Women’s football in England is bigger than ever, but it’s taken a lot of work to get to this point. Until 1970 (just 54 years ago), women were banned from playing football in England – and it was only in 2018 that the Women’s Super League (WSL) became fully professional. 

Since then, the league – which is now sponsored by Barclays – has become one of the world’s most exciting women’s football leagues, attracting top players from around the globe. Here’s everything you need to know about the home to top-flight women’s football in England. 

When did the WSL first start?

It was way back in 2010 when the FA Women’s Super League was first established to replace the FA Women's Premier League National Division – the highest division of women’s football at the time. The start of the league had to be deferred for a year due to the global economic downturn, so the inaugural season ended up taking place in the summer of 2011. 

To begin with, eight clubs claimed a place in the newly-formed WSL: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies and Liverpool. These teams were predominantly semi-professional and were picked from a group of 16 clubs who applied to take part when the creation of the league was first announced. 

The first match took place between Chelsea and Arsenal at Chelsea’s then-home ground, Imperial Fields. Chelsea lost that match 1-0; Arsenal went on to win the league. 

Many of the current big names in the WSL were there from the start. Manchester United’s Mary Earps was signed to Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of the 2011 season, while Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood was at Everton until 2014. Ellen White, Jill Scott and Fara Williams were also leading the way at their respective teams, while Alex Scott joined the league in 2012.

In 2014, a second division – known as FA WSL 2 – was announced. This new league had space for 10 teams: nine new, and one relegated from WSL 1. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to WSL 2, while Manchester City were given a spot in the top league. It was at this point when the FA announced plans to make WSL 1 into a 10-team league, by promoting two teams and relegating one for the following two seasons. In summer 2016 it was also announced that the league would move from a summer to a winter league, with a special ‘Spring series’ taking place in early 2017 to bridge the gap between the two. 

After the first winter season, WSL 1 was renamed to the FA Women’s Super League, and became a fully professional league for the first time. The FA brought in new licence criteria for clubs who wanted to take part, so they all had to reapply for their spots. In the end, it was agreed that all 11 clubs involved would provide a minimum of 16 contact hours per week for players, and offer an academy. WSL 2 was also rebranded to become the Championship.

What clubs are in the WSL?

There are currently 12 teams in the Women’s Super League. In the 2022/23 season, Reading was relegated to the Championship, while Bristol City made their way up to the WSL. 

The 2023/24 WSL team list is:

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Brighton & Hove Albion

Bristol City

Chelsea

Everton

Leicester City

Liverpool

Manchester City

Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United

Where to watch the WSL

The Women’s Super League is aired across the BBC, Sky Sports and the FA Player. You can check out our guide to where the games are being shown each week.

WSL stats and records

Chelsea have claimed the most titles in WSL history, with six titles in total. Their current run of four wins has also given them the record for the most consecutive wins – a record they’re looking to expand by winning the league for the fifth year in a row this season.

England’s Kerys Harrop holds the record for the most WSL appearances, with the defender boasting a whopping 183 appearances in total. Harrop is closely followed by Kate Longhurst with 182, while Sophie Ingle – the first player in the top 10 to still be playing in the league – has an impressive 178. 

Vivianne Miedema holds the title of all-time WSL top scorer, with 78 goals in 98 appearances. She’s followed closely by Bethany England, with 69 goals in 148 appearances, and Ellen White, with 61 goals in 143 appearances. With her return from an ACL injury in the latter half of last year, Miedema will be looking to increase her lead before the 2023/24 season is over.

Image: Getty