Barclays Women’s Super League expansion approved by FA Board

The FA Board has approved proposals made by WSL Football to increase the size of the Barclays Women’s Super League to 14 clubs.

The top two teams from Barclays Women’s Super League 2 will be automatically promoted at the end of season 2025-26, with a relegation play-off between the bottom BWSL club and third place BWSL2 club to determine the final top-flight spot.

From 2026-27 one club will be automatically relegated from the BWSL and promoted from BWSL2, with a relegation play-off between the 13th-placed team in the BWSL and the second placed team in BWSL2 determining the final spot.

Decisions will be made later as to consequential changes to promotion throughout the remainder of the Women’s Football Pyramid.

Wilf Frith

Wilf Frith is a women’s football news editor who works for Her Goal Magazine and had been with all its predecessors since 1996, becoming a founding team member after running Sunday Kicks. He has also held previous long-term roles as press officer for the Cornwall Women’s Football League and Penzance Ladies FC.

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