{{Use British English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{redirect|WSL2|the Windows subsystem|Windows Subsystem for Linux}} {{Infobox football league |name = Women's Super League 2 |logo = FA Women's Championship.png |pixels = |organiser = [[WSL Football]] |country = England |other countries = |first = 2014 |teams = 12 |promotion = [[Women's Super League]] |relegation = [[FA Women's National League North|National League North]]<br />[[FA Women's National League South|National League South]] |levels = [[Women's football in England|2]] |domest_cup = [[Women's FA Cup]] |league_cup = [[FA Women's League Cup|Women's League Cup]] |confed_cup = |champions = [[Birmingham City W.F.C. | Birmingham City]] |most_champs = ''Eleven teams'' (1 title each) |tv = |season = [[2025-26 Women's Super League 2|2025–26]] |website = [https://womensleagues.thefa.com/ womensleagues.thefa.com] |current = [[2025–26 Women's Super League 2]] }}
The '''Women's Super League 2''', also known as '''Barclays Women's Super League 2''' for sponsorship reasons, is a professional [[Association football|football]] league in England, operated by [[WSL Football]]. It is the second-highest division of [[women's football in England]]. The division was established in 2014 as the '''WSL 2''' and was later rebranded as the '''FA Women's Championship''' prior to the [[2018–19 FA Women's Championship|2018–19 season]].<ref name="BBC rename">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43155787 FA Women's Championship: New name chosen for England's second tier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301145332/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43155787|date=1 March 2018}} BBC Sport, 26 February 2018</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=WSL2: Women's Championship to be called WSL2 from next season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crmkze3wyzdo |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> "[[The Football Association|The FA]]" was subsequently dropped from the league name ahead of the [[2022–23 Women's Championship|2022–23 season]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Barclays Women's Super League rebranded |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/barclays-women-s-super-league-name-change-63790385 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323214634/https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/barclays-women-s-super-league-name-change-63790385 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=Manchester City F.C.}}</ref> prior to new ownership for the [[2024–25 Women's Championship|2024–25 season]] by clubs in the first and second tiers.<ref name=":0" /> Before the start of the [[2025–26 Women's Super League 2|2025–26 season]], the league was rebranded again under its current name, the Women's Super League 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=WSL2: Women's Championship to be called WSL2 from next season |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crmkze3wyzdo |website=BBC Sport |access-date=13 May 2025 |date=12 May 2025}}</ref>
WSL 2 replaced the previous level 2 division, the [[FA Women's Premier League National Division|FA Women's Premier League (WPL) National Division]], which ended after the [[2012–13 FA Women's Premier League|2012–13]] season. The WPL's last national division champions, [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]], were not promoted and also became the first winners of WSL 2 in the [[2014 FA WSL#FA WSL 2|2014 season]]. In addition to Sunderland, other WPL clubs that joined WSL 2 in 2014 were [[Watford L.F.C.|Watford]] and [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Aston Villa]]. From 2014 to 2016, WSL 2 ran a summer-based season calendar before reverting to the winter season in [[2017–18 FA WSL|2017–18]], the same as WSL 1. Having sponsored the first tier since the [[2019–20 FA WSL|2019–20 season]], 2022–23 marked the first season of [[Barclays]] as the title partner of the division.<ref>{{cite web |title=New look for BWSL and BWC |url=https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/womens-super-league-and-championship-rebrand-for-2022-23-season-20221006 |website=womenscompetitions.thefa.com |date=10 June 2022 |access-date=10 May 2023 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610090557/https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/womens-super-league-and-championship-rebrand-for-2022-23-season-20221006 |url-status=live }}</ref>
For the [[2023–24 Women's Championship|2023–24 season]], changes were made so that two clubs would be relegated from the league allowing two team each from [[FA Women's National League North|National League North]] and [[FA Women's National League South|South]] to be promoted to the Championship rather than having to play a season end playoff. This change resulted in two teams being relegated from the Championship at the end of the season. No changes were made to promotion from the league to the WSL with still only one promotion and one relegation respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement: 2023-24 promotion and relegation |url=https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/statement-promotion-and-relegation-between-tiers-two-and-three-20232804 |access-date=15 April 2024 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530190237/https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/statement-promotion-and-relegation-between-tiers-two-and-three-20232804 |url-status=live}}</ref> For the 2024–25 season, the league was reduced to eleven teams, due to [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]]'s withdrawal from the Championship, citing financial issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading withdraw from Championship |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/30/RFCW-Statement/ |website=Reading FC |date=30 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803082936/https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/30/RFCW-Statement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ahead of the 2025–26 season, the two relegation spots were introduced again as the league returned to a twelve-team format.<ref>{{cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nick |title=FA and Women's Professional Game statement on Reading FC Women |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/fa-womens-professional-game-statement-reading-fc-women/ |website=The FA |date=30 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630095414/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/fa-womens-professional-game-statement-reading-fc-women/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==History== [[File:Sunderland AFC Ladies promotion celebration.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Sunderland AFC Ladies]] won the FA WSL 2 in 2014]] For the 2014 season, the [[FA Women's Super League]] was expanded to create a second division with nine new teams added and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remained as eight teams, with one new team inserted, with the WSL 2 having ten teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/fa-wsl-applications-2014.aspx|title=FA WSL 2014: Applications|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313125548/http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/fa-wsl-applications-2014.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/C59A214D19F44A42AD0475172F422B41.ashx|title=FA WSL 2014-2018 brochure|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182759/https://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/C59A214D19F44A42AD0475172F422B41.ashx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/D8A111434B7D4BC0AAEAF9311328E138.ashx|title=The FA WSL Club Development Plan|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422080530/https://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/D8A111434B7D4BC0AAEAF9311328E138.ashx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/fawsl/2013/mar/fawsl-club-bids-2014|title=Clubs bid for WSL spot|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117164749/http://www.thefa.com/News/fawsl/2013/mar/fawsl-club-bids-2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
The new WSL 1 licence was awarded to [[Manchester City W.F.C.|Manchester City]] in 2014. [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]] were relegated to WSL 2, with nine new licences awarded to [[London Bees]], [[Durham W.F.C.|Durham]], [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]], [[Yeovil Town L.F.C.|Yeovil Town]], [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]], [[Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies|Sunderland]], [[Watford L.F.C.|Watford]], and [[Oxford United W.F.C.|Oxford United]].<ref name ="FA Selects">{{cite web|title=FA Selects Clubs for WSL|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_selects_clubs_for_wsl_licences.html|publisher=WSL|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=8 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708100759/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_selects_clubs_for_wsl_licences.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baber|first=Mark|title=Doncaster Belles lose appeal over demotion from Women's Super League|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/12809-doncaster-belles-lose-appeal-over-demotion-from-women-s-super-league|publisher=Inside World Football|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041935/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/12809-doncaster-belles-lose-appeal-over-demotion-from-women-s-super-league|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to ten-team league. Two teams would be promoted from WSL 2, while one team would be relegated to WSL 2.<ref name="expand20">{{cite web|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|title=FA WSL 2 promotion announcement|publisher=Faws1.com|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420010456/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC expand">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30298483|title=BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204065923/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30298483|url-status=live}}</ref> Also, for the first time, a team would earn promotion to WSL 2 from the [[FA Women's National League|Women's Premier League (now National League)]], effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the [[Women's football in England#Pyramid|English women's football pyramid]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | title=Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off | publisher=BBC | date=24 May 2015 | access-date=29 July 2015 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924223810/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | url-status=live }}</ref>
This left WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with ten teams for the [[2016 FA WSL|2016 season]], and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 consisted of ten teams each for the [[2017–18 FA WSL|2017–18 season]].<ref name="expand20" /> In addition to being able to prove their financial solvency, clubs applying for entry to the WSL had to show they would attract an average of 350 spectators in 2016, increasing to at least 400 in 2017.<ref name="24teams">{{cite web|title=Katie Brazier: FA head of women's leagues targets WSL expansion|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33676705|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=17 August 2015|date=27 July 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119114031/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33676705|url-status=live}}</ref>
FA WSL 2 was renamed the Women's Championship prior to the [[2018–19 FA Women's Championship|2018–19 season]].<ref name="BBC rename"/> The WPLL then made the decision to rebrand the Women's Championship back to WSL 2; it will be known as such from the beginning of the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brotherton |first=Alex |date=12 May 2025 |title=Women's Championship renamed WSL2 from next season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crmkze3wyzdo}}</ref>
In May 2020 the Championship season was halted due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stonelake |first=Anthony |date=2020-05-15 |title=Women's Super League Season to End |url=https://herfootballhub.com/womens-super-league-season-to-end/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Her Football Hub |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018054318/https://herfootballhub.com/womens-super-league-season-to-end/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022 the league was renamed to simply the Women's Championship, with the FA part being dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reja |first=Arpan |date=2020-05-15 |title=Women's Super League and Women's Championship to be rebranded ahead of 2022/23 season |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/womens-super-league-and-womens-championship-to-be-rebranded-ahead-of-2022-23-season/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Sports Mint Media |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828221232/https://sportsmintmedia.com/womens-super-league-and-womens-championship-to-be-rebranded-ahead-of-2022-23-season/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2023, it was announced that all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA. The organization is called NewCo, and Nikki Doucet has been named CEO.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Kelly |title=Get the big decisions right and this can be a landmark year for women's football |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/jan/25/get-the-big-decisions-right-landmark-year-womens-football-wsl-fa-premier-league |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 April 2024 |date=25 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nikki Doucet appointed as NewCo CEO |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/nikki-doucet-appointed-as-newco-ceo |website=The FA |access-date=1 April 2024 |date=28 November 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401095858/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/nikki-doucet-appointed-as-newco-ceo |url-status=live }}</ref> From the [[2024–25 Women's Championship|2024–25 season]], the company was known as the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Statement: Women's Professional Leagues Limited |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/statement-womens-professional-leagues-limited/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914163216/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/statement-womens-professional-leagues-limited/ |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=The FA}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Emma |date=2024-09-11 |title=Women's Professional Leagues Limited: What are the priorities for the new WSL company this season? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8er0w48kn0o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924043831/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8er0w48kn0o |archive-date=24 September 2024 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
On {{date|23 March 2025}}, [[Newcastle United W.F.C.]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland A.F.C Women]] set a new attendance record of 38,502 in the Women's Championship in their second meeting in the league, a [[Tyne-Wear derby]] match played at [[St James' Park]] in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Louise |title=Newcastle and Sunderland striving to give WSL north-eastern outpost |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/13/newcastle-and-sunderland-striving-to-give-wsl-north-eastern-outpost |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241013190348/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/13/newcastle-and-sunderland-striving-to-give-wsl-north-eastern-outpost |archive-date=13 October 2024 |language=en |date=13 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The previous record had been an attendance of 15,387 set in 2024 in the reverse fixture in the same season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Championship: Sunderland vs Newcastle to break attendance record |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c07n21y4pkjo |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241013185541/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c07n21y4pkjo |archive-date=13 October 2024 |language=en |date=11 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Finances==
{| {{Table|sort|class=floatright}} |+ WSL2 club financials (accounts ending in 2025) ! Club !! Expenditure (£) !! Income (£) !! Pre-tax profit/loss (£) |- | [[Birmingham City W.F.C.|Birmingham]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Directors and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08308133/filing-history/MzUxMjk5MTk4MGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=7 |language=en |date=4 Apr 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 5,963,381 | 6,104,461 | 141,080 |- | [[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11460716/filing-history/MzQ4NjM3MzY5NWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=9 |language=en |date=27 Oct 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 2,255,523 | 1,190,166 | -1,065,357 |- | [[London City Lionesses]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11932480/filing-history/MzUxMzU2NDEwNmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=7 |language=en |date=31 Mar 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 11,495,034 | 918,725 | -10,576,309 |- | [[Newcastle United W.F.C.|Newcastle United]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11205113/filing-history/MzUxNDExODU4NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=6 |language=en |date=13 Apr 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 4,847,033 | 962,515 | -3,884,518 |- | [[Sheffield United F.C. Women|Sheffield United]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10452900/filing-history/MzUxMjQ4NzM3NGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=10 |language=en |date=29 Mar 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 1,909,403 | 1,908,473 | -930 |- | [[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors' Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06951723/filing-history/MzUxMzExMTAwNGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=7 |language=en |date=4 Apr 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 3,337,377 | 1,367,734 | -1,969,643 |- | [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Directors and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08729214/filing-history/MzUxMTY4MzQ1MGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=13 May 2026 |page=7 |language=en |date=27 Mar 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 1,420,436 | 882,185 | -538,251 |}
After its acquisition by [[Women's Professional Leagues Limited]] (WPLL) in August 2024, the WSL2 transitioned to an independent, club-owned financial model.<ref>{{cite web |title=WSL and Women's Championship takeover: Deal complete for club-owned body to replace FA |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq5dz0w549go |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208030719/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq5dz0w549go |archive-date=8 Dec 2024 |language=en |date=15 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Garry |first1=Tom |title=All-female leadership team takes control of WSL and Women’s Championship |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/15/all-female-leadership-team-announced-for-wsl-and-womens-championship |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220114426/https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/15/all-female-leadership-team-announced-for-wsl-and-womens-championship |archive-date=20 Feb 2025 |language=en |date=15 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=WSL and Women's Championship control handed over from FA to Women's Professional Leagues Limited |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/35730/13197433/wsl-and-womens-championship-control-handed-over-from-fa-to-womens-professional-leagues-limited |website=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251205232224/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/35730/13197433/wsl-and-womens-championship-control-handed-over-from-fa-to-womens-professional-leagues-limited |archive-date=5 Dec 2025 |language=en |date=15 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> In its first year ending July 2025, the league reported an anticipated £8.2 million operating loss on £17.4 million in revenue, supported by a loan from the [[Premier League]].<ref name="bbc-first-year-loss">{{cite web |title=WSL Football reports £8.2m operating loss in first year |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c23r2meen10o |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405105032/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c23r2meen10o |archive-date=5 April 2026 |language=en |date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="garry2026">{{cite web |last1=Garry |first1=Tom |title=WSL2 minimum pay for under-23s less than national living wage for typical full-time job |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/27/wsl2-minimum-pay-national-living-wage-womens-football |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203164456/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/27/wsl2-minimum-pay-national-living-wage-womens-football |archive-date=3 Feb 2026 |language=en |date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weatherspoon |first1=Chris |title=WSL overseer announces £8.2m loss for inaugural year but profits expected to follow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7001323/2026/01/27/wslf-finances-2024-25-womens-football/ |website=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405105128/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7001323/2026/01/27/wslf-finances-2024-25-womens-football/ |archive-date=5 April 2026 |language=en |date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, WSL Football claimed its revenue had tripled between August 2024 and January 2026.<ref name="bbc-first-year-loss"/> A key feature of this new model was the introduction of mandatory minimum salaries across the top two tiers to ensure player sustainability.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clifford |first1=Flo |title=WSL and WSL2 to introduce minimum salaries from this season |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/wsl-wsl2-minimum-salaries-womens-football-b2819272.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260329162323/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/wsl-wsl2-minimum-salaries-womens-football-b2819272.html |archive-date=29 Mar 2026 |language=en |date=3 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Emma |title=Women's Super League: Minimum salaries introduced in WSL and WSL 2 this season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3ezggpnezko |website=BBC Sport |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903125153/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3ezggpnezko |archive-date=3 Sep 2025 |language=en |date=3 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Garry |first1=Tom |title=Revealed: WSL and WSL2 players to get minimum salaries from this season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/03/wsl-and-wsl2-players-to-get-minimum-salaries-womens-football |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009065848/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/03/wsl-and-wsl2-players-to-get-minimum-salaries-womens-football |archive-date=9 Oct 2025 |language=en |date=3 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, reporting by [[The Guardian]] highlighted that minimum pay for under-23 players in the WSL2 still falls below the [[National Living Wage]].<ref name="garry2026"/>
==Clubs== The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2026–27 season. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team !! Location !! Ground !! Capacity !! data-sort-type="number"|2025–26 season |- | [[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]] || [[Bristol]] || [[Ashton Gate Stadium|Ashton Gate]] ||style="text-align:center"| 27,000 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|06|4th}} |- | [[Burnley F.C. Women|Burnley]]|| [[Leyland]]|| [[County Ground (Leyland)|County Ground]] || style="text-align:center"| 2,300 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|11|[[2025–26 FA Women's National League#Northern Division|WNL North]], 1st}} |- | [[Durham W.F.C.|Durham]] || [[Durham, England|Durham]] || [[Maiden Castle sports centre|Maiden Castle]] ||style="text-align:center"| 1,800 (League) 2,400 (Cup) ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|04|10th}} |- | [[Leicester City W.F.C. |Leicester City]]|| [[Leicester]] || [[King Power Stadium|King Power]] || style="text-align:center"| 33,000 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|03|WSL, 12th}} |- |[[Ipswich Town F.C. Women |Ipswich Town]]|| [[Colchester]]||[[Colchester Community Stadium]] || style="text-align:center"|10,105 ||{{sort|12|9th}} |- | [[Newcastle United W.F.C.|Newcastle United]]|| [[Gateshead]] || [[Gateshead International Stadium]]||style="text-align:center"| 11,800 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|05|6th}} |- | [[Nottingham Forest Women F.C.| Nottingham Forest]] || [[Nottingham]] || [[City Ground]] || 31,042|| {{sort|11|7th}} |- | [[Sheffield United F.C. Women|Sheffield United]] || [[Sheffield]] || [[Bramall Lane]] ||style="text-align:center"| 32,050 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|10|11th}} |- | [[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton]] ||[[Southampton]]||[[St Mary's Stadium]] |style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|32,384}} ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|08|5th}} |- | [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]] || [[Hetton-le-Hole]] || [[Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground|Eppleton CW]] ||style="text-align:center"| 2,500 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|07|8th}} |- | [[Watford F.C. Women| Watford]] ||[[Kings Langley]] || The Orbital Fasteners Stadium||style="text-align:center"| 1,000 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|01|[[2025–26 FA Women's National League#Southern Division|WNL South]], 1st}} |- | [[Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.| Wolverhampton]] ||[[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] ||[[New Bucks Head]]||style="text-align:center"| 6,300 ||style="text-align:center"| {{sort|01|[[2025–26 FA Women's National League#Northern Division|WNL North]], 2nd}} |- |}
{{col-2}} {{location map+ |England |float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of clubs for the 2026–27 season |places= {{Location map~ |England |lat=51.4379 |long=-2.6779 |label_size=80 |label=[[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]] |position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.693056 |long=-2.694444|label_size=80 |label=[[Burnley F.C. Women|Burnley]]|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.620277 |long= -1.137222 |label_size=80 |label=[[Leicester City W.F.C.|Leicester City]] |position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=54.7883 |long=-1.5424 |label_size=80 |label=[[Durham W.F.C.|Durham]] |position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.9230 |long= 0.8970 |label_size=80 |label=[[Ipswich Town F.C. Women|Ipswich Town]] |position=top}} {{location map~ |England |lat=55.029 |long= -1.703 |label_size=80 |label=[[Newcastle United W.F.C.|Newcastle United]] |position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.9340 |long=-1.1329 |label_size=80 |label=[[Nottingham Forest Women F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] |position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.2536 |long=-1.4250 |label_size=80 |label=[[Sheffield United F.C. Women|Sheffield United]] |position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=50.9338 |long=-1.5099 |label_size=80 |label=[[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton]] |position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=54.828 |long=-1.4543 |label_size=80 |label=[[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]] |position=right}} {{Location map~ |England |lat=51.721764 |long=-0.451352 |label_size=80 |label=[[Watford F.C. Women|Watford]]|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.6974 |long=-2.5014 |label_size=80 |label=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.|Wolverhampton]] |position=left}} }} {{col-end}}
==Winners== :''Unless noted, only the winners were promoted to the [[Women's Super League]].''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! width=4% |Year ! width=8% |Winner ! width=8% |Runners-up ! width=8% |Third ! width=14% |Top scorers ! width=2% |Goals |- |[[2014 FA WSL 2|2014]]|| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]] || [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]] || [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]] || [[Fran Kirby]] (Reading) || 24 |- |[[2014 FA WSL 2|2015]]|| [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]] || [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]] {{ref|1|p}} || [[Everton F.C. (women)|Everton]] || [[Courtney Sweetman-Kirk]] (Doncaster Rovers Belles) || 20 |- |[[2016 FA WSL 2|2016]]|| [[Yeovil Town L.F.C.|Yeovil Town]] || [[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]] {{ref|1|p}} || [[Everton F.C. (women)|Everton]] || [[Iniabasi Umotong]] (Oxford United)<br />[[Jo Wilson (footballer)|Jo Wilson]] (London Bees) || 13 |- |[[FA WSL 2 Spring Series|Spring Series]]{{efn|name=fn1|The shortened 2017 edition was known as the Spring Series and ran from February to May 2017.}} || [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]] || [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]] || [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]] || [[Courtney Sweetman-Kirk]] (Doncaster Rovers Belles) || 9 |- |[[2017–18 FA WSL 2|2017–18]]|| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]] {{ref|1|r}} || [[Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] {{ref|1|p}} || [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]] || [[Jessica Sigsworth]] (Doncaster Rovers Belles) || 15 |- |[[2018–19 FA Women's Championship|2018–19]] || [[Manchester United W.F.C.|Manchester United]] ||[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women|Tottenham Hotspur]] {{ref|1|p}} || [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] || [[Jessica Sigsworth]] (Manchester United) || 17 |- |[[2019–20 FA Women's Championship|2019–20]] || [[Aston Villa W.F.C.|Aston Villa]] ||[[Sheffield United W.F.C.|Sheffield United]] || [[Durham W.F.C.|Durham]] || [[Katie Wilkinson]] (Sheffield United) || 15 |- |[[2020–21 FA Women's Championship|2020–21]] || [[Leicester City W.F.C.|Leicester City]] ||[[Durham W.F.C.|Durham]] || [[Liverpool F.C. Women|Liverpool]] || [[Katie Wilkinson]] (Sheffield United) || 19 |- |[[2021–22 FA Women's Championship|2021–22]] || [[Liverpool F.C. Women|Liverpool]] || [[London City Lionesses]] || [[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]] || [[Abi Harrison]] (Bristol City) || 17 |- |[[2022–23 Women's Championship|2022–23]] || [[Bristol City W.F.C.|Bristol City]] || [[Birmingham City W.F.C.|Birmingham City]] || [[London City Lionesses]] || [[Melissa Johnson]] (Charlton Athletic) || 12 |- |[[2023–24 Women's Championship|2023–24]] || [[Crystal Palace F.C. (Women)|Crystal Palace]] || [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] || [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]] || [[Elise Hughes]] (Crystal Palace) || 16 |- |[[2024–25 Women's Championship|2024–25]] || [[London City Lionesses]] || [[Birmingham City W.F.C.|Birmingham City]] || [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] || [[Isobel Goodwin]] (London City Lionesses) || 16 |- |[[2025–26 Women's Super League 2|2025–26]] || [[Birmingham City W.F.C.|Birmingham City]] || [[Crystal Palace F.C. Women|Crystal Palace]] {{ref|1|p}} || [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] {{ref|3|po}} || [[Lexi Lloyd-Smith]] (Bristol City) || 11 |}
'''Notes'''<br /> :p.{{note|1|}}Second-placed team was also promoted :r.{{note|2|}}Withdrew from the league and relegated :po.{{note|3|}}Promoted after winning a play-off
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://womensleagues.thefa.com/ Official website]
{{FA Women's Super League}} {{Women's football in England}}
[[Category:Women's Super League 2| ]] [[Category:Women's second-level domestic association football leagues in Europe|Eng]] [[Category:Sports leagues established in 2014]] [[Category:WSL Football competitions|2]] [[Category:Professional football leagues in England]] [[Category:2014 establishments in England]]