WSL: Champions Chelsea open new season with heavyweight clash against Man City

Chelsea will take on Manchester City in a blockbuster opening match of the 2025-26 Women's Super League season.

The six-time reigning WSL champions welcome Man City to Kingsmeadow on September 5.

Sonia Bompastor's Blues won a domestic treble last season, going unbeaten in the process.

City, meanwhile, finished fourth, some 17 points behind Chelsea, missing out on Champions League qualification.

European champions Arsenal kick off their season at home to London City Lionesses on September 6, who are the first independent club to feature in the WSL.

A Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield headlines the fixtures on September 7.

Just a point separated the local rivals last season, with Liverpool finishing seventh and Everton coming eighth.

Manchester United host Leicester City, Brighton take on Aston Villa and West Ham visit Tottenham in the other fixtures of the opening weekend.

Chelsea face Arsenal away in November and at home in January, while their reverse fixture against City will be played in February.

The Manchester derbies are set for November 16 and March 29.

United, meanwhile, will play at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 12, though the Toffees will primarily play their home matches at Goodison Park.

With the WSL expanding to feature 14 teams from the 2026-27 campaign, the 12th-placed side in this upcoming season will not be automatically relegated, but will instead take on the third-placed team in the WSL 2 in a play-off.

The WSL will take a winter break between December 22 and January 10, with the season ending on May 17.

WSL opening weekend fixtures in full

Chelsea v Man City
Arsenal v London City Lionesses
Brighton v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Everton
Manchester United v Leicester City
Tottenham v West Ham