eye on
All the things you need to know about the new WSL season
The new Women's Super League season is here, and excitement is at an all-time high.
A new broadcast deal means fans will be treated to more live games than ever before, with more consistent kick-off times making it easier to follow the action.
This season also introduces a new promotion/relegation play-off as the league prepares for a historic expansion, adding an extra layer of drama and high stakes matches.
The transfer window saw some of the world's best players arrive in the league, while others switched allegiances, creating new rivalries and injecting fresh talent into the title race.
It's set to be a groundbreaking and unmissable season, and The Cutback has everything you need to know.
How to watch the WSL this season
In the UK, the best way to watch the 2025-26 WSL season is on Sky Sports and the BBC, who are part of a new five-year broadcast deal. Sky Sports is the main broadcaster, showing 118 live matches, including 78 exclusively.
The BBC will show 21 games on their TV channels and BBC iPlayer, 14 exclusively. For international viewers, broadcast partners vary by country, but the official WSL YouTube channel is a great resource.
It will live-stream every match in territories without a broadcast partner, and show select games in other regions, along with highlights from every fixture.
What is new for this WSL season?
The 2025-26 WSL season features several key changes. A new broadcast deal with Sky Sports and the BBC increases the number of televised matches and offers more regular viewing times. The league is also in a transitional phase to expand to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season.
This means two teams from the second-tier WSL 2 will be automatically promoted at the end of the season, while the team finishing last in the WSL will face a promotion/relegation play-off against the third-placed WSL 2 side.
Additionally, the Uefa Women's Champions League has a new format, moving to an 18-team league phase to increase high-stakes matches.
Who were last year’s league champions?
Chelsea won the league in the 2024-25 season, making it their sixth consecutive title. The manager who led them to this victory was Sonia Bompastor. It was her first season in charge, having taken over from the long-serving Emma Hayes.
Bompastor enjoyed a remarkable debut season, not only winning the WSL with an unbeaten record but also leading the team to a domestic treble, securing the FA Cup and League Cup as well.
The team's top scorer in the league was Aggie Beever-Jones, who netted nine goals in the WSL.
What players should fans keep an eye out for?
Of the many new faces in the WSL this season, these three players stand out as ones to watch following their transfers.
Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea)
Alyssa Thompson, the American winger, joined Chelsea on a five-year contract in one of the most significant moves of the window. Her transfer fee from Angel City could become a world record with add-ons. Known for her pace, the 20-year-old has already earned 22 senior caps for the USWNT. She is set to provide an attacking boost to a Chelsea side with high ambitions, particularly in the Champions League.
Olivia Smith (Arsenal)
Olivia Smith, the 20-year-old Canadian forward, made headlines with her transfer from Liverpool to Arsenal, becoming the first female footballer to command a £1-million transfer fee. After a brilliant season where she was named Liverpool's Young Player of the Year and the PFA Young Player of the Year, her dynamic playstyle and clinical finishing is already proving to be an asset to Arsenal's attack. She scored a brilliant goal in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over London City Lionesses.
Grace Clinton (Manchester City)
A highly-rated England international, the midfielder has joined Manchester City from rivals Manchester United. She was a long-term target for City, and her arrival is expected to bolster their squad depth. Her signing demonstrates City's ambition to improve on their fourth-place finish from last season and mount a serious title challenge.