Women's Super League

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor says the club are "probably close" to announcing a new stadium option as they start to outgrow primary stadium Kingsmeadow.

Their Kingston-based ground has a capacity of 4,850, including 2,265 seats, and is usually sold out. They also use Stamford Bridge for one-off games but in general, attendances still lag far behind those of London rivals Arsenal, despite Chelsea having won significantly more trophies in recent seasons.

Attendance leaders Arsenal now play all home matches at their 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium and are averaging 36,450 fans per game. Last year, they had a high of 56,748 for the north London derby against Tottenham.

Meanwhile Chelsea's average is nearly 30,000 fewer, at 6,397.

Before taking on Arsenal in the Women's Super League on Saturday, BBC Sport asked Bompastor how Chelsea can begin to close that gap.

"Congrats to Arsenal because they are doing an amazing job with their fanbase," she said. "That's probably where every club wants to be.

"A lot of conversations are happening in the background with me, the club's ownership and CEO Aki [Mandhar]. We want to move in that direction. We expect 30,000 tomorrow and are excited to go into that atmosphere with these fans."

Brentford are among the clubs known to be open to hosting additional football matches at their 17,250-capacity stadium in west London, while Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon also play in grounds larger than Kingsmeadow.

"It's important for clubs like Chelsea to have a back-up plan," Bompastor added.

"The club is having some really good conversations about the future and the stadium because when you play many games in a season with your men's team and women's team, and you play Champions League, sometimes you can have clashes."

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport journalist

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The "one final thing" that Arsenal must get right is scoring goals, according to head coach Renee Slegers.

The Gunners have failed to find the net in two of their three matches since returning from the Women's Super League winter break, most recently drawing a blank in their 1-0 League Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United on Wednesday.

"We have been performing well, apart from scoring," said Slegers in her pre-match news conference on Friday.

"We have to look at the positives - and we've been really constructive, honest and solutions-based on the final thing that we need to get right.

"We try to find that perfect balance of giving structure, and also allowing players to play on their intuition and make sure they believe in themselves."

There is no respite for the European champions with a tough trip in the WSL to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Gunners have lost five of their past six away games against the reigning English champions, falling to a late Guro Reiten penalty in this fixture last term.

Slegers added: "We always love to play in these big games. The players rise to the occasion, and we know the task tomorrow. We want to win. We need to win. We need points.

"We've had strong performances in a lot of games - just the goals [are] missing - so we are full of fuel to go into the game tomorrow."

Huzaifah Khan
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor believes new signing Denise O'Sullivan is a "leader" that will bring much-needed experience to his young side.

O'Sullivan signed on a permanent deal from North Carolina Courage and made an instant impact on her debut, scoring the opening goal in her new side's FA Cup thrashing of London Bees only a day after signing.

The 31-year-old has 128 caps for the Republic of Ireland since making her debut in 2011 and has also played in Australia during her varied career.

"She's great to work with," Taylor said at his news conference on Friday. "I've always admired her from afar. Seeing her at club level and international level, I think she brings a lot on and off the pitch.

"She's a leader that is very positive, very encouraging and also leads by example, so for us it's a great signing and also someone with a wealth of experience."

After failing to win a WSL game in the first half of the season, Liverpool have strengthened significantly in the transfer market, making six signings so far.

"I think it's something we really needed," Taylor said. "We're quite a young team. Our more experienced players are players like Gemma Bonner and Grace Fisk.

"There's a lot of young players in our team, so having someone like Denise and [goalkeeper] Jenna Falk is going to bring a lot of experience."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz is comfortable leading the Women's Super League title race despite a loss to closest challengers Chelsea on Wednesday.

On a run of 11 straight wins, City are six points clear of the reigning champions as they plot a first title in a decade.

Although City were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the semi-finals of the League Cup, Jeglertz insisted his players remain upbeat.

"I don't need to lift the mood among the players, they do that themselves," the Swedish coach said before City's WSL match against London City Lionesses on Sunday (11:55 GMT).

"We know we are a very good team - we showed that on Wednesday. Unfortunately we didn't convert our chances, but the mood is OK, even though there is disappointment. We know the qualities we have."

City are keen to avoid a repeat of the title run-in of 2023-24, when Chelsea clinched the title on the final day despite City holding a six-point lead with two games remaining.

"I think it's important to be aware of your history and what has happened earlier, but not let it affect you," Jeglertz said.

"The only thing we can affect is the future and the things we are doing every day. We have been very good at just taking one game, one week at a time.

"I'm fully aware that the longer the season goes on, there will be pressure and things that might try to interfere with that. But the group is strong and we are very tight group, both staff and players.

"I would rather lead than chase."

Chelsea face Arsenal on Saturday so will have the chance to put pressure on City, with the two meeting in the league next weekend (Sunday, 1 February, 14:30 GMT).

"It's not affecting our approach to our games," added Jeglertz. "If we win the rest of our games, we will win the league and that's the only thing we can affect.

"There has always been drive in the group that next weekend is the most important thing, the next game. So far, we have not had complacency at all."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Chelsea's record signing Alyssa Thompson says she was worried she would not get in the team after her switch from Angel City last summer.

The 21-year-old, who has 26 caps for the USA, has settled into London life and has even been to see Titanique, the new musical in the West End.

She told BBC Sport she was initially nervous about playing in the Women's Super League, and particularly whether she met the standard to break into the first XI of a side that won the Treble last season.

She has hit the ground running though, scoring four goals in her opening 10 games, including at Emirates Stadium in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal, who she will face again on Saturday.

"I had no expectations of what I wanted to do. I just wanted to be integrated with the team and hopefully be good enough to be at the level," she told BBC Sport.

"I feel like I've got so much better just being around all these players and learning a lot. Being at Chelsea is such an amazing thing when you're so young.

"I know I have a lot to work on, so I was just really nervous coming into a world-class environment. But the team made me feel comfortable and gave me confidence.

"I was good enough to be here, so it was OK. We know our ambition is to win a lot of trophies so I'm kind of used to that from the USA team. That has been helpful."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Tottenham have "taken a step forward" in their progress and are "an example" to Liverpool, says Reds' manager Gareth Taylor.

Bottom club Liverpool are still searching for their first WSL win of the season, while fourth-placed Tottenham have undergone a transformation this campaign.

Martin Ho joined Tottenham in the summer after they finished second-bottom in 2024-25 and Taylor hopes Liverpool can start to turn things around like Spurs.

"They have taken a step forward. There was really strong action when Martin came to the club. They brought signings in quickly and in this window," said Taylor.

"It's really difficult because the acid test is season-by-season as the competition levels are big in this league. We're looking at them as being that example for us.

"We want to talk like Tottenham are now about being in those Champions League positions. We also understand it will take a couple of windows to do that."

Tottenham boss Ho says Liverpool's performances have not been reflected in their results and they are "still a really good team".

He expects them to be even better than when the two sides met at the start of November and Spurs clinched a 2-1 win, due to the new signings.

"They have signed some really quality players with good experience. Denise O'Sullivan is a wonderful player," said Ho.

"She has got quality and a lot of experience of being in the US, plus vast international experience. She will add a different dimension on and off the pitch.

"They will be a different threat in the attacking area of the pitch and will be competitive. I don't think they will be far away from where they would expect to be."

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Leicester City boss Rick Passmoor says forward Alicia Lehmann is already making an impact after her move from FC Como on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Swiss international has been in Serie A for 18 months but before that played at West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa.

Passmoor believes her new team-mates are already reaping the benefits of her career and her ability.

"Off the pitch, we want experience and personality and the dressing room," he said. "Leadership comes in many forms, binding everyone to the same targets and principles.

"Within two hours on the pitch, she immediately understood what we wanted.

"Her ability speaks for itself. She can exploit space, get beyond people and deliver crosses - and she's diligent out of possession.

"You must be good going both ways and I've already seen that in her work rate, personality and character. She's fitted straight in."

Lehmann will go straight into the Leicester squad to face West Ham on Sunday in the Women's Super League.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson will be a "real threat" on Sunday, says Manchester United manager Marc Skinner.

The Scotland international joined Villa in 2023, initially on loan, following five years at United, where she was part of their first professional women's team.

The 27-year-old has had a strong season with Villa, scoring six goals in 12 WSL games.

"When Kirsty left Manchester United it was because she needed more consistent time [on the pitch]. She always had quality," said Skinner.

"Going to Villa gave her that space to do that. I still think she's had to fight in the last year and it's not come comfortably for her but she's broken into the team now.

"She's added quality to the team. It was the right move at the time for both herself and the club. It's nice to see her doing well – although I hope it doesn't happen on Sunday.

"It's never easy to say goodbye to a player but it's nice to see her doing well and we need to defend really well on Sunday as she's a real threat."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

London City Lionesses manager Eder Maestre said he will not rush January signing Delphine Cascarino into the team, but that she could make her debut against Manchester City on Sunday.

Cascarino joined the Women's Super League side earlier this week on a three-and-a-half-year deal after leaving San Diego Wave with the 28-year-old still getting up to speed having not played since the National Women's Soccer League season finished in November.

"We need to consider Delphine is having her personal rest after finishing her responsibility with her American team," Maestre told a media conference on Friday.

"We need to take that step by step, try not to go so fast. It will take some time and we need to be calm with the process to let her come into the routine."

Maestre said he hoped Cascarino, capped 86 times by France, will add to the experience and leadership already brought to a young squad by the likes of Danielle van de Donk and Saki Kumagai.

"If you want to build that winning mentality you have to have the players who know how to win," he said. "Very young and talented players who play in similar positions to Cascarino are able to see how she faces every situation. I think it's very important. Players like Delphine can drive the way to train, having high standards in training."

Given that Manchester City are six points clear at the top of the WSL table having won 11 league games in a row, Maestre could be forgiven for treating this match as a damage-limitation job.

The Spaniard admitted London City might have to sacrifice their possession style and sit in a low defensive block, but stressed the importance of his players having belief.

"When you play a team in first position the ambition has to be high. You need to be with the dream you are able to beat them," he said.

"We have the mentality of 'why not' [can't we] have a good result against City.

"We need to play with the belief that we are going to win. That's the confidence I want to see. Players going into the duels with the energy and conviction that they are going to win every action."

Image source, Getty Images

Alisha Lehmann says returning to England "feels like coming home" after completing a move to Leicester City.

The 27-year-old Swiss international spent six years in the Women's Super League with West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa before switching to Italian giants Juventus in 2024.

After a short spell at FC Como, the striker is back in the UK and determined to fire the Foxes up the Women's Super League table.

"It feels amazing and I'm so happy to be here," Lehmann stated. "It feels like a homecoming.

"Leicester are an amazing club. They want to push women's football forward.

"What makes me happy in life is football. It's not about where I live or the climate I'm in, but playing because we have one career, and I want to make the most out of it."

Having spent time away from the UK, Lehmann hopes her experiences can benefit her new team-mates.

"In every country, football is so different," she said. "You meet new people and learn different things about football. I learned a lot and played with some great players.

"I hope I can bring my experience to the team but also learn a lot from them. I hope we can be successful, and enjoy the winning mentality.

"It's amazing to be the first women's Swiss player for the club - I'm going to have to bring some Swiss cheese and food in for my team-mates!"

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West Ham manager Rita Guarino has seen improvements in her players since taking over from Rehane Skinner just before Christmas.

After a 4-0 defeat by Chelsea in her first game, the Hammers were clinical against high-flying WSL 2 side Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend, winning 3-0 to sail into the fifth round.

Guarino said that game encouraged her as she plots taking three vital points at Leicester City on Sunday.

"It was very important to have a reaction," she said. "You can do mistakes but it is very important to have the confidence to be better.

"[Against Newcastle] was a game where we improved a lot. It was important to win and score three goals. My learning has been about us and how to help our team do better step by step.

"Every point at this moment is important - but of course we go there to win."

Leicester away will be Guarino's third game on the road since her appointment - she said it has been valuable for getting to know her team.

"It has given us an opportunity to stay together," she explained. "It is very important to talk more and know more about their lives, not just football."

Fancy hearing from Arsenal duo Beth Mead and Kim Little, plus boss Renee Slegers on what makes their dressing room tick?

On a special episode of Women's Football Weekly, the team head to the Sobha Realty Training Centre to learn how the 'Arsenal Way' shapes tactics, how they communicate with each other and why training is "more serious" than it used to be.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A study led by FifPro has found female footballers suffering from concussion on at least three occasions performed "significantly worse" in tasks requiring attention.

FifPro - the professional players' union - studied 68 players, who took part in online tests measuring memory, attention, reaction time and other mental abilities.

Of those studied, 43% had experienced at least one concussion during their careers and defenders (50%) were the most common players to sustain the injury.

Players who had suffered three concussions found it more difficult to perform on attentive tasks such as tracking the ball and opponents, maintaining positional awareness and reacting quickly during match play.

FifPro says further research will be needed before they can introduce new health guidelines for players.

If you would like to get closer to some of the WSL's biggest stars, we've got you covered.

In a brand new series, Alex Scott meets up with players to Eat & Yap.

First up is Arsenal's £1m forward Olivia Smith - and you can read the full discussion over here.