The WSL is expanding next season – everything you need to know about promotion, relegation and the play-off

The Women’s Super League is set to expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026/27 season, with a new promotion and relegation play-off introduced as part of the changes.

For the first time, there will be increased movement between the top two tiers of women’s football in England, with up to three teams able to earn promotion to the top flight.

With both the WSL and WSL 2 campaigns entering their final weeks, the inaugural play-off is now just a month away. But how does it all work?

How promotion and relegation works this season

With the league expanding next season, this year is a huge opportunity for WSL 2 teams, with three promotion places available to be won.

At the end of this 2025/26 season, the top two teams from WSL 2, formerly the Women’s Championship, will be automatically promoted to the WSL.

The team that finishes bottom of the WSL will not be relegated automatically, but instead enter a high-stakes play-off against the third-placed WSL 2 side.

That play-off will be held at the home ground of the WSL 2 side on Saturday, 23 May (12:30 BST).

The threat of relegation remains for the 12th-placed WSL team, but it will not be automatic, as it has been in previous seasons.

Changes when the league expands to 14 teams

From the 2026/27 season onwards, once the WSL expands to 14 teams, the structure will settle into a new long-term model.

Only one team, the league winners, will be automatically promoted from WSL 2 each season, while the team finishing bottom of the WSL will be relegated.

A play-off will remain, but in a revised format. The 13th-placed WSL team will face the runners-up of WSL 2 to determine who takes the final spot in the top tier.

The expansion will also increase the number of league fixtures, with teams playing 26 matches instead of 22, as the season begins earlier in September and runs through to late May.

WSL 2 will remain a 12-team fully professional division, with clubs required to meet strict minimum standards around facilities, staffing, academies and player contact time. Any club promoted from the third tier must meet those criteria or risk being denied entry.

Key dates

The first-ever Women’s Super League promotion play-off will take place on Saturday, 23 May, kicking off at 12:30 BST.

The match will be hosted by the third-placed side in WSL 2, who will face the team finishing bottom of the WSL for a place in next season’s top flight.

It will be the first fixture of its kind in the English women’s game and will be shown live on BBC Two and Sky Sports.

The final day of the WSL season will take place on Saturday, 16 May, with all six matches kicking off at the same time to decide the title, relegation place and play-off spot.

Race for promotion

With 20 games played and two to go, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic sit in first and second place in the WSL 2, both on 41 points.

Crystal Palace are three points behind in third, while Newcastle United sit fourth on 33 points

Newcastle United would need to win both of their remaining games and hope Palace drop points to stand any chance of being in the play-off.