The highest level of women’s football in the UK is in the midst of an overhaul as the operators WSL football aim to “develop around the grounds” narrative.
Parts of this improvement have included the announcement of a five year media deal with Sky Sports and the BBC, a change in broadcast times of the matches and the expansion of the league for the 2026/ 27 season.
What are the broadcasting changes?
Sky Sports will be broadcasting 90% of the upcoming games for the 2025/26 season, upending the previous 6:45pm on a Sunday slot in favour of midday on a Sunday matches.
The increased ease of accessing the matches, both through provider and time, is hoped to boos engagement and firmly plant the Women’s League into the weekend plans of football fans, in the same way as the much anticipated 3pm on a Saturday slot of the men’s game.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United will also benefit from newly organised Friday night matches on the weekends before their Women’s Champions League appearances, in order to give them more preparation for the international league.
After the Lionesses stole (or maybe more aptly, retained) the hearts of the nation with their second consecutive Euros win, the league will be looking to capitalise on the increased visibility and interest in the sport.
Alcohol permitted in WSL games trial continues
One of these ways has been through trialing the presence of alcohol in the stands for the women’s game, something which has been banned since 1985 in the men’s game.
Four second-tier clubs - Bristol City, Birmingham City, Newcastle United and Southampton, permitted alcohol into the stands for the second half of the season over 19 games, with no safety incidents reported.
This trial is now being rolled out across 14 WSL and WSL 2 clubs for the upcoming season, adding a new lure to attending the women’s games.
WSL expansion for upcoming season
Looking past the upcoming season, the WSL has announced that the league will be expanded from 12 to 14 teams. Currently, the two top WSL 2 teams are promoted, and the bottom WSL team relegated.
However, with the new regulations, the top 2 runners from WSL 2 will also be automatically promoted. The third ranked team in WSL 2 will face the bottom WSL team to fight for the final place in the top league.
This will allow for the expansion of the league by two teams, and then moving forward, only the winner of WSL 2 will be promoted, with the bottom WSL team still relegated.
The league will commence on the 5th September, when reigning champions Chelsea take on Manchester City on home turf, kicking off an electric new season.
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