How WSL's expansion to 14 teams will reshape the women's football pyramid
The transfer of ownership of WSL and WSL2 last summer from the Football Association to WSL Football, in which the clubs are shareholders, prompted an in-depth analysis of the leagues' future. Every format and variation was on the table and explored, with fans, clubs and other stakeholders consulted.
Some possibilities – such as a pause in relegation and promotion as the league expanded – were widely condemned after being reported.
What has been settled on is a two-club expansion of the WSL from 2026-27, with WSL2 remaining a 12-team league. From then, the WSL's bottom club will be relegated and 13th will play off against the WSL2 runners-up for a top-tier spot. At the bottom of the second division, things remain the same, with two relegated and the champions of the Women's National League (WNL) North and South promoted, providing they meet the licensing criteria.
This is a solid conclusion, the playoff adding extra jeopardy at the bottom of the WSL, an extra something to play for in WSL2, and a one-off showpiece game that will hopefully prove engaging audience-wise.
In the interim 2025-26 season, which is needed to build a 14‑team WSL, things will get very interesting. Two teams will be promoted automatically from WSL2, and the WSL's bottom club will enter a playoff against third place in WSL2 for the final spot in the new top flight. That is a one-year pause in relegation by default, because it is unlikely the team third in WSL2 will beat the club bottom of the WSL, given upsets when teams from the leagues meet in cup competitions are extremely rare. For a single season this slight manipulation of the principle of promotion and relegation can be forgiven.
At the bottom of WSL2 and top of the WNL, there will be a further one-off easing of the bottleneck, a process that started with the switch in the 2023-24 season from a single WNL promotion place to the WNL North and WNL South champions being promoted. Next season a third promotion spot will be available, a playoff between the runners-up from both leagues determining who joins the two league winners.
Why will there be 14 teams and not 16 in the WSL? That is understood to be in part because research suggests the competitiveness of the league would be reduced should it expand further at present. There are also big issues with the international match calendar, which has seven international windows for the women's game and five for the men's.
Meanwhile, WSL Football's player‑welfare‑centred ethos means an array of principles affect the number of match rounds available in the calendar, including a minimum six-week gap between a major tournament and new season, no midweek games after international windows, no more than two consecutive midweek fixtures, few midweek fixtures during the winter to allow for postponements and maintaining the winter break.
However, further expansion has not been ruled out in the future and this is viewed as the first phase of the development of the leagues under WSL Football.
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It is valid to ask why WSL2 is not expanding. However, given the two extra teams entering the WSL and the knock-on impact of three teams being promoted from the WNL next season, this feels like a reasonable move in the context of the changes being made to minimum standards in the division. With WSL2 becoming fully professional the financial demands on clubs in the division have ramped up.
Blackburn have self-relegated out of the second tier to avoid having to meet the new requirements. Wolves failed to apply for a WSL2 licence despite the club being in a battle for promotion to the end of the season. These clubs have the financial resources to meet the minimum standards, and the onus is on those owners to step up and properly back their women's team.
There will be hope that the extra incentive of a playoff place for the runners-up and the benefits of WSL football will encourage further investment and commitment, but there will be only so many clubs at this stage willing and ready to make the leap up into WSL2 and professionalism.
Sustainable leagues and the integrity of the pyramid matter and it will be vital for WSL Football to build a strong relationship with the WNL, which is run by the FA, and WNL clubs to ensure that clubs facing promotion to WSL2 are able and willing to reach the minimum standards. That said, WSL2 clubs need more matches and moving towards expansion has to be a priority.
Despite the hiccup around the potential scrapping of promotion and relegation and the fury that caused, WSL Football has settled on an, overall, solid solution to expanding the WSL and raising minimum standards across the top two tiers.
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