Clubs approve 14-team Women's Super League and professional second tier
The Women's Super League will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026-27 season, subject to Football Association approval. Clubs from the top division and WSL2 voted in favour of a proposal to expand the league and raise minimum standards, making the second tier fully professional.
The changes must be backed by the FA because it has a 'golden share' in WSL Football, which took over running of the top two tiers of domestic women's football in England last year. The vote at Monday's shareholder meeting followed months of discussions with players, clubs, fans and other stakeholders, during which more than 20 league formats were explored.
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Next season the top two WSL2 clubs will be promoted and the third-placed team will have a playoff against the bottom WSL side to determine who will take the 14th spot. The idea of scrapping relegation outright was rejected after a public backlash when the Guardian reported that it was among the options on the table.
Thereafter the WSL's bottom club will be relegated and replaced by the second-tier winners and the teams finishing second-bottom of the WSL and second in WSL2 will face a playoff. WSL2 will remain a 12-club division.
The FA continues to be responsible for the third-tier Women's National League and will decide on its format but it is proposed that from 2026-27 the National League North and National League South winners be promoted and two WSL2 clubs drop down, in line with current guidelines.
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Next season, to achieve the requisite numbers in the top two divisions, the two WNL winners are due to be promoted but only one WSL2 club would be relegated and a playoff is planned between the WNL's runners-up for a third promotion spot.
Any team promoted from the WNL must meet the minimum WSL2 standards to gain entry, or a relegated team would be given a reprieve.
Nikki Doucet, the CEO of WSL Football said: 'We believe this next evolution of women's professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board … The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for the women's game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match.'
It is understood the decision not to expand the WSL beyond 14 teams, at least for the time being, is down to data suggesting it would dilute the quality and a congested calendar leaving too few available matchdays.
The WSL has to contend with two more international windows (seven) than the men's calendar and three weekends being lost during the winter break to one by the Premier League. Only 24 weekends and three midweek slots are available once other commitments are factored in, including a six-week gap between a major tournament and new season; no more than two midweek games in a row; no midweek games after international breaks; and limited midweek games in the winter owing to possible postponements.
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