Soccer-Arsenal, Chelsea and ambitious Lionesses target Man City in new WSL season

The Women's Super League returns this weekend with a ‌sense ​of momentum. Expanded to 14 teams, fuelled by fresh investment and looking more competitive than ever, the 2026-27 season promises to be one of the most compelling in the league's history.

Manchester City are champions after ending a 10-year title drought, but retaining the trophy ‌could prove even tougher. "Our biggest challenge this year is to continue winning and, at the same time, compete in other competitions and also want to win those," City boss Andree Jeglertz told the BBC.

"Winning in one year is one thing, but being able to win in the next year, that is even tougher ... we have good enough players to be able to ‌play with one starting 11 on Saturday and do a couple of changes on Wednesday and still win. Each player will be more important than they've ever been for ‌the club." City host promoted Birmingham City on Sunday with their Jamaica striker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw, armed with a contract extension until 2030, the league's most feared goalscorer.

Arsenal, runners-up last season, have strengthened again and look genuine title contenders, with England striker Alessia Russo leading a squad packed with talent and their manager Renee Slegers said her season ambition was "taking the next step." "We've been growing the last couple of years," she told the club's in-house media. "There ⁠were a ​lot of really good things last year.

"If you ⁠look at results, we're second in the WSL. We're semi-finalists in the Champions League. The next step is to be even closer and to be up there to compete for the first place ... we're going to ⁠do everything that we're capable of within our control to put ourselves in a position to do it." Arsenal visit Brighton & Hove Albion for their opener on Sunday.

CHANGES AT CHELSEA After a decade of domestic domination, ​including a treble in 2024-25, last season's one trophy –- the League Cup –- was not up to Chelsea's usual standards.

A summer of change has followed, with manager Sonia ⁠Bompastor welcoming Katie McCabe from Arsenal, among others. Some big names have also departed, including former England defender Millie Bright, who retired, and Australian international Sam Kerr, who left for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League in ⁠the ​U.S.

Chelsea host Aston Villa on Saturday. The biggest disruptors may be London City Lionesses, who host Manchester United in the curtain-raiser on Friday.

Backed by owner Michele Kang, they have made a statement in the transfer market, bringing in eight newcomers including twice Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, her Barcelona teammate Mapi Leon and former England goalkeeper Mary Earps. Kang was a ⁠big reason Leon moved to London City.

"Because seeing another woman doing so much to help women's sports and women's football grow, I think it's impossible not to value that," she ⁠told the Guardian. "I think it's something very ⁠powerful." The league's expansion adds fresh intrigue, with promoted sides Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic bringing new storylines and rivalries.

Four extra league games will test squad depth, particularly for European hopefuls Arsenal, Chelsea and City. The battle for the Golden Boot should again feature Shaw and ‌Russo but a wave of ‌emerging talent and high-profile arrivals such as Putellas promises to raise the standard across the league.

(Reporting ​by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)