Welcome to One Step Away, The Cutback’s new WSL2 newsletter covering every matchweek’s standout performances, talking points and everything you need to know from around the league.
Two weekends in and there are plenty of storylines developing.
In The Cutback’s WSL2 season guide, we highlighted Bristol City as one of the serious contenders for promotion. After two defeats in two games, they sit bottom of the table, lengthening the odds of that particular prediction.
Sunderland, Leicester and Newcastle are the only three sides with two wins from two, while the three newly-promoted clubs are showing that they have no intention of simply making up the numbers and going back down again.
If the opening fortnight is anything to go by, WSL2 is going to be very difficult to predict.
After finishing fourth last season, Bristol City have the investment, infrastructure and ambition to make a serious push for promotion. Instead, a 4-1 defeat to Sunderland was followed by a 1-0 loss to Newcastle, leaving the Robins bottom of the table without a point. Their performance against Newcastle was much better than in their opener, taking an equal share of the possession and shots on target, but the result didn’t go their way.
There has been plenty happening off the pitch, too. This week, former USA international Lauren Holiday was appointed chair of Bristol City Women. The World Cup winner and two-time Olympic champion brings experience both from her playing career and her work with Mercury13, the investment group that owns a majority stake in the club.
Opening statements
Sunderland have perhaps made the biggest statement of any WSL2 club. After beating Bristol City, they looked to have dropped points against Burnley until Wales international Elise Hughes popped up with a winner in the 98th minute.
It’s an early indication of the difference the club’s new investment could make after they finished eighth in WSL2 last season. As we pointed out in our season guide, Sunderland have entered a new era following Bay Collective’s majority takeover, with investment going into infrastructure, staffing and the academy.
Relegated from the WSL last season, Leicester were always going to be under pressure to challenge for an immediate return. So far, they’ve delivered the goods.
They opened with a 1-0 win away to Sheffield United before coming back from 1-0 down against Durham to win 4-2 last weekend. Durham manager Willie Kirk described it afterwards as “a game of mistakes”, a somewhat charitable way of describing his side’s defensive efforts.
Newcastle’s aim for the season was to turn strong performances into wins, something they struggled to do in the last campaign. Two clean sheets in two games is a good sign of things to come for the Magpies, as they beat newly-promoted Wolves 2-0 and Bristol City 1-0.
Newcastle are the only team to not have conceded a goal in the league. Consistency will be key, but they are bolstered by a summer of heavy recruitment, adding 10 signings to the squad.
Late goals!
If there’s been one theme running through the opening fortnight, it’s late drama. Along with Hughes’ late winner for Sunderland against Burnley, Ipswich’s Megan Hornby made her debut against Nottingham Forest and waited until the 93rd minute to make her mark, scoring to rescue a 1-1 draw.
In a league where so much can change in a short space of time, teams able to dig deep and score game-changing late goals may find themselves promoted rather than spending another season in WSL2.
Newly promoted sides’ intent
One of the biggest takeaways from the first two weekends is that the three promoted clubs aren’t here to make up the numbers.
Wolves have already picked up their first WSL2 victory, bouncing back from an opening day loss to Newcastle with a 3-1 win over Sheffield United in their first home league game as a fully professional team.
Watford have drawn both of their opening games, including a goalless draw against Burnley on opening night and another 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest had 26 shots in total, but Watford’s collective defensive effort ensured that they did not concede late and secured the draw.
Burnley, meanwhile, followed their opening-day draw with a narrow defeat to Sunderland.
Milestones
There was also a landmark moment at Durham. Beth Hepple scored the opener against Leicester last weekend on her 300th appearance for the club — an excellent goal set up by Jade Pennock’s tenacity, pace and skill.
Durham’s survival was one of the biggest stories of the summer after the club came within weeks of ceasing operations before being rescued by local businessman Geoff Thompson.
That makes Hepple’s milestone particularly fitting: a player reaching 300 appearances for a club that, only months ago, wasn’t sure it would still exist.
What, where and when to watch
More than half of the WSL2 table are still searching for their first league win.
Bristol City, Burnley, Durham, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Watford are all are still looking to notch three points for the first time in 2026-27, which could be tougher for some than others.
Every WSL2 fixture is available to watch for free on YouTube around the world HERE.
Here are the fixtures for Matchweek 3:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Burnley - Friday, 18 September (19:30 BST)
Durham vs. Nottingham Forest - Sunday, 20 September (12:00 BST)
Sunderland vs. Southampton - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Watford vs. Bristol City - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Newcastle vs. Sheffield United - Sunday, 20 September (14:00 BST)
Leicester City vs. Ipswich Town - Sunday 20 September (15:00 BST)