{{short description|English women's football season}} {{Use British English|date=April 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox football league season | competition = FA WSL | image = File:Ellen White and Steph Houghton.JPG | pixels = 200 | alt = | caption = Arsenal's Ellen White and Steph Houghton with the trophy | season = 2011 | winners = Arsenal<br>1st WSL title<br>13th English title | continentalcup1 = Champions League | continentalcup1 qualifiers = Arsenal<br />Birmingham City | matches = 56 <!-- after 14 August games --> | total goals = 142 | league topscorer = Rachel Williams (14) | biggest home win = Birmingham City 4–0 Bristol Academy<br /><small>14 April 2011</small> | biggest away win = Liverpool 0–4 Birmingham City<br /><small>20 April 2011</small> | highest scoring = Liverpool 3–3 Everton<br /><small>14 April 2011</small> | longest wins = 5 games<br/>Birmingham City | longest unbeaten = 10 games<br/>Birmingham City | longest winless = 11 games<br/>Liverpool | highest attendance = 2,510<br/>Chelsea v Arsenal | lowest attendance = 120<br/>Liverpool v Doncaster Rovers Belles | prevseason = 2009–10 (Premier League) | nextseason = 2012 }}

The '''2011 FA WSL''' was the inaugural season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 13 April 2011 and ended on 28 August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=WSL fixtures confirmed|url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/FixtureList1|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=9 February 2011|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413125432/http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/FixtureList1|url-status=live}}</ref> The league also took a break between 12 May and mid-July to allow preparation for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.<ref>[http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/Womens%20Super%20League/TheFAWSLQA1210.ashx/TheFAWSLQA1210.pdf thefa.co.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016034035/http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/Womens%20Super%20League/TheFAWSLQA1210.ashx/TheFAWSLQA1210.pdf |date=16 October 2012 }}; FAQ on the FA WSL, No. 23</ref>

Arsenal won the competition, their eighth consecutive English title, while Birmingham finished second. The second entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League was supposed to be given to the FA Women's Cup winner,<ref>{{cite web|title=Arsenal take English WSL title|url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/01f4-0e13d98772aa-27ab76502a5b-1000--arsenal-take-english-wsl-title/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=29 August 2011|date=28 August 2011|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116095006/http://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/newsid=1670072.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but on 6 December 2011 it was announced that Birmingham as runners-up were given the spot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Champions League For Birmingham City|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/4319|publisher=shekicks.net|access-date=6 December 2011|date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531075800/http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/4319|archive-date=31 May 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Teams == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team !! Location !! Ground !! Capacity !! Avg Att !! 2009–10 season |- | Arsenal || Borehamwood || Meadow Park || 4,502 || 621 || {{sort|01|Premier League National, 1st}} |- | Birmingham City || Stratford-upon-Avon || The DCS Stadium || 1,400 || 544 || {{sort|05|Premier League National, 10th}} |- | Bristol Academy || Filton || Stoke Gifford Stadium || 1,500 || 635 || {{sort|06|Premier League National, 12th}} |- | Chelsea || Morden || Imperial Fields || 3,500 || 880 || {{sort|03|Premier League National, 3rd}} |- | Doncaster Rovers Belles || Doncaster || Keepmoat Stadium || 15,231 || 448 || {{sort|04|Premier League National, 6th}} |- | Everton || Crosby || The Arriva Park || 3,185 || 519 || {{sort|02|Premier League National, 2nd}} |- | Lincoln || Lincoln || Sincil Bank/Ashby Avenue || 10,120 || 560 || {{sort|08|Premier League Northern, 2nd}} |- | Liverpool || Skelmersdale || West Lancashire College || 2,500 || 466 || {{sort|07|Premier League Northern, 1st}} |}

{{location map+ |England |width=300 |caption=Locations of the 2011 Super League teams |places= {{location map~ |England |lat=51.6578 |long=-0.2723 |label=Arsenal}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.19 |long=-1.71 |label=Birmingham&nbsp;City}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.5293 |long=-2.5692 |label=Bristol Academy |position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.4015 |long=-0.1949 |label=Chelsea}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.516 |long=-1.133 |label=Doncaster&nbsp;Rovers&nbsp;Belles |position=top}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.4872 |long=-3.0343 |label=Everton|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.2327 |long=-0.5376 |label=Lincoln |position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.5495 |long=-2.7712 |label=Liverpool|position=bottom}} }}

Sixteen clubs applied for a place in the inaugural season of the league: Arsenal, Barnet, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Colchester United, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester City, Lincoln, Liverpool, Millwall Lionesses, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Super League's Sixteen Applicants |work=Shekicks |date=7 January 2010 |url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/38 |access-date=8 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324085639/http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/38 |archive-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Leeds Carnegie later withdrew their application.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leeds Carnegie could fold after ending Super League interest |author=Tony Leighton |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 January 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/leeds-carnegie-fa-super-league |access-date=8 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100129081559/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/25/leeds-carnegie-fa-super-league| archive-date= 29 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Eight clubs were then picked by the FA from the remaining fifteen applicants: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln, and Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eight Super League clubs announced |publisher=The Football Association official website |date=22 March 2010 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/WSL-announcement-220310 |access-date=9 February 2011}}</ref>

== League table == <onlyinclude>{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |section=FA WSL |show_limit=5 |res_col_header=Q

|team1=ARS|name_ARS=Arsenal |team2=BIR|name_BIR=Birmingham City |team3=EVE|name_EVE=Everton |team4=LIN|name_LIN=Lincoln |team5=BRI|name_BRI=Bristol Academy |team6=CHE|name_CHE=Chelsea |team7=DON|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles |team8=LIV|name_LIV=Liverpool |win_ARS=10|draw_ARS=2|loss_ARS=2|gf_ARS=29|ga_ARS=9|status_ARS=C |win_BIR=8|draw_BIR=5|loss_BIR=1|gf_BIR=29|ga_BIR=13 |win_EVE=7|draw_EVE=4|loss_EVE=3|gf_EVE=19|ga_EVE=13 |win_LIN=6|draw_LIN=3|loss_LIN=5|gf_LIN=18|ga_LIN=16 |win_BRI=4|draw_BRI=4|loss_BRI=6|gf_BRI=14|ga_BRI=20 |win_CHE=4|draw_CHE=3|loss_CHE=7|gf_CHE=14|ga_CHE=19 |win_DON=2|draw_DON=3|loss_DON=9|gf_DON=9|ga_DON=26 |win_LIV=1|draw_LIV=4|loss_LIV=9|gf_LIV=10|ga_LIV=26

|col_CL=green1|text_CL=Qualification for the Champions League knockout phase |result1=CL|result2=CL |class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored |update=complete |source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114122804/http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL results] }}</onlyinclude>

==Results== {{#invoke:sports results|main |matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey |team1=ARS|team2=BIR|team3=BRI|team4=CHE|team5=DON |team6=EVE|team7=LIV|team8=LIN

|name_ARS=Arsenal |match_ARS_BIR=1–2 |match_ARS_BRI=1–0 |match_ARS_CHE=3–0 |match_ARS_DON=3–0 |match_ARS_EVE=1–0 |match_ARS_LIV=3–0 |match_ARS_LIN=4–0

|name_BIR=Birmingham City |match_BIR_ARS=1–1 |match_BIR_BRI=4–0 |match_BIR_CHE=3–2 |match_BIR_DON=3–0 |match_BIR_EVE=2–3 |match_BIR_LIV=0–0 |match_BIR_LIN=1–0

|name_BRI=Bristol Academy |match_BRI_ARS=2–2 |match_BRI_BIR=2–3 |match_BRI_CHE=0–0 |match_BRI_DON=1–0 |match_BRI_EVE=0–2 |match_BRI_LIV=1–1 |match_BRI_LIN=2–3

|name_CHE=Chelsea |match_CHE_ARS=0–1 |match_CHE_BIR=1–1 |match_CHE_BRI=0–1 |match_CHE_DON=2–1 |match_CHE_EVE=1–3 |match_CHE_LIV=0–1 |match_CHE_LIN=1–1

|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles |match_DON_ARS=0–3 |match_DON_BIR=2–2 |match_DON_BRI=1–2 |match_DON_CHE=1–4 |match_DON_EVE=0–1 |match_DON_LIV=1–0 |match_DON_LIN=0–3

|name_EVE=Everton |match_EVE_ARS=3–1 |match_EVE_BIR=0–2 |match_EVE_BRI=0–0 |match_EVE_CHE=2–0 |match_EVE_DON=1–1 |match_EVE_LIV=1–0 |match_EVE_LIN=0–2

|name_LIV=Liverpool |match_LIV_ARS=1–3 |match_LIV_BIR=0–4 |match_LIV_BRI=0–2 |match_LIV_CHE=1–2 |match_LIV_DON=1–1 |match_LIV_EVE=3–3 |match_LIV_LIN=0–1

|name_LIN=Lincoln |match_LIN_ARS=0–2 |match_LIN_BIR=1–1 |match_LIN_BRI=3–1 |match_LIN_CHE=0–1 |match_LIN_DON=0–1 |match_LIN_EVE=0–0 |match_LIN_LIV=4–2

|update=28 August 2011

|source=[http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL results] }}

==Top scorers== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Rank !Scorer !Club !Goals<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Goal scorers|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/wsl/2011/regular-season/|publisher=women.soccerway.com}}</ref> |- ||1 |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rachel Williams |align="left"|Birmingham City |14 |- |2 |align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Kim Little |align="left"|Arsenal |8 |- |3 |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Natasha Dowie |align="left"|Everton |7 |- |4 |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ellen White |align="left"|Arsenal |6 |- |5 |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rachel Yankey |align="left"|Arsenal |5 |}

==References== {{reflist}} {{FA Women's Super League}} {{2010–11 in English women's football}} {{2010–11 in European women's football (UEFA)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:FA WSL}} 2011 1 England