Chelsea 6-0 Charlton. Manchester City 2-1 London City Lionesses. Both results landed on 1 November, and the WSL 2026-27 table still shows two teams level on 22 points after eight games. That’s a tight start to a season with 14 clubs for the first time. Meanwhile, the Women’s Ballon d’Or recap shows how many global stars now play in England. This guide covers the table, the title race, the strugglers and the names to watch.
Where the WSL 2026-27 Table Stands
The league has grown from 12 clubs to 14. Birmingham City and Crystal Palace came up as the top two sides in WSL 2. Charlton Athletic joined them after a play-off win over Leicester City, who went down. As a result, the fixture list is longer, and every point counts a little more.
At the top, Chelsea and Manchester City each have seven wins and one draw. Chelsea hold first place on goal difference, with a record of 27 scored and four conceded. City have scored 22 and let in 10. Behind them, London City Lionesses sit third on 16 points. Charlton, in contrast, were still searching for their first point as of 1 November.
Here’s how the top of the table looked after eight games:
- Chelsea: 22 points, goal difference +23
- Manchester City: 22 points, goal difference +12
- London City Lionesses: 16 points, third place
The Title Race: Chelsea and Manchester City
Last season ended with a changing of the guard. Manchester City won the 2025-26 title with 55 points, and the trophy was confirmed on 6 May 2026. Chelsea had held the crown for six straight years before that. Even so, they’ve started this campaign like a team with a point to prove.
Chelsea’s goal machine
Chelsea beat Tottenham 6-2 at home on 18 October, the highest-scoring game of the season so far. Defender Ellie Carpenter scored twice that day. In fact, she became the first Chelsea defender to score two in a WSL match since February 2020. Then came the 6-0 win over Charlton, with Melvine Malard scoring twice.
City’s top-scorer edge
City answer with Khadija Shaw, who leads the league with nine goals as of 1 November. Shaw scored 21 league goals last season, too. Lauren Hemp is next for City with five. On the same day, Hemp struck the winner against London City after Jana Fernandez had equalised in the 72nd minute. Mary Fowler set up that goal.
London City Lionesses and the Chasing Pack
London City Lionesses arrived in the top flight last season as Championship winners. Now they sit third, and that’s no accident. Alexia Putellas and Mapi León joined the club in the summer. Eder Maestre has been in charge since January 2026.
Elsewhere, the goals are flowing. Tottenham beat Aston Villa 4-0 on 27 September. Brighton thrashed Charlton 5-1 on 4 October. For fans of a good scoreline, the WSL 2026-27 season has delivered plenty already. Of course, the big question is whether anyone outside the top two can keep pace until spring.
Arsenal and Manchester United: Early Struggles
Arsenal’s start has been hard to watch. They’d taken six points from six games by matchday six. Just five goals in that stretch left them short in front of goal. Their winless run reached five WSL matches, the longest in club history. By comparison, only 2014 was worse, when they opened with four points.
Manchester United have their own reset. Marc Skinner left by mutual agreement on 3 August, and Eva Olid took over two days later. Still, there’s time. The only certainty is that these two clubs can’t afford a slow winter.
The two met on 19 September, drawing 1-1 in front of 29,853 fans. That’s the highest attendance of the season so far.
Players to Watch in the Second Half of the Season
This section lists names to follow, based on form up to 1 November 2026. It isn’t a squad announcement. Here’s who stands out:
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City): league-leading nine goals and the 2025-26 Golden Boot
- Lauren Hemp (Manchester City): five goals and the winner at London City
- Melvine Malard (Chelsea): two goals against Charlton on 1 November
- Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea): a rare defender with a brace against Tottenham
- Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses): the reigning Women’s Ballon d’Or winner
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal): the Lionesses forward who’ll need to lift her side
For England fans, the Lionesses squad guide explains how club form feeds the national team. Meanwhile, the Leah Williamson biography covers an Arsenal captain-in-waiting who knows what turnarounds take.
Last Season’s Recap: How City Won the Title
To understand the WSL 2026-27 race, it helps to know how last season ended. Manchester City finished 2025-26 with 18 wins, one draw and three defeats. They scored 62 goals and conceded 19. That gave them 55 points and a goal difference of +43. Chelsea had won six titles in a row, so City’s win ended a long run.
The title was confirmed on 6 May 2026. Arsenal drew with Brighton that day, which left City out of reach. Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea took the Champions League places. Leicester City were relegated. Shaw’s 21 goals won the Golden Boot, and she finished eight clear of Alessia Russo.
Records from 2025-26
The season produced some big numbers. Arsenal beat Leicester 7-0 on 29 April 2026. Aston Villa lost 7-3 at home to Tottenham on 15 February 2026. In November 2025, 56,537 fans watched Arsenal draw 1-1 with Chelsea. That’s the league’s highest attendance last season.
Questions for the Second Half of the Season
Halfway through the campaign, a few big questions stand out. First, can Chelsea keep scoring at this rate? They’ve scored 27 goals in eight games. Second, can City hold on with a smaller goal difference? Third, can London City Lionesses stay in the top three? Their win total says they can.
Then there’s Arsenal. A club of their size can’t stay stuck for long. Their attack needs fresh ideas, particularly against deep defences. Opponents have often sat deep against them, which makes breaking them down harder.
Finally, the bottom of the table is worth watching. Charlton are looking for their first point. Because the league now has 14 teams, a side needs to find points early. Of course, one good run can change everything.
A new trophy also arrives this season. The league introduced it as part of the rebrand. Whoever lifts it in May will have earned it.
The Golden Boot Race
The scoring chart has a familiar leader. After six games, Khadija Shaw returned to the top with seven goals. She helped City win their first six league matches. Océane Hurtré sat second on six. That’s a much closer race than last season, when Shaw finished eight goals clear.
History favours Shaw, too. The last player to score seven goals in six WSL games was Shaw herself, in 2022-23. She went on to win the Golden Boot that year. By matchday six last season, Malard led with five goals. By comparison, Shaw now has nine after eight games, as of 1 November 2026.
Here are the biggest scorelines of the season so far:
- 27 September: Tottenham 4-0 Aston Villa
- 4 October: Brighton 5-1 Charlton
- 18 October: Chelsea 6-2 Tottenham
- 1 November: Chelsea 6-0 Charlton
What the Early Numbers Say
The raw numbers tell a clear story. Chelsea have scored 27 goals in eight games, an average of about 3.4 per match. They’ve let in just four, or one every two games. City have scored 22 and conceded 10. Both clubs have lost none of their eight league games.
Meanwhile, a six-point gap separates second place from third. London City Lionesses have 16 points, and the top two have 22. That’s a useful cushion, though only about two matches’ worth. Still, the early table suggests a title race between two sides. The WSL 2026-27 season has a long way to go, of course.
Key Takeaways
- Table: Chelsea and Manchester City share 22 points after eight games.
- Scoring: Khadija Shaw leads the league with nine goals as of 1 November.
- Third place: London City Lionesses have 16 points and a star-studded side.
- Arsenal: Six points from six games was their second-worst start since 2014.
- Size: The league has 14 clubs for the first time.
FAQs
Who is top of the WSL 2026-27 table?
Chelsea lead on goal difference, with Manchester City level on 22 points after eight games.
Who is the WSL’s top scorer this season?
Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw leads with nine goals as of 1 November 2026.
How many teams are in the WSL this season?
Fourteen teams play in the 2026-27 season, up from 12.
Who won the WSL last season?
Manchester City won the 2025-26 title with 55 points.
Which clubs were promoted?
Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic joined the top flight.
Conclusion
The WSL 2026-27 season has split into two parts so far. Chelsea and Manchester City are setting the pace, while London City Lionesses lead the chasing group. Arsenal and Manchester United need quick fixes. If the current form holds, this could be the closest title race in years.
