WSL 2026/27 Preview

The WSL enters 2026/27 at a fascinating moment. The league is expanding, superclubs continue to spend aggressively, and a record number of Canadians are positioned to play key roles in the title race and beyond. The season kicks off this Friday, with London City vs Manchester United.

The WSL enters its 15th season. It is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, women’s leagues in the World, and is ranked number one in Europe. It hasn’t always been that way, but with increased investment since the late 2010s, the excitement around the Lionesses, and better support from club owners, the league has exploded. Viv Miedema, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo, Leah Williamson, Alexia Putellas, and Delphine Cascarino, are just a few of the international stars who call the league home.

One of the big storylines ahead of this season is the expansion from 12 to 14 teams, the first step of the new league ownership’s 10-year plan. With more teams and more matches, expect competition for the Championship and UWCL spots to be tighter than ever before. This is especially true given some of the ambitious signings made this summer. Of course, London City Lionesses signings stand out with the addition of aforementioned Putellas, Mapi Leon, Mary Earps, Nicole Anyomi, Kadiatou Diani & more, they’ve made a real statement of intent once again. Other big moves include City signing Beth Mead and Niamh Charles from their rivals, Katie McCabe’s transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea, and Georgia Stanway, Ona Battle & Lia Wälti’s return to the WSL (former two Arsenal, latter Brighton Hove & Albion).

League storylines will dominate international headlines, but from a Canadian perspective there may be even more reason to tune in. Ten Canadians are set to feature across England's top two divisions this season.

- Kadeisha Buchanan is no stranger to winning teams. In her four seasons with the Blues, she’s already won the league three times. After missing much of the 2025 due to an ACL tear sustained in 2024, Buchanan made 11 appearances for Chelsea when she returned to the pitch this March. A big year awaits as she enters the final year of her contract and approaches 32 years of age. Her main competition for a starting spot are Naomi Girma (who captained the team in UWCL qualifiers), youngster Veerle Buurman, and Swedish vet Nathalie Bjorn. With plenty of games to be played between League, FA Cup, Leagues Cup, and UWCL, Buchanan will get minutes and if we know her, she’ll impress with her cool, world-class brand of defending. It’s comeback season!!

- Olivia Smith: world-record breaker. At least for a few weeks. Plenty has been written about the young Canadian, who enjoyed an outstanding first season with Arsenal, scoring 10 goals and adding 4 assists across competitions. She was named the PFA’s Young Player of the Season for the second consecutive season, a meaningful recognition voted by her peers. Smith is already off to a hot start, scoring two goals in recent pre-season matches. We expect nothing but big things from the Kid from Whitby.

- Jade Rose is a name Canadian fans have been familiar with for a long time, and now woso fans worldwide know it too. Going directly from college soccer to starting for a top WSL side and winning the league in your first season is nothing short of incredible. We know what to expect from the 23-yo and the crazy part is she’s not even close to fully developed. It’s exciting to think about where her career could go. This season, it’ll be UWCL nights, attempting to defend the WSL title, and pushing for a starting spot with the CanWNT. For now, enjoy some of her best moments from 25/26.

- Manchester United is in the race to be Canada’s favourite WSL team this year (if the club can get their sh*t together), especially if both our young Canucks play significant minutes this season. 25-yo Jayde Riviere is a locked-in starter and one of the best fullbacks in the WSL. Her stats dropped a little in 25/26, but that’s mostly because the team had a poor season, missing out on European footy entirely. She’ll look to be back at her best and stay healthy so she can compete with Lawrence, Sonis, Carle & co for a starting spot with the CanWNT. 

- This could be a make-or-break season for Simi Awujo. Injuries and fierce competition have limited her opportunities over the past two years, and she logged just 400 league minutes in 2025/26. The dynamic box-to-box midfielder has plenty to prove under new manager Eva Olid as she looks to force her way into Manchester United's plans and remain firmly in the CanWNT picture ahead of next year's World Cup. If her role doesn't grow, a winter move could become an increasingly realistic option.

- One of the most intriguing Canadian moves of the summer flew slightly under the radar. After establishing herself as a respected veteran in France, Marie Levasseur now gets her first crack at the WSL. She joined promotion side Birmingham City after 6 successful seasons in France. It was time for a new challenge for the 29-yo fullback from Quebec, who captained Montpellier over the past two seasons. A strong start in the WSL will go a long way toward keeping her in contention for Casey Stoney’s selections for the October and November windows, especially considering how loaded the fullback position is. 

- Rylee Foster made headlines this summer when she became the first Northern Super League player to earn a move to the WSL. After a standout first half of the season with Halifax, the 28-year-old goalkeeper opted to return to England, where she signed her first professional contract. Foster will swap Liverpool red for Everton blue as she looks to challenge Courtney Brosnan for the No. 1 spot. If she can establish herself as a regular starter, a return to the CanWNT setup for the first time since 2021 may not be far behind.

- Deanne Rose made headlines last summer with her move to Nottingham Forest. It’s fair to say that 25/26 did not go to plan. She played less than 800 minutes, often off the bench, and scored only once. The good news is, the off-season seems to have done wonders. D Rose will have plenty of competition but she has the potential to be one of the top players in the WSL2. Canadian fans are certainly hoping for a comeback year as she hasn’t been the same since her first season in England back in 2021/22.

- Lysianne Proulx enters her first full season with WSL2 side Ipswich Town. She has already been between the sticks at clubs around the globe including in Australia, Portugal, the NWSL, and Italy, and now she aims to conquer England. With the CanWNT goalkeeping situation far from decided, she’ll want to get back on the roster in time for the World Cup, and playing consistently in the WSL2 can help her achieve that.

- The only other Canadian competing in the WSL this season is young Frankie Finlayson. The 19-yo from BC played for Fusion FC and Altitude in L1BC before making the move to Charlton’s academy. Stellar loan performances in the National League (3rd tier) for Hashtag United helped her break through to Charlton’s first team last season, but she fell off the radar near the end of the year. The midfielder plays centrally, either as a six or an eight. It’s still unclear whether she’ll stay at the newly promoted WSL club or be sent out on loan.

The title race: City, Chelsea, or Arsenal?

On paper, the title race feels like a three-horse battle between City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. United should improve under Eva Olid but still appear a tier below the league's biggest spenders entering the season. City enter the campaign as defending champions after denying Chelsea a seventh consecutive league title, finishing four points clear at the top last season. Their squad remains largely intact, and the biggest piece of business this summer may have been keeping it that way. Khadija Shaw's contract extension was a massive boost for a club built around one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football. Surrounded by stars like Viv Miedema, Aoba Fujino, and Mary Fowler, City once again have all the ingredients of a championship-winning side.

Arsenal, meanwhile, appear determined to end their long wait for a league title. The Gunners have not lifted the trophy since 2018/19, but few clubs in Europe can match the quality and depth of their current squad. Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle headline an impressive group of arrivals that also includes Selina Cerci, Lisa Baum, Géraldine Reuteler, Misa Rodríguez, and Isabella Damm. If their new signings settle quickly, Arsenal may be the most complete team in the division.

Can Chelsea Bounce Back?

For the first time in years, Chelsea begin a season chasing rather than being chased. Losing their grip on the title after six consecutive championships will undoubtedly provide extra motivation for Sonia Bompastor's side. The Blues strengthened with the additions of Katie McCabe, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, and Julia Dragoni, while also securing several key players to long-term deals.

The bigger question is whether they can replace the experience and leadership that walked out the door. Millie Bright's retirement, along with the departures of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Niamh Charles, Guro Reiten, and Sam Kerr, marks the end of an era at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea still possess enough talent to win the title, but this season may ultimately be defined by how quickly a new leadership group emerges.

The Eva Olid Era Begins at United

Manchester United were one of the league's biggest disappointments last season, missing out on European football and ultimately parting ways with Marc Skinner. The appointment of Eva Olid represents a fresh start, but expectations should remain realistic. Olid arrived relatively late in the summer and has had limited time to implement her ideas.

United have not been among the league's biggest spenders, though the addition of Monica Jusu Bah should help offset the loss of Malard to Chelsea. The talent is certainly there, but the club appears a step behind the league's genuine title contenders entering 2026/27. A return to the top four would represent a successful first season under their new manager

The Wild Card: London City Lionesses

No club has generated more intrigue this summer than London City Lionesses. Promotion was only the first step. The arrivals of Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, Mary Earps, Nicole Anyomi, Kadiatou Diani, and several other high-profile players have transformed expectations almost overnight.

The question is no longer whether the Lionesses can compete in the WSL; it's whether they can accelerate their timeline and challenge for European places immediately. On paper, the talent is undeniable. Now comes the difficult task of turning a collection of stars into a cohesive team.

Best of the Rest

Tottenham quietly enjoyed one of their most consistent seasons in recent memory, finishing as the clear "best of the rest" behind the league's traditional powers. They'll hope to repeat that success, but the arrival of an ambitious London City side and an improving Birmingham City means the race for the upper half of the table could be more competitive than ever.

Whether you're tuning in for title-race drama, Champions League qualification battles, or the growing Canadian contingent, the 2026/27 WSL season has all the ingredients to be one of the league's most entertaining campaigns yet.

The WSL is back on Sportsnet as it has been every year since 2020. It looks like this year all games will be either on the SportsNet TV Channels or SN+. The monthly cost is between $30-45 (going up on September 22nd) or $250-325 annually.

As usual, we are collaborating with Northern Lights to run a Fantasy WSL League. Use this link to download the NEW App: WSL Football | Barclays Women's Super League & BWSL2 and use code: 29L3Z1D1 to join.