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WSL expanding to fourteen teams

The Barclays WSL is set to expand to a fourteen team line up from the start of the 2026-27 season and three teams could

potentially be promoted from the rebranded Barclays WSL 2 next season.

WSL football has issued the following statement over what is set to happen:

“At a WSL Football shareholders’ meeting today, subject to the approval of The FA Board, clubs voted to expand the Barclays

Women’s Super League (BWSL) to 14 teams from the start of the 26/27 season with a double round-robin format which includes

automatic promotion and relegation alongside the addition of a promotion/relegation playoff to create distinction within the English women’s game.

“To expand the BWSL to 14 teams for the start of 26/27 season, it was agreed that up to three teams would be promoted from the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (BWSL2). The top two teams would be promoted automatically and there would be a play-off between the 12th placed BWSL team and the 3rd place BWSL2 team at the end of the 25/26 season (which will need to be scheduled).

“BWSL2 will continue as a 12-team league with additional promotion opportunities from the FA Women’s National League (WNL) Northern and Southern Premier Divisions at the end of the 2025/26 season. These promotions will fill the additional vacancies created by the expansion of the BWSL. The method for these promotions, and any impact further down the pyramid, will be confirmed by The FA in due course.

“From the 26/27 season, it was agreed that the competition format for the BWSL would remain as a double round robin with the top three teams qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

“The 14th team in the BWSL would be automatically relegated and there would be an automatic promotion spot for the BWSL2 champions. In addition, there would be the introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff between the 13th placed BWSL team and the 2nd placed BWSL2 team to determine which club would either stay or be promoted.

“The decision to expand the BWSL to 14 teams, the method to do it, including any promotion mechanism for the WNL, promotion/relegation between the BWSL and BWSL2 for the 26/27 season onwards are subject to the approval of The FA Board.

“Nikki Doucet, CEO, WSL Football said: “Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential.

“Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board. Subject to the approval from The FA Board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities. The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for the women’s game and introduces a high-profile, high stakes match.”