Chelsea begin WSL title defence with win over Man City
Beever-Jones turns in debutant Carpenter's cross for opener and Hamano doubles lead from close range
Man City pull goal back through Charles own goal
City forward Murphy leaves pitch on a stretcher and Greenwood also substituted because of an injury
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
So, the 2025-26 Women's Super League season is only a few hours old but reigning champions Chelsea are already occupying top spot.
I know, I know, it's early days, but beating one of your challengers straight out of the blocks is the textbook definition of 'Starting as you mean to go on'.
Tomorrow it's Arsenal's turn.
Goodbye for now.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
That's about all we have for this live text now.
Head to the "Report" tab above to read Emma Sanders' take from Stamford Bridge.
And keep your eyes peeled on the BBC Women' Super League page for any further news and updates.
Don't worry if you miss any of the action this season because The Women's Football Show is back.
Catch highlights from every game with hosts Betty Glover and Ben Haines on Sundays from 21:00 BST on iPlayer and 23:30 BST on BBC One.
There will be digital highlights from every fixture, delivered straight to the BBC Sport website, app, and our BBC Women's Football TikTok account.
Chelsea captain Millie Bright joined the podcast earlier this week to discuss her decision to withdraw from England's Euro 2025 squad, and her mental health and injury issues that led her to that decision.
Read the full piece on the BBC Sport website.
Millie Bright tells Ben Haines she's 'proud' of the decisions she made this summer.
In case you missed it, this season the BBC Women's Football Weekly podcast has it's very own dedicated feed on BBC Sounds, where you can find all the latest WSL chat with Ben Haines, England record goalscorer Ellen White and former Scotland defender Jen Beattie.
Get ready for plenty of interviews with the league's biggest stars.
What are you waiting for? Go forth and subscribe!
BBC One
Big spending London City Lionesses head to European champions Arsenal on Saturday for their Women's Super League debut on Saturday - and lucky you, it's being broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Will it be a baptism of fire for the newcomers or will they make a statement start to life in the top flight?
Tune in from 13:15 BST tomorrow to find out.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis season BBC Sport will be broadcasting 21 live matches from the Women's Super League across network TV and BBC iPlayer.
Alex Scott, Jeanette Kwakye and Betty Glover will take on presenting duties, alongside pundits Ellen White, Fara Williams, Steph Houghton and Anita Asante.
While Robyn Cowen and Vicki Sparks are BBC Sport's lead match commentators, and they will be joined on the gantry by main co-commentators Rachel Brown-Finnis and Gilly Flaherty.
Before you go...
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea boss Sonia Bompastor speaking to Sky Sports: "It's always important to win to start the season and that is what we did tonight in our stadium Stamford Bridge in front of our fans. It's a nice feeling to play a Friday night game and to be able to take the three points is really nice.
"It is always important when you have strong moments in the game to be clinical and efficient. I think we scored some great goals, they were really good. That is important, when you create such good chances like this, to be clinical. In games like tonight that is what makes the difference between both teams.
"I am happy with the performance. We were strong out of possession but we also had some really good moments in possession. Please with the performance and the result. It's a great start.
"I want to enjoy this game first because we just won the three points. I'm going to watch the other games across the weekend and then Monday we start to focus on Aston Villa away. Every game is important.
"It's a strong start but I'm not going crazy with it. It's the start of the season and we need to stay focused. We need to think about the recovery and start the new week preparing the next game."
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
And now the post match thoughts of a very happy Chelsea boss, Sonia Bompastor.
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz, speaking to Sky Sports: "Of course I'm disappointed. I think we deserve based on how we were playing, especially in the second half and the chances we are creating, I think we should have a result with us. But when we analyse the game afterwards, there is a lot of things we can bring with us that shows that we are challenging Chelsea during the whole game and we definitely will do that during the season."
On what City showed that reflected his style: "I think the high press is an important thing for us. How can we make sure we can win the ball high up? I think we did that in the first half and second half many times, and the way we can create scoring chances."
On Alex Greenwood's injury: "I don't know anything. I know she needed to go off because she had some feeling in her leg and we need to sort it out in the coming days."
On Lily Murphy's injury: "I haven't met her yet. She was going off just before the game ended. I need to find her now. I cannot do anything with it but she was very sad and in a lot of pain."
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Anyway, enough from me.
Let's hear what Blues boss Andree Jeglertz has had to say...
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Allow me to offer some words of encouragement Sam, if I may?
City dominated almost all of the key attacking metrics this evening: Expected goals, shots, shots on target, big chances, touches in the opposition box etc.
That shows that they were very much taking the game to and competing with Chelsea.
Once the likes of Shaw, Miedema, Kerolin, Hemp et al get up to speed then I'm sure the goals will come.
It's just an unfortunate quirk of the fixture schedule that they drew the reigning champions away from home on day one.
Image source, OptaComment at the top of this page, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
I hope the City coach holds his hands up. Did he not know Hemp's preferred side? Did he not watch the Eng v Aus World Cup semi where Hemp terrorised Carpenter? Did he not know Carpenter loves to get forward? Really poor from such an experienced coach. He wasn't a popular choice among City fans, and this does nothing to help the mood. And please don't say it's just the 1st game!
A bluer than blue Sam ☹️
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea goalscorer Aggie Beever-Jones, speaking to Sky Sports on her goal: "Ellie put it on a plate for me. It was incredible. I thought Ellie was outstanding today. I'm delighted to come away with a win and start the season strong.
"I think for me, Ellie is a world-class player and genuinely one of the quickest players ever, so I knew she was going to get there. For me, it was about keeping my head and putting it in the back of the net.
"Watching it again, Ellie's put it on a plate, so I've got to say many thanks to her but it's about doing a good pre-season and we're ready to start a good campaign. We're feeling good with ourselves and we're happy.
Comment at the top of this page, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Even without LJ, Ramirez and Bronzy, that Chelsea bench looks immense and let's not forget about our new signing as well.
Sam
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Player of the match Ellie Carpenter on her assist for Chelsea's first goal: "We're playing with a five back, so it allows me to get up more in attack. We've been working a lot in training and pre-season for six weeks.
"Obviously, the early cross in behind and Aggie [Beever-Jones] tapped it in, so made me look good. Very happy with the win. We wanted to start strong and get the three points and we did that."
On how she's found it at Chelsea so far: "Pre-season was hard. It was actually my first pre-season I've ever done with a team. It was really nice to create those relationships with the team, being new. I think we worked on those foundations and really gelling as a team."
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Let's hear from Chelsea's Ellie Carpenter, who to the surprise of absolutely no one, has been named player of the match after her stellar display.
FT: Chelsea 2-1 Man City
Chelsea are now unbeaten in each of their last 26 Women’s Super League games (W23 D3).
Comment at the top of this page, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
If Carpenter plays like this all season, expect a lot of goals from Aggie Beever-Jones! Aggie is a super intelligent player who makes a habit of right place - right time, and certainly has a finishers instinct! I have been saying since the 23/24 season that Aggie is a superstar in the making.
Mike - South Africa
Agreed, Mike.
Beever-Jones and Carpenter looked a great combination, particularly in that first half.
Just wait until Carpenter is supplying the likes of Sam Kerr and Mayra Ramirez too in the coming months - a frightening prospect for defences everywhere.
Chelsea beat Man City to start title defence
At a glance
New City boss Andree Jeglertz handed debuts to Jade Rose, Sydney Lohmann and Iman Beney
Chelsea's summer signing Ellie Carpenter grabbed an assist on her debut
Deadline day arrival Alyssa Thompson was presented to Chelsea fans before kick-off
Striker Sam Kerr was in Chelsea squad for first time in 20 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
Chelsea's title defence got off to the perfect start as they beat rivals Manchester City in their Women's Super League opener at Stamford Bridge.
Summer signing Ellie Carpenter was impressive on her debut, providing a lovely assist for Aggie Beever-Jones' 31st-minute opener and tormenting City's defence throughout.
Chelsea added a second when Maika Hamano slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita in the 64th minute, before a Niamh Charles own goal gave City hope with 20 minutes left.
Former Lyon full-back Carpenter has reunited with manager Sonia Bompastor and showed why the Frenchwoman was keen to bring her to London and strengthen a squad that had just won a domestic trophy treble.
With bursting runs and dangerous deliveries, the Australian international was a handful for England defender Alex Greenwood, who was playing at left-back for the visitors.
It was City boss Andree Jeglertz's first taste of WSL football after managing Denmark at Euro 2025.
He handed debuts to Sydney Lohmann and Jade Rose, who looked assured at centre-midfield and centre-back respectively.
However, despite some promising play from Jeglertz's new-look City and Greenwood hitting the bar with a free-kick, it was the same old story, as Chelsea were clinical in the moments that mattered.
With Australian striker Sam Kerr on their bench for the first time in 20 months and new signing Alyssa Thompson - the 20-year-old USA forward brought in on deadline day - the home fans will feel there is still more to come from them this season as they pursue more honours.
City were spirited, but suffered further blows at the end of the game with Greenwood injured and forward Lily Murphy taken off on a stretcher.
Chelsea won the domestic treble last season after going unbeaten in the league
A busy week for Chelsea was capped off by the arrival of Thompson and they rolled out the red carpet for her as she was introduced to fans at Stamford Bridge.
It was an unpleasant sight for City, who have a massive task on their hands to close the gap their hosts carved out last season during an impressive, unbeaten domestic campaign that produced WSL, FA Cup and League Cup triumphs.
But Chelsea are eager to remain on top and this was the perfect way to start the new campaign and remind their challengers why they have been so successful.
As they did so often last season, they soaked up some early pressure, taking their time to figure out City's dynamic shape and where they could exploit them.
It did not take them too long to figure it out.
Greenwood clearly had no answer to Carpenter's pace and the Australian had constant joy on the right-hand side.
Chelsea used the tactic well, continually giving Carpenter the ball and got players in the box for her to pick out. Beever-Jones, eventually, met one of those crosses with a close-range finish.
The second goal came from the same side as Wieke Kaptein's low delivery was allowed to roll through to Hamano, who slotted past her compatriot Yamashita.
Even when Charles headed a whipped Greenwood free-kick past her own keeper, Lionesses hero Hannah Hampton, to give City a lifeline, Chelsea still looked comfortable, knowing they had impact players to come on off the bench and finish the job.
New City boss Jeglertz insisted this week there would be "no revolution" at the club, despite him clearly wanting to implement his own style.
It was still the patient, possession-led approach we have been accustomed to seeing from them - but there were some clear tweaks.
England forward Lauren Hemp, among the Euro 2025 stars celebrated before kick-off as they paraded the trophy at Stamford Bridge, was an inverted right winger for most of the match, while full-back Kerstin Casparij often roamed into midfield.
Captain Greenwood took on the left-back role in which she performed so well at the Euros and Germany international Lohmann switched midfield roles with Yui Hasegawa throughout - one moving forward into the space as the other dropped deeper.
City's fluidity caused early problems for Bompastor's Blues as they took time to work out their shape and keep the ball for long periods.
But while there were positive signs, Jeglertz's side were still not clinical enough as Chelsea soaked up the pressure and capitalised on their own momentum.
It will be a work in progress this season for City and they will hope late injuries to Greenwood and Murphy are not too serious.
But while they will take comfort in knowing they matched the champions for the majority of the match, Chelsea's potency in attack proved the difference and why Bompastor's side are currently a class apart.
Manchester City host Brighton in their next Women's Super League game on Friday, 12 September (19:30 BST), while Chelsea visit Aston Villa on Sunday, 14 September (12:00 BST).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Chelsea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
2 Arsenal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3 Aston Villa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
4 Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
5 Everton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
6 Leicester City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
7 Liverpool | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
8 London City Lionesses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
9 Manchester United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
10 Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
11 West Ham United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
12 Manchester City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
Manager: Sonia Bompastor
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Andrée Jeglertz
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Sonia Bompastor
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Andrée Jeglertz
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Women's Super League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
