Following the success of England’s Lionesses at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, there is expected to be an upsurge of interest in the domestic game, the top level of which is the Women’s Super League.
Arsenal were the dominant side in England last year as they won the title and 18 of their 20 fixtures, but face a renewed challenge from Manchester City and Chelsea, while newly promoted Tottenham and Manchester United will be hopeful of making a positive impression on the league.
Which teams will play in the WSL 2019-20?
| WSL teams 2019-20 |
|---|
| Arsenal | Birmingham City |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Bristol City |
| Chelsea | Everton |
| Liverpool | Manchester City |
| Manchester United | Reading |
| Tottenham Hotspur | West Ham United |
Twelve teams will take part in the competition, an expansion of one up from last year.
Manchester United and Tottenham are the new faces in the league, while Yeovil Town were relegated to the Championship at the end of last season.
All of the ‘Big 6’ in the men’s game are now represented at the top level of women’s football, with Arsenal the defending champions and Manchester City and Chelsea also big names.
Also represented are: Birmingham, Reading, Bristol City, West Ham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.
WSL Fixtures 2019-20
On July 1, the first round of fixtures for the season were revealed, with the campaign set to start with a bang as the Manchester derby will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, September 7 – an international break in the men’s game.
BT Sport will cover that fixture live as well as Arsenal’s home match with West Ham, which will take place at Borehamwood FC.
The other five fixtures will follow a day later, with Chelsea’s match against Tottenham, which will be played at Stamford Bridge, already picked up for live coverage by the BBC.
| Matchday 1 fixtures |
|---|
| Sept 7 | 3pm | Man City vs Man Utd | Etihad Stadium |
| Sept 8 | 12:30pm | Chelsea vs Tottenham | Stamford Bridge |
| Sept 8 | 2pm | Birmingham City vs Everton | Solihull Moors FC |
| Sept 8 | 2pm | Liverpool vs Reading | Prenton Park |
| Sept 8 | 2:30pm | Arsenal vs West Ham | Borehamwood FC |
| Sept 8 | 3pm | Bristol City vs Brighton | Stoke Gifford Stadium |
Other eye-catching fixtures throughout the season include Arsenal’s London derby with Chelsea on October 13 and their hosting of double winners Manchester City a fortnight later.
The season will conclude on Saturday, May 16, with all 12 teams expected to play concurrent 3pm matches the day before the Premier League season finishes, although this has not been confirmed.
| Matchday 22 fixtures |
|---|
| May 16 | tbc | Arsenal vs Everton | Boreham Wood FC |
| May 16 | tbc | Brighton vs Man City | People's Pension Stadium |
| May 16 | tbc | Chelsea vs Liverpool | Kingsmeadow |
| May 16 | tbc | Man Utd vs Birmingham | Leigh Sports Village |
| May 16 | tbc | Tottenham vs Reading | The Hive |
| May 16 | tbc | West Ham vs Bristol City | Rush Green Stadium |
There has been a suggestion that there will be double-headers with men’s games in an attempt to further grow the sport, but these have not been confirmed.
A full list of fixtures can be found on the WSL’s official website by clicking here.
How to buy tickets for the WSL
Ticket sales are handled by the individual clubs and are also priced accordingly by each team.
Costs to watch the games are significantly cheaper than in the men’s game.
For example, Manchester City’s derby match at the Etihad Stadium with United has an admission price of £7 for adults. City will adults buying a ticket to claim three children under 16 tickets free of charge for the fixture.
When City played at the Academy Stadium, their usual home venue, during the 2018-19 season ticket prices for an adult ranged from £6.50 to £8.50, depending on the seat, and included unlimited hot and cold drinks.
Ticket links for each team:
Arsenal
Birmingham City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bristol City
Chelsea
Everton
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Reading
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United