The wait is over. The Women's Super League returns tonight, with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United in the first game of a bigger 2026/27 campaign
The wait is finally over.
After a summer of transfers, new managers, promoted clubs and plenty of anticipation, the Women's Super League is back.
The 2026/27 campaign officially gets underway tonight as London City Lionesses host Manchester United, with kick-off at 7pm at the CopperJax Community Stadium.
And there is plenty to get excited about.
This season sees the WSL expand from 12 teams to 14, with Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic joining the top flight after promotion from WSL 2.
There are new faces, new ambitions and some major changes across the league, but opening night gives us a particularly intriguing meeting.
London City vs Manchester United
If you wanted an opening fixture capable of grabbing attention, this is it.
London City Lionesses enter their first WSL season with huge expectations after an ambitious summer of recruitment.
The biggest headline is, of course, Alexia Putellas.
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner has joined London City, adding one of the most decorated players in the women's game to a squad that also includes high-profile arrivals such as Mary Earps and Mapi León.
Tonight will be the first chance to see what this new-look London City side can do against established WSL opposition.
Standing in their way is Manchester United.
United also begin a new era, with Eva Olid taking charge following Marc Skinner's departure.
Olid arrives with a reputation for developing young players and an attacking approach, and tonight marks her first competitive WSL game in charge.
It makes for an opening night with plenty of questions to answer.
Can London City immediately compete at WSL level?
Can Putellas make an instant impact?
And what will Manchester United look like under their new head coach?
We don't have to wait much longer to find out.
A bigger WSL
This season is also the biggest WSL campaign yet in terms of the number of teams involved.
The expansion to 14 clubs brings Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic into the division, giving the league three new stories to follow.
Birmingham return to the top flight after their promotion, while Palace make an immediate return following relegation last season.
Charlton, meanwhile, are stepping into the WSL for the first time.
The expansion means more matches, more rivalries and more opportunities for clubs to establish themselves at the highest level of English women's football.
But the pressure remains.
Relegation has not disappeared with the expansion, with the bottom club going down automatically and 13th facing a play-off against the WSL 2 runners-up.
Champions begin their defence on Sunday
While tonight belongs to London City and Manchester United, the rest of the league will quickly follow.
Defending champions Manchester City begin their title defence on Sunday, hosting newly promoted Birmingham City at the Joie Stadium.
Last season's runners-up Arsenal travel to Brighton, while Chelsea host Aston Villa on Saturday.
There is also a London derby between Tottenham and West Ham, Liverpool's trip to Charlton and Crystal Palace's return to the WSL against Everton.
It means the opening weekend immediately gives us a glimpse of what could be ahead.
And the big games are already coming
The opening weeks have also delivered some huge fixtures.
Manchester United's start is particularly demanding.
After tonight's trip to London City, United host Chelsea on September 13 before travelling to Arsenal on September 19.
Arsenal then face Chelsea on September 27.
Manchester City will meet Liverpool on September 18, while the first Merseyside derby of the season sees Liverpool host Everton on September 27.
There is no easing into this season.
The WSL is ready
The 2026/27 season arrives at an exciting time for women's football.
A bigger league, ambitious clubs and some of the biggest names in the game have created plenty of reasons to watch.
And tonight, it finally begins.
London City Lionesses vs Manchester United.
A new WSL season.
A new era for two clubs.
And the first chapter of what could be another unforgettable campaign.
