NWSL Kit Drop | Relegation to be Scrapped? | Chelsea Drop Points

March 03, 2025

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

  • Picks from the pitch: WSL is back

  • Latest headlines: England get Spain boost | Japan believes | Three managers sacked

  • In focus: Relegation shakeup: what you need to know

  • What we’re watching: Our pick of the week’s upcoming matches

  • Jobs: New opportunities in football

⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Our top five WSL moments

This weekend was drama central in the WSL. Brighton looked like a team inspired as they took points off Chelsea in a 2-2 draw. It was the perfect opportunity for Arsenal and City to capitalise in the race to narrow Chelsea’s 7-point lead. City got the job done, but West Ham made Arsenal work hard for it. The Hammers were 2-0 up after 11 minutes, and considering they only had 28% possession and it ended 4-3, there are some big questions for Arsenal to go away and think about today!

  1. Maren Mjelde got her first goal for the Toffees

  2. Beth England was not messing about with this banger

  3. Chloe Kelly with a lovely little volley to start off her Arsenal tally

  4. Shekiera Martinez waltzed through Arsenal’s defence

  5. Marisa Olislagers, now to be known as ‘the magician’, managed to squeeze this goal past Hannah Hampton from the tightest of angles.

RESULTS

AS IT STANDS

MEANWHILE IN THE NATIONS LEAGUE…

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England’s 1-0 win against Spain last week was a major triumph for England fans. They got a tiny bit of revenge for their World Cup Final loss, but beyond that there was the feeling that England pulled together, and did everything they didn’t do against Portugal. Lauren James put in an absolute shift defensively (a part of her game that has been criticised in the past), and although Park’s goal was a bit of a fumbled rebound, she went on to cause problems down the right side all game. Lucy Bronze showed why she’s still a top, top right back. Watch the Highlights here.

🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

Womens Soccer Look GIF by National Women's Soccer League

Cue generic sad Emma Hayes Gif.

🇯🇵 It’s finally happened. Emma Hayes has suffered her first defeat as manager of the USWNT. Japan was the team to do it, as they became the third team to beat the USA at their home tournament, the She Believes Cup. It ended 2-1, goals came from Yuka Momiki and Toko Koga for Japan, and Ally Sentnor for the USA. It’s the first bit of silverware for new coach Nils Nielson who joined Japan in December 2024 to get back into management after a stint as Man City’s Director of Women’s Football.

🍻 Pubs could stay open until 1am rather than 11pm if the Lionesses or Wales get to the semi-finals or the Final of this summer’s Euros. The UK government has opened a consultation with pubs, hospitality leaders and licensing authorities.

🏆 Mariona Caldentey and Reneé Skechers won player and Manager of the month for Feb. Leicester City’s Janice Bayman won goal of the month for this screamer against Aston Villa.

🎙️ Marty Sheargold, an Australian Radio show host who said (amongst other things), live on air, that he’d rather ‘hammer a nail through the end of his penis’ than watch the Matilda’s, has been sacked by Triple M radio. He did attempt an apology, saying his comedy missed the mark sometimes and he could see why his comments might be taken offensively. Some great self awareness from Marty there!

⚠️ Manager mayhem  - Three managers have parted ways with their clubs this week. 

  • First up, Matt Beard. After three and a half years in charge at Liverpool, including promotion to the WSL and a fourth place finish last season, Liverpool made their move with a few months to go of a season that’s been nothing if disappointing. Currently in seventh place, the club will be managed by Amber Whiteley (who says she fancies the job full time) until the end of the season. The club made a genuine statement thanking Beard for an undeniably positive time in charge. 

  • Crystal Palace meanwhile dropped Laura Kaminski who won Palace promotion last season, but had won only one game in the league so far. Palace was always going to struggle with the step up to WSL level, but they’ve taken a bold move to try and salvage the season, immediately bringing in Norwegian Leif Smerud as head coach. 

  • Southampton rounded off the sackings with Remi Allen leaving by mutual agreement. Sat in eight palace in the Championship, the Saints have been without a win for seven games. Marieanne Spacey-Cale former saints manager, current director, will take charge until the end of the season.

🔎 IN FOCUS

Big WSL relegation shakeup on the cards

The Women’s Professional League Ltd (WPLL) is considering a major overhaul of the WSL: scrapping (or potentially pausing) relegation from the 2026-27 season. Here's what you need to know:

  • Why stop relegation? The plan aims to reduce financial risks and encourage clubs to invest in their teams, making the league more competitive overall.

  • League Expansion: The WSL and Championship (to be renamed WSL2)  would gradually grow to 16 teams each.

  • Promotion System: A new mechanism for promoting teams from the Championship is on the cards, but it’s still under discussion.

  • Relegation's Potential Return: Relegation might come back in the 2030-31 season, but that's not set in stone.

Clubs will vote on this proposal at the end of the season. If it passes, it could change women's football in the UK as we know it.

🗳️ What do you think of the plans for WSL and WSL2?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

👀 FAVE FINDS

New NWSL docuseries incoming

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

For The Win, Prime's new docuseries, will premiere on 6 March. The four-part series follows the NWSL playoffs and Championship, with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and, we’re told, exciting moments.

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Unexpected loan deals done as NWSL season looms

  • Adriana Leon is off to America, trading Aston Villa for San Diego Wave. She joins on a two-year contract with an option for a one-year extension.

  • It’s a loan no one was expecting… Tottenham keeper Becky Spencer is a Chelsea player until the end of the season. The emergency loan comes after Musovic announced her pregnancy and Femke Liefting suffered an ankle injury. That left only Hanah Hampton and 18-year-old Katie Cox.

  • Manchester United are in advanced talks with Gotham FC to secure a loan deal for Geyse ahead of the NWSL starting on 14 March. Her agent said Man United had attempted to loan her out to other clubs while she was away at her brother’s funeral in Brazil.

    Geyse made a statement on social media over the weekend saying, “Staying in a place where we don’t feel happy is an agonising and lonely feeling. Every day seems heavier, and the simple fact of being there becomes a burden. The environment, which should be welcoming, becomes a field of discomfort, where inner peace is difficult to find.”

👟 KIT DROP

NWSL kits launch ahead of the new season

Get ready folks: the NWSL's new away kits have landed, showcasing bespoke designs that celebrate the unique spirit and hometown pride of all 14 clubs. It’s a real mixed bag of hits and misses (in our opinion!). Check them out in detail on our site.

WHERE TO BUY A NWSL KIT IN THE UK

Foudy’s is the first and only UK supplier of NWSL kits. Did you know that a when you buy a NWSL shirt with a player’s name on it, a small percentage of sales goes to the player? Another fun fact… you can’t put a retired player’s name on a shirt. Maybe DOGE will find time to rip that rule up while they’re at it.

→ Support independent businesses, and get your NWSL shirts here

Veja’s football inspired Panenka trainer is arriving just in time for spring. It’s available in a black, white and red highlight colourways, and… bonus, there’s also a scarf. Get yours here.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Good for a Girl - Join Queensgate Football Club as they advance to the final rounds of the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history. This new play about women’s football, written by Becky Deeks and directed by Lucy Wild, has been touring the Midlands and the last two shows run this week. Tickets and info here

Solers United, a queer comedy about womxn’s football, will get its World Premiere at BFI’s Flare Festival in March 2025, the tickets sold out in eight minutes! You can still watch the trailer here and look out for more info over the coming weeks!

We’re heading to the Women’s Football Fair – come down and say hi!
Saturday 15 March 2025, 10:00-16:00, Doors 9:45, Edgbaston Park Hotel
Tickets £5

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up.

🧠 QUIZ

Question: Who has just become the most capped player for Les Bleues (France)?

Answer at the bottom of the email

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

WSL
Wednesday 5 March
19:00 - West Ham United vs Manchester City [WSL YouTube]
19:30 - Chelsea vs Leicester City [Sky Sports]

Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final
Watch on: Women’s FA Cup YouTube
Saturday 8 March
17:15 - Manchester United vs Sunderland AFC

Sunday 9 March
12:30 - Manchester City vs Aston Villa
14:30 - Arsenal vs Liverpool
14:30 - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Challenge Cup
Saturday 8 March
01:00 Orlando Pride vs Washington Spirit

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

🧠 QUIZ

Question: Who has just become the most capped player for Les Bleues (France)?

Answer: Eugene Le Sommer.
She just made her 199th appearance against Iceland in the Nations League. She also holds the record for most goals, a pretty impressive 94.

P.S. If you know a WSL fan who’d love to read this email, please forward this one or share a link :)

More women watching, playing and working in football