For the first time in the history of the Women's Super League, three clubs have earned promotion in the same season, as Birmingham City, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic step up from WSL 2 ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Their arrival marks the expansion of England's top division of women's football from 12 to 14 clubs.
The new season begins in earnest on Friday evening when London City Lionesses host Manchester United, before all three promoted sides make their long-awaited returns on Sunday.
Birmingham City arrive as champions after a dramatic three-way title race with Palace and Charlton that went right to the final day. The Blues, back in the WSL after a four-year absence, secured the trophy on goal difference courtesy of a win away at Charlton's Valley Stadium. They finished with the division's best goal difference, scoring the second-most goals while conceding the second-fewest.
Head coach Amy Merricks has bolstered her squad with six new signings, most notably centre-back Millie Turner, who joins after 145 WSL appearances across eight seasons with Manchester United and has represented England twice. Turner takes over as club captain and will feature alongside Neve Herron, the 23-year-old defender named in the WSL 2 Team of the Year. Striker Lily Crosthwaite, who was voted WSL 2 player of the season, adds further attacking threat to the promoted champions.
"There's going to be challenges, there's going to be moments, highs and lows, but come that first game of the season, we're going to be ready," Herron said.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, return to the top flight after just a single season away, making them the most recognisable of the three newcomers to WSL followers. Although they finished one win behind Birmingham in the title race, Palace were among the hardest teams to beat in WSL 2, suffering only four defeats — a joint-league-low figure shared with Charlton.
Attacking options Kirsty Howat and Abbie Larkin each scored eight league goals last term, ranking among the division's top marksmen. Palace have since added further firepower with the signing of former Lioness Bethany England, one of the WSL's all-time top scorers, who netted 32 goals during four seasons at Tottenham.
"We're feeling in a privileged position," said Palace head coach Jo Potter. "We're looking good and we've strengthened in the right areas."
Completing the trio are Charlton Athletic, who make their first appearance in the English top flight in 18 years — predating the WSL's formation entirely. Under manager Karen Hills, the Addicks finished second and third in consecutive seasons before topping WSL 2 for much of the recent campaign, only to slip to third on the final day.
Their path back to the WSL required navigating a newly introduced promotion play-off against bottom-placed top-flight side Leicester City. Charlton triumphed 2-1 on penalties following a goalless draw, with goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse saving four spot-kicks in the shootout. Despite possessing the best defensive record in WSL 2 last season, Charlton were the lowest scorers among the division's top six. Spanish playmaker Paula Partido, who arrives on loan from London City Lionesses having previously played for Real Madrid and Celtic, is among the new additions expected to add creativity.
Historically, promoted teams have fared reasonably well in the WSL, with only three sides suspended straight back down since 2014 — partly a consequence of there being just one relegation spot in recent seasons. However, the introduction of a play-off against the WSL 2 runner-up raises the stakes this time around.
According to data analysts Opta, projections ahead of the season place Birmingham ninth, Crystal Palace 11th and Charlton 12th, with fewer than one-and-a-half points separating the projected bottom six. That suggests a tightly contested battle to avoid the drop involving the three promoted clubs alongside Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.