More teams will be joining the WSL

The WSL could soon be expanding

The Women's Super League (WSL) will be expanding from 12 teams to 14 from the start of the 2026-27 season, it's been announced.

Currently the bottom WSL club are relegated and the WSL 2 winners are promoted but that's going to change.

The new rules aim to grow the league by allowing two extra teams to get involved.

It's complicated! But read on to find out more.

How will it work next season in the WSL?

Chelsea were crowned the WSL 2024-25 champions, winning the competition for the sixth year in a row

Here's how the expansion will happen at the end of the next season - 2025-26.

The top two teams from the second tier, known as WSL 2, will automatically be promoted as part of the expansion.

Also, the team that comes bottom of the WSL and the team that comes third in the WSL 2 will play each other, with the winner getting the final spot in the top league.

That will mean there will be 14 teams in the WSL for the 2026-2027 season.

What will happen at the end of the 2026-2027 WSL season?

Once next season is over and the expansion is done, things will also change for the 2026-2027 season.

As you would expect, the WSL team that comes in last place will be automatically relegated and the team that comes top of the WSL 2 will be automatically promoted.

But - there will one other big change.

There will be a play-off match between the the WSL team in 13th position (second to bottom) and the team that comes second in the WSL 2.

The winner of this match will then play in the WSL in 2027-2028.

Nikki Doucet (left) is the boss of the WSL

Nikki Doucet the boss of WSL Football said: "Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential."

She said the changes would "stimulate movement between leagues" and "increase opportunities".

The Football Association (FA) will now need to formally approve the proposed changes for the 2026-27 season by the 31 July 2025 before they can be officially introduced and before the next season starts.