The Women's Super League 2024/25 season had a myriad of storylines threaded in it throughout.
Managers resigned, fans were treated to shock results and there were new TV deals.
Defending champions Chelsea won the title for the sixth consecutive season with two games to spare after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the 20th round.
2024/25 WSL season: The story of the campaign
The main storyline of the season changed slightly over the season but it had a similar theme: managers.
There were five changes of manager with a few shocking fans as the season went on. One of the most bizarre in terms of timing was Manchester City's Gareth Taylor.
The club cited performance-related reasons as to why they let Taylor go.
However, City won their FA Cup quarter-final a day before Taylor left the club.
City were also about to play Chelsea four times in a row, including the League Cup final just six days after Taylor departed.
Nick Cushing, who has previously taken charge of City, took interim charge with the permanent replacement not yet announced.
The first managerial change of the campaign came came all the way back in October with the resignation of Arsenal's Jonas Eidevall.
The manager quit the Gunners after an underwhelming start to the season saw supporters aim criticism at the boss.
Arsenal experienced the new manager bounce with interim boss Renee Slegers and her impressive start to the job saw her earn the permanent role. She was appointed until the end of the 2025/26 season in January.
Aston Villa's Robert de Pauw departed the club in December after reports he had lost the dressing room with remarks he made to players.
Liverpool manager Matt Beard was sacked in February with the club in seventh position. Reportedly the decision was taken because he had taken the team as far as he could.
Crystal Palace's Laura Kaminski, who aided them to their WSL promotion, also left her club.
The title race was another story which bubbled away as the season went on. But it was decided in round 20 as Arsenal lost 5-2 to Aston Villa and the loss meant all Chelsea needed against Manchester United was a point. A Lucy Bronze goal ensured all three points and the Blues a sixth consecutive league title.
Manchester City missed an opportunity to close the gap on Chelsea in round 10 after the Blues drew 1-1 to Leicester.
It was the first time Chelsea had dropped points in the league season so if City had beaten Everton they could have cut the table deficit from five points to two. However, the Toffees outplayed City - who had been hit with an injury crisis - and beat them for the first time in the WSL.
In round 13 there was a thrilling encounter between Arsenal and Manchester City with the former coming out 4-3 winners.
It was a cracking match for fans to watch but some supporters took the result out on City striker Bunny Shaw. Misogynistic and racist abuse was sent to the Jamaica international, meaning she pulled out the club's League Cup semi-final.
City condemned the abuse and players throughout the WSL have shown their support for the star.
Arsenal secured second with Manchester United coming in third.
The relegation battle was tasty too in the English top-flight. Newly promoted Crystal Palace had found their feet in the league but after a tight battle their relegation back down to the Championship was confirmed.
While ACL injuries were more prevalent in the 2023/24 season, the 24/25 campaign did not manage to escape them completely.
Everton sustained two with Aurora Galli and Inma Gabarro, while Liverpool had Sofie Lundgaard and Zara Shaw sat on the sidelines and Chelsea had Kadeisha Buchanan out.
2024/25 WSL season: New TV deals
Sky announced they have a new five-year deal from 2025/26 season where they will show 90% of WSL matches.
That means every season the broadcaster will show 78 games exclusively.
The TV deals do not stop there as the BBC committed to also broadcasting the WSL until 2030.
The broadcasting rights across both deals are reportedly worth £65m.
Who is the leading the WSL Golden Boot race?
- Arsenal's Alessia Russo: 12 goals, 2 assists
- Man City's Bunny Shaw: 12 goals, 1 assist
- Manchester United's Elisabeth Terland: 10 goals, 5 assists
- West Ham's Shekiera Martinez: 10 goals, 0 assists
- West Ham's Viviane Asseyi: 9 goals, 6 assists
