Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport

The Women's Super League is the top tier of the domestic pyramid in women's football in England.

It replaced the Women's Premier League National Division in 2011 and originally featured eight teams: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies, and Liverpool.

After undergoing multiple expansions, it has been a 12-team competition since 2019-20, with each team playing 22 matches. The top three sides qualify for the Women's Champions League while the bottom side is relegated to the Women's Championship.

In 2024-25, the 12 WSL teams are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, and West Ham.

Arsenal (three titles) lifted the title in the inaugural season, with Chelsea (eight, plus the 2017 Spring Series), Liverpool (two), and Manchester City (one) the other league winners.

Image source, Getty Images

While we are taking things back to the beginning, coming up is a potted history of the Women's Super League, for those who are just getting into the women's game...

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Following Emma Hayes' glittering 12-year tenure as Chelsea boss, nobody quite knew how the Chelsea squad would adapt to change in the dugout.

The Sonia Bompastor era got off to an understated start - Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win against Aston Villa on the opening day, though the visitors enjoyed more possession, took more shots on target and created more big chances.

It didn't take long for Chelsea to move up the gears though.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's not move this story on too quickly though.

Remember, we are here this morning to mark Chelsea's sixth consecutive WSL title.

So let's consider some of the key moments from what has been a remarkable season...

It's an interesting question raised by Natasha Dowie - where do Chelsea go from here?

Tell us what you think Chelsea fans.

Also, for supporters of WSL in general, who do you think can challenge Chelsea's dominance?

Will Arsenal, Manchester United or Manchester City be their closest challengers next season? Or can another team rise up to stop them claiming a seventh consecutive WSL title?

Get in touch via:

• X using #bbcfootball
• WhatsApp on 03301231826
• Or text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

Thanks.

Natasha Dowie
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

If Chelsea aren't winning, they're not having fun and they're not happy and they want perfection. They're near perfection this year. That unbeaten run is magnificent.

When you talk about what's next for them, it's going to get harder and harder because when you're setting these goals, you're trying to compete against yourselves, but a lot will be about this Champions League.

Did they want it too much this year? Did they put too much pressure on themselves? Do they have a mental block against Barcelona?

That will be a challenge that Sonia Bompastor will be excited about. She already said she knows what it takes to do it, so bring on next season.

Thanks for joining us today as we assess Chelsea's achievement in clinching a sixth consecutive title in the Women's Super League.

Here's what we have covered so far:

• Watch highlights of Chelsea's title-clinching victory at Manchester United
• Is the treble on?
• Can Chelsea end the WSL season unbeaten?
• 'I feel home' - Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor reacts to her first WSL title win

Stay with us as we look back on Chelsea's season and consider where they go from here.

Image source, Reuters

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport

In beating Manchester United on Wednesday night, Chelsea sealed their sixth successive WSL crown, but how dominant are the Blues?

Well, they've won the title a record eight times, with Arsenal (three), Liverpool (two), and Manchester City (one) are the only other sides to lift the trophy. They also won the 2017 Spring Series.

Chelsea first won the league in 2015 and have only finished outside the top two once in the past 11 WSL campaigns.

During the past six seasons, they've lost just eight times in 123 matches (W 102, D 13), scoring 369 goals and conceding 78.

With two matches remaining this season, they're on course for their highest ever points total. Their previous best is 58 points in 2022-23.

Image source, PA Media

Siobhan Chamberlain
Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

[Chelsea] have been [better than everybody] but there’s that blotch on the record at the moment. The one that they really wanted was the Champions League and they got absolutely annihilated by Barcelona, who were incredible.

But in the WSL they’ve been phenomenal. They’re unbeaten. They’re going for that invincible record of not losing a single game and they’re on track for that.

Manchester United made them work for that last night, Chelsea looked very leggy, very tired but when you can get results after what they’ve been through the last couple of weeks and beat one of your title contenders to win the league, then you're showing good signs of being a very, very good side.

Image source, PA Media

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Let's not forget that Chelsea recruited Sonia Bompastor - who led Lyon to Champions League glory in 2022 - specifically to win the one trophy that had eluded former manager Emma Hayes.

Speaking last September, the Frenchwoman said: "If we don't achieve that goal I will be the one you need to blame. I am fine with that."

Wednesday's victory and subsequent title celebrations came in the backdrop of that disappointment, which potentially makes Chelsea's achievement all the more remarkable.

Image source, PA Media

As Sonia Bompastor said, it has not all been plain sailing, although results in the WSL and both domestic cup competitions would suggest otherwise.

In fact, defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals has been the only real disappointment of an exemplary first campaign in charge for Bompastor.

But that 8-2 loss over two legs - a 4-1 defeat in Barcelona followed by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge - hit hard.

Bompastor admits that it was tough to bounce back from Sunday's defeat in the home leg: "It hurt a little bit to have just lost these two games against Barcelona. To be able to bounce back was not easy.

"But we had the character in the team to face that challenge and win tonight and get the title."

Chelsea

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor speaking to BBC: "I feel great. For my first season it feels amazing. I want to thank my players, I want to thank the club to have me on board. For us to achieve that with two games left is a great achievement."

On if her debut was what she expected: "I was expecting the challenge to be really hard, it has been really hard. I was not expecting us to achieve that with two games left. This league is really competitive. It's a big achievement for the club, a big achievement for myself."

On the pressure of replacing Emma Hayes: "I love to have the pressure. It makes me a better manager because I really have to focus. I have to thank my staff because I am not the only one. I feel home, it's so nice to be part of Chelsea."

Right, now we have set the scene for you, let's get some reaction to Chelsea's latest title win, starting with head coach Sonia Bompastor...

Chelsea are unbeaten in 20 WSL games this season, having won 17 and drawn three.

They have two games remaining - at Tottenham on Sunday and at home to Liverpool the following Saturday (10 May).

Win both of those and Chelsea will become the first side to record 60 points in a WSL season.

By the way, they hold the league's current record - 58 points, which they achieved in their 2022-23 campaign.

Chelsea had their sights set on a historic quadruple this season but their 8-2 defeat on aggregate by Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals spelled an end to those hopes.

The treble is still well and truly on though.

In March, Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 to win the League Cup. Now they have the WSL title wrapped up with two games to go.

Chelsea meet Manchester United again in the FA Cup final on 18 May.

Chelsea

As mentioned, this is not the end of Chelsea's season, more like the beginning of the end.

There is still plenty to play for and lots of questions to answer, namely:

• Can Sonia Bompastor's side finish the WSL season unbeaten?
• Can they add to their WSL title and League Cup success?

Image source, Reuters

Following Arsenal's shock 5-2 defeat to Aston Villa earlier in the evening, Chelsea knew they needed just a point away at third-placed Manchester United to secure a sixth straight WSL title.

It wasn't all plain sailing - United forced Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton into several good saves and wasted some decent chances - but Lucy Bronze's header with 16 minutes left to play proved the difference.

Chelsea haven't always been at their ruthless best in recent months, and had to overcome the 8-2 aggregate humbling Barcelona handed to them in the Champions League just three days earlier.

But overcome it they did. European dominance is the ultimate goal, but with a domestic treble in reach, Sonia Bompastor's side remain by far and away the best team in England.

Chelsea fans, we want to hear from you.

Tell us how you celebrated the club's sixth consecutive WSL title and sum up your first season under new head coach Sonia Bompastor.

The quadruple may no longer be on after defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, but you still have two more trophies left to play for.

Can you make it a treble?

And what are your hopes and dreams for the future?

Get in touch via:

• X using #bbcfootball
• WhatsApp on 03301231826
• Or text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

And please remember to include your name.

Thanks.

Former Manchester City defender Lucy Bronze was the matchwinner on Wednesday night, scoring the only goal of the game at Manchester United.

The three points pushed Chelsea nine points clear of their closest challengers Arsenal with two matches of the season remaining.

Click on the play icon below to watch the highlights.