Manchester City ended a decade-long wait for the Women's Super League crown in 2025-26, their first league title since 2016. The triumph was built on the irresistible goalscoring form of Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw and the composed, transformative management of Andrée Jeglertz in his debut campaign. While City had often flattered to deceive in previous run-ins, this season they married consistency with a winning mentality, dropping points only sparingly and winning all 11 home fixtures to seal the trophy with a game to spare.
Shaw's numbers alone tell the story: 21 goals in 22 league appearances, a third successive Golden Boot, and the distinction of becoming the first player in WSL history to score over 20 goals in three different seasons. Her all-round contribution was just as vital—hold-up play, aerial dominance, and an almost telepathic understanding with midfield runners. Even on rare off-days, she popped up with decisive interventions, including the fastest hat-trick the league has ever seen. The shadow of a potential free transfer this summer hangs over City, but for now fans are simply savouring a campaign where their number 9 delivered when it mattered most.
Equally deserving of praise is Jeglertz. Arriving under a cloud of doubt after Denmark's group-stage exit at Euro 2025, the Swede wasted no time imprinting his philosophy. He fostered a dynamic, front-foot style and reshaped the squad's mentality, famously telling them they would 'always find a way' to win. Key players such as Vivianne Miedema and Yui Hasegawa flourished under his guidance, and City's set-piece execution—long a weakness—became a reliable weapon. Doing so with a smaller budget than title rivals Arsenal and Chelsea underlined the quality of his coaching.
The season produced no shortage of classic encounters. Chief among them was October's 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Academy Stadium. Two heavyweights traded blows, momentum swinging wildly until teenage substitute Iman Beney struck an 87th-minute winner in the pouring rain. The result proved pivotal, gifting City belief that they could finally go the distance. Later in the spring, Brighton gave the eventual champions a real fright with a 3-2 upset, reminding everyone that this City side remained beatable on their travels.
From a technical standpoint, the campaign was rich with spectacular goals. West Ham's Oona Siren unleashed an unstoppable volley from distance against London City Lionesses, catching a dropping ball as sweetly as any striker could. Jess Park, before her high-profile move, produced an individual masterpiece for City against London City, cutting inside and curling into the far corner from an improbable angle. Olivia Smith announced herself at Arsenal with a slaloming solo goal after her history-making £1m transfer—the first seven-figure fee in the women's game. Everton's Yuka Momiki also etched her name into highlight reels with a 30-yard chip over Chelsea's stranded Hannah Hampton.
Off the pitch, two transfer deals sent ripples through the WSL. The swap that took Park to Manchester United and Grace Clinton in the opposite direction was a rarity in the women's game—an exchange of top domestic talents between fierce rivals. Almost simultaneously, London City Lionesses signalled their ambition by paying Paris Saint-Germain a world-record £1.43m for midfield general Grace Geyoro. Such financial moves underscored the league's rising profile and the willingness of clubs outside the traditional top four to invest heavily.
A long-standing gripe for players, coaches, and supporters is scheduling, and 2025-26 saw both progress and frustration. For the first time, WSL fixtures settled into a regular Sunday 12pm slot, bringing a welcome sense of rhythm and aiding broadcast audiences. Yet the season also featured the sort of congestion that detractors have warned against. Arsenal's home match against Leicester City, originally slated for January, was postponed and crammed between the two legs of a Champions League semi-final against Lyon. The rescheduling drew sharp criticism for placing an unnecessary burden on Arsenal's squad and potentially affecting their European performance.
Looking beyond the title race, the season reinforced the WSL's growing depth. Tottenham, under Martin Ho, pieced together a quietly impressive run, while Brighton and London City Lionesses demonstrated that mid-table clubs are no longer pushovers. For City, the challenge now is to retain their crown without allowing the squad to fracture. Shaw's contract situation will dominate the summer, but Jeglertz has already built a resilient unit capable of absorbing change. His calm, methodical approach suggests that even if the talismanic striker departs, the blueprints for sustained success are in place.
In broader terms, the 2025-26 WSL campaign may be remembered as the year financial might and squad depth were finally channeled into a cohesive winning project at Manchester City. It also showcased the league's ability to attract world-class talent—both emerging and established—and to generate storylines that resonate far beyond matchdays. From record transfers to late dramas, the season delivered a product that continues to close the gap on Europe's most established leagues.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
