The five-minute read for dedicated-ish fans of women’s football.

This week: WSL and WSL2 are loading. Plus: a coaching bombshell days before kickoff, Chelsea sweating in Spain, and... Gillian Anderson x Football.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

Chelsea finished third in the WSL last season, which means they've had to enter the Champions League through qualifying rather than going straight into the league phase. This week's first leg against Real Sociedad was a scare: they looked rusty and fell behind twice before Melvine Malard, on her debut off the bench, scored twice to turn it around. A 5-2 lead going into next week's away leg should be enough to see them through. Watch the Highlights

Next up: Second leg · Wednesday 2 September, 18:00 BST · San Sebastián

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Four WSL academy sides will join the third tier from 2027-28, after the FA approved a plan to let top-flight clubs field development teams in the Women's National League. The idea is to give young English players more competitive minutes, but it's divisive: more than half the National League's clubs signed a letter opposing it, arguing they weren't consulted. The academy sides won't be eligible for promotion. Read more

🏆 Bunny Shaw is the PFA Players' Player of the Year, the Man City striker voted the standout of the WSL season by her piers. Arsenal's Olivia Smith took Young Player of the Year, and Birmingham's Lily Crosthwaite was named WSL2's best. Read more

🇳🇬 Nigeria's entire football board has resigned after the Super Falcons failed to reach the 2027 World Cup, the first time they've missed it since the tournament began in 1991. A quarter-final exit at WAFCON as defending champions, then a playoff defeat to South Africa, triggered the fallout; the men's team missing next year's World Cup added to the pressure. Read more

Brighton lose their head coach a week before kickoff. Dario Vidošić has left for the NWSL, reportedly Angel City, days before Brighton open at home to Arsenal on Sunday. The timing stings: he took them to a first-ever FA Cup final and a best-ever fifth last season. But they've replaced him well.

Arturo Ruiz, 29, joins from Real Sociedad, where he finished third and reached the Champions League last season, on a deal to 2029 — and Sociedad reportedly tried to talk him out of leaving. He's new to English football and won't be a familiar name to most WSL fans, but landing one of Europe's brightest young coaches within hours of losing Vidošić is impressive. The catch is timing: he arrives with days to prepare a squad built for someone else. Read more

→ Manchester United: Winger Monica Jusu Bah has joined permanently from BK Häcken for around £385k, signed to 2030. United are also close to landing Mexico defender Rebeca Bernal from Washington Spirit before Thursday's deadline, which would make her the first Mexican to play in the WSL. Both are part of the rebuild under Eva Olid, appointed over the summer.

→ Birmingham: Japan midfielder Suzu Amano has signed permanently from Växjö for an undisclosed fee. Only 22, she came through INAC Kobe's academy and scored against Spain in the 2022 Under-20 World Cup final, giving the promoted side another option in midfield.

→ Charlton: Keira Flannery has turned last season's loan into a permanent three-year deal. The 20-year-old played every WSL2 game as Charlton won promotion, so the club knows exactly what it's getting.

→ Crystal Palace: Fūka Tsunoda has arrived on a season-long loan from Brighton. The Japan youth international scored twice in the WSL last season, including the opener in a draw with Arsenal.

→ Chelsea: Defender Jorja Fox has left permanently for Ipswich, ending an academy career that never quite cracked the first team despite loans across the league.

→ Tottenham Hotspur: Two out. Hungary international Anna Csiki has joined Benfica permanently after two years, and forward Araya Dennis, 20, has gone to Leicester on a season-long loan for regular WSL2 minutes.

→ Manchester City: Ireland full-back Tara O'Hanlon has joined Wolves permanently, leaving after 18 injury-hit months in which she never made a senior City appearance.

⚽ Baller FC: Season Opener
Fri 4 September, from 19:00 · The Stag's Head, 55 Orsman Road, London N1 5RA
Baller takes over the pub garden where it all started, for London City v Man Utd on opening night. More info

🎙️ Counter Pressed Live
Sun 6 September, 19:00 · Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
Flo Lloyd-Hughes and the Counter Pressed crew unpick the opening weekend live, with guest Jana Fernandez, as part of the London Podcast Festival. Around 90 minutes, no interval. Get your tickets

⚽ Baller FC: Emirates pre-match mixer
Sun 13 September, from 12:00 · The Victoria Tavern, 203 Holloway Road, London N7 8DL
Baller sets up at the Vic for Man Utd v Chelsea at midday, then a short walk to the Emirates for Arsenal's first home game of the season, against Crystal Palace (14:45). More info

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up – we'll always spread the word.

Your what-not-to-miss viewing guide (BST)

Both leagues kick off this weekend, every game live on Sky Sports, the BBC or YouTube.

WSL
Friday 4 September
London City Lionesses vs Manchester United (19:00, Sky Sports) — the season opener, with Alexia Putellas making her WSL debut and Mary Earps back against her old club.

Saturday 5 September
Chelsea vs Aston Villa (12:30, BBC)

Sunday 6 September
Brighton vs Arsenal (12:00, Sky Sports) — Arturo Ruiz's first game in charge, days after taking over.
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham (12:00, Sky Sports)
Charlton Athletic vs Liverpool (14:00, Sky Sports)
Crystal Palace vs Everton (14:00, Sky Sports)
Manchester City vs Birmingham City (14:30, Sky Sports) — the champions begin their title defence against a promoted side.

WSL2
Sunday 6 September
Sheffield United vs Leicester City (14:00, YouTube) — Leicester's opener after relegation from the WSL.
Sunderland vs Bristol City (14:00, YouTube) — Bristol City missed promotion by a whisker last season, so one of the stronger sides out of the blocks.

WSL Football has launched their new Fantasy game for the 2026-27 season. It's free to play in the WSL Football app. Play online, or download the app for iOS or Android

👉 Join our league here or use code: HDIPDWX1

Turns out Gillian Anderson can get even more iconic. She's come on board as an investor in Crux Football, the women's football ownership group behind Montpellier and a chunk of Sweden's Rosengård. This is the football crossover we absolutely didn’t know we needed. Read more

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