Barclays WSL reigning champions Chelsea Women made a winning start to the new campaign as they beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Khadija Shaw forced an early save from Hannah Hampton, Ayaka Yamashita pushed a Sandy Baltimore effort behind before Aggie Beever-Jones put Chelsea ahead from Ellie Carpenter’s cross.
City responded well as Shaw was denied again and Alex Greenwood’s free kick smacked against the crossbar.
Yui Hasegawa powered a volley at Hampton soon after the restart and went close again but Maika Hamano doubled the lead with a finish from Wieke Kaptein’s cross.
City pulled one back with 20 minutes to play, a free kick going in off Niamh Charles’ head for an own goal.
Shaw saw one strike saved and another go narrowly over, Hampton parried a shot from Lily Murphy as the hosts kept their slender lead.
More from the world of women’s football
Discover the latest issue of Her Goal Magazine, analysing Alexia Putellas' headline move to London City Lionesses and including a voucher to claim your FREE Women's Football Pyramid Poster 2026/27. Also featuring LCL's Isobel Goodwin, England’s Keira Barry in California, West Ham’s Nadine Riesen, Watford’s Anna Filbey and loads more from across the women's game.
Packed with exclusive interviews, player features, posters, quizzes and in-depth stories from across women’s football..
Also available from WHSmith, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose, TG Jones and independent newsagents.