Archive · 17 Jun 2025
Women's Super League Set to Expand With More Teams
The Women's Super League (WSL), England's top women's soccer league, is getting bigger.
Starting in 2026/27, it will grow from 12 teams to 14.
This means more teams and more chances for women's soccer players.
To make this happen, teams will move between the WSL and the WSL2, the league below.
The top teams in the WSL2 will get promoted, and the bottom team in the WSL will move down.
There will also be a special game between teams to decide who gets to play in the WSL, making the matches more exciting!
The Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) will expand from 12 to 14 teams in the 2026/27 season.
The expansion is pending approval from The FA Board.
To facilitate the expansion, up to three teams will be promoted from the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Starting in the 2026/27 season, the bottom WSL team will be automatically relegated and the WSL2 champions will be automatically promoted.
A new playoff will be introduced between the 13th-placed WSL team and the WSL2 runners-up.
- Who
- The Barclays Women's Super League (WSL).
- What
- The Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) is expanding to 14 teams.
- When
- The expansion begins in the 2026/27 season.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- To boost the growth of women's football and increase opportunities.
Stakeholders
WSL
Game Benefits
Stakeholders
Increase opportunities and incentivise investment across the board.
WSL
No opposing views mentioned in the article.
- League
- Barclays Women's Super League (WSL)
- Expansion
- From 12 to 14 teams
- Start Season
- 2026/27
- Promotion from WSL2
- Up to three teams at the end of 2025/26 season
- Relegation
- Bottom WSL team relegated, WSL2 champions promoted.