Women's Super League (WSL) clubs have given the green light to expansion plans that will see the top-flight division grow from 12 to 14 teams, starting with the 2026/2027 season. This decision, reached after a vote by WSL Football shareholders on Monday, June 16, 2025, marks a significant moment for the future of women's football in England, promising increased competition and opportunities across the league pyramid. The proposal remains subject to final approval from the Football Association (FA) through its "golden share."
The expansion will be implemented over the next two seasons. During the 2025/26 campaign, the top two teams from the Women's Championship (WSL 2) will gain automatic promotion to the WSL. Additionally, a promotion/relegation play-off will be held at the end of the season, pitting the 12th-placed team in the WSL against the third-placed team in the Championship. The winner of this play-off will secure their place in the expanded 14-team WSL for the 2026/27 season.
From the 2026/27 season onward, a consistent promotion and relegation system will be in place. The team finishing at the bottom of the WSL table will be automatically relegated, with the Women's Championship winner taking their place. Furthermore, the team finishing 13th in the WSL will face the Championship runner-up in a play-off to determine the final spot in the top flight. The Women's Championship will remain a 12-team league.
This decision comes after a period of consultation with various stakeholders, including players, fans, and clubs from both the WSL and the Championship. A previous, more radical proposal to completely eliminate relegation from the WSL was ultimately shelved following public criticism. The approved expansion plan aims to strike a balance between maintaining competitiveness and providing opportunities for clubs in the second tier to progress.
Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football, emphasized the importance of this decision for the entire women's football pyramid. She stated that the expansion plans are the result of a "thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential." Doucet believes that expanding the WSL to 14 teams will "stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid, which increases opportunities" and that the introduction of a promotion/relegation play-off "creates distinction for the women's game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match."
The expansion of the WSL has been met with generally positive reactions. Supporters of the plan highlight the increased opportunities for players and clubs, the potential for greater investment in the women's game, and the excitement that the promotion/relegation play-offs will generate. The move is seen as a crucial step in the continued professionalization and growth of women's football in England, aligning it more closely with the structure of the men's game. It is expected to raise the overall standards and competitiveness of the league, making it an even more attractive prospect for players, fans, and sponsors alike. It remains to be seen how this expansion will impact the league, but the changes are expected to stimulate the growth of women's football.
