Women's Super League

Callum Matthews
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Chelsea's 3-1 win over Leicester City extended their lead at the top of the Women's Super League and continued their charge towards a quadruple.

However, it may have created some questions for boss Sonia Bompastor and was a reminder of the significant hurdles that they face in the remaining weeks of the season.

She made five changes from their 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday and the former Lyon boss admitted pre-match that she has one eye on what is to come in March.

An FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace is next on Sunday before four successive games against Manchester City in the League Cup final, Champions League last eight and WSL.

The period will define Chelsea's season and Bompastor's first campaign in England.

They will have to improve drastically if they want to win all - or at least the majority - of those trophies.

Against Leicester, who are one of only two teams to take a point off Chelsea this season, they were disjointed in attack and lacked energy and tempo until three second-half substitutes.

Those changes came after Leicester pulled a goal back to trial 2-1 and Bompastor, who cut an agitated figure throughout, kicked a chair in the dugout in frustration.

They improved for the changes but were wasteful in front of goal and often lacked the necessary bodies in the box to really put Leicester under pressure.

Bompastor admitted that her changes are causing the team to be "less fluid".

"I don't think it's confidence," she said to Sky Sports. "We have been rotating the squad a lot and sometimes we are less fluid than in the beginning of the season.

"I think we've missed a little bit of chemistry at times in the team.

"I'm not too worried, I know the quality of my squad and the talent in my team.

"I have depth in my squad and it is nice to rotate because it gives the opportunity to every player in my squad to show the qualities that they have."

Chelsea went eight points clear at the top of the Women's Super League after a 3-1 win over Leicester on Wednesday. Here is what the managers said after the game:

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor: "Really important. This result means a lot. When you just dropped points it's really important to win the game after and the reaction was good from my players, but I was expecting that."

On the performance: "We were able to score really quickly. We had a lot of opportunities. We could have been more clinical in the box. When we were 2-0 up we cannot concede the goal we conceded. When you are winning 2-0 you need to control more things and we gave the goal to Leicester. We need to control the game in that aspect."

On big games coming up: "We are ready mentally, physically and in all the aspects. We are really looking forward to those moments. It is in these big games you can win titles."

Leicester boss Amandine Miquel speaking to Sky Sports: "We played well in and out of possession. The attitude and character we showed tonight is important. We did give them some trouble and that's the most important thing."

On if she is making steady progress with Leicester: "When you take a new club it is a new way of organising and a lot of changes and it takes time. Now we are doing a bit better and the players are understanding what we want to do."

On how Ruby Mace is after she was taken off on a stretcher: "We don't know. We prefer not to say anything until we have a scan and more information. We hope she will be fine."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It was a tale of substitutions on Wednesday evening as West Ham and Manchester City drew 1-1.

For the second time in three days City relied on second half substitutes to spark them into life, only this time they couldn't hold out for victory.

Khadija Shaw extended her lead at the top of the WSL scoring charts with her 12th goal of the campaign to put City ahead, the third of four shots she took in just 25 minutes on the pitch.

City looked set to leapfrog Arsenal into third place, albeit having played a game more, but West Ham substitute Manuela Pavi popped up on the left side of the penalty area and bent a shot past Ayaka Yamashita to earn the hosts a point.

A draw was the least the home side deserved, after pressing City relentlessly all evening and preventing them from finding any real rhythm.

A trip to Chigwell Contruction Stadium is now one of the toughest assignments in the WSL; West Ham have won four of their last six home league games.

City will be four points adrift of the final Champions League qualification place if third-place Arsenal win their game-in-hand, so Taylor's side really cannot afford any more slip-ups if their want to return to Europe's top table next season.

That's easier said than done; with four meetings across three competitions with Chelsea this month, Taylor's squad is set to be tested to their limits.

Image source, Brighton & Hove Albion

Midfielder Olivia Johnson has signed her first professional contract with Brighton.

The 18-year-old joined the club from Crystal Palace in 2021 and has since made 35 appearances for the Under-19s.

She made her first-team debut in March 2024 against Bristol City.

"We're really excited Olivia has signed her first professional contract," said women's and girls' academy manager Perry Northeast.

"She's a talented young player who has shown fantastic growth in her four years at the club. She has had valuable opportunities to train and play alongside our women's first-team in the last two seasons, including making her debut in the WSL last season.

"We're eager to see how she develops for the remainder of the season and in the years ahead."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Jen Beattie believes Manchester United have been going under the radar this season.

Marc Skinner's side are currently second in the Women's Super League, five points behind leaders Chelsea and with only one defeat all season. They have only conceded six goals in the league so far, less than any other team in the division.

"Manchester United for sure have been underrated all season," Beattie told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast. "We haven't spoken about them enough.

"They are where they are for a reason and it's credit to them for doing that. They have got the results and they are in a position where we are potentially not talking about Arsenal or Manchester City closing the gap, we are talking about Manchester United and that speaks volumes."

Chelsea beat United 1-0 when the sides met in November and they face off again on 27 April in a match Beattie thinks will prove crucial in the title race.

"They won't be saying it to the media, but I think they will be looking at that game to close the gap," she said.

"You can't presume that Chelsea are going to drop points anywhere else. They will have one eye on that game thinking this is an opportunity to close the gap and really push if they are going to do it."

BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines examine whether the WSL could remove relegation as a way of expanding the division.

They're joined by BBC Sport's Emma Sanders to explain the proposals that are under consideration.

They also look at two days of managerial departures in the WSL, with Liverpool and Crystal Palace both changing their head coaches.

Listen here

The schedule has been confirmed for the final day of the 2024-25 Women's Super League season.

All six games will be played at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 10 May.

Broadcast picks will be made by the BBC and Sky in due course.

The fixtures are as follows:

Arsenal scored three goals in six minutes as they came from behind to beat West Ham in a seven-goal thriller. Here is what the managers said after the game:

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers to Sky Sports: "I was saying before that we pride ourselves on clean sheets and being solid to beat defensively, so we put ourselves in a situation that we have not been in before as a team since I was here.

"I am very proud of the way that the girls kept calm and composed, found the solutions and kept digging in - I think it shows great strength and character. That is why we are stood here with a win.

"I am happy to hear [the players believed in the team] because it is important for them to believe in what we do. As a player it is easier to believe becasue you can influence it on the pitch and impact what is happening. Also the support from the fans kept us believing. They kept calm and kept supporting."

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner speaking to Sky Sports: "I thought first half we capitalised on our chances really well, showed our pace, got in behind and our set play deliveries were really good. We were not prepared to let anything go, fighting for everything and got goals out of the game. They weren't expecting us to play in a back five and we did it really, really well. I am proud of the players' efforts today.

"We scored three fantastic goals and caused a lot of problems. There are a lot of positives for us to take out of the game heading into Wednesday night."

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

It is hard to decide which was more surprising: West Ham being 2-0 ahead within just 12 minutes, or Arsenal scoring three in six minutes to come from behind.

The Irons had not only had the lead, but they were defending it well.

Their back line marshalled Arsenal's attempts to go forward excellently – especially given many of the Gunners' long balls produced nothing of note – and Kinga Szemik was regularly in the right place to bail out the Irons when tested.

Chloe Kelly, making her first start, netted her first goal for Arsenal and made it 2-1 before the break.

But after Stina Blackstenius had a one disallowed and Shekiera Martinez restored West Ham's two-goal cushion it felt like there was only one likely conclusion; West Ham seemed destined to win it.

In an instant, though, that all changed.

The fact that Szemik got a hand to Mariona Caldentey's penalty – the goal which put Arsenal in front – was symbolic of the game slipping out West Ham's reach.

Having turned the tide in such a rapid fashion, Arsenal were energised and seemed a completely different side. Substitutes made an impact, too, with Kyra Cooney-Cross playing a significant role in improving their attacking intent.

This was a big win for Arsenal given Chelsea dropped points. The manner of defeat will be crushing for West Ham, but it was a great display nevertheless.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea captain Millie Bright said Naomi Girma is "more than capable" after a disappointing debut for the world record signing.

Girma made her first start for Sonia Bompastor's side at Brighton as the Women's Super League leaders were held to a 2-2 draw, dropping points for only the second time this season.

The United States defender was replaced on the hour mark through injury and is likely to have a scan on Monday.

"I have always said she is a class person, a nice person to have in the changing room," Bright said after the game. "Her qualities on the pitch are great, she is a player who we have not had before, different style and to have that variety is great.

"It was a tough game to come into but she is more than capable and I think she did great. It was nice to finally have her on the pitch. There was a lot of pressure for her make the return but she is delighted to get that debut."

Chelsea came from behind to salvage a draw against Brighton in the Women's Super League. Here is what the managers said after the game:

Chelsea manager, Sonia Bompastor, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is frustrating in terms of the result. I just said to my players that they needed to start the game with the same intention that we showed in the second half. I think we had some troubles in the first half because our intentions were not good enough.

"We dropped two points again today and it is important to keep the head up. We have a quick turnaround to Wednesday and we need to be ready for it."

On Naomi Girma: "We need to assess her tomorrow and maybe do a scan to see what happened with her calf. Never easy for the first game, she needs to find the chemistry with the other players and the rhythm in the league. It is good for her to get the minutes and I hope she will be ready to play again soon."

Brighton manager, Dario Vidosic, speaking to Sky Sports: "I'm almost a little bit disappointed. I think we had the opportunities to go 3-1 up and we didn't and then it felt like the result maybe scared us, that we were winning 2-1. We had it there. But that is all part of the journey and the process."

On Chelsea's second goal: "It is hard to tell [if Lauren James is offside] from the angle we have. You hope not because then it cuts a bit deeper."

On Fran Kirby's injury: "It is normal. She has been out for two and a half months and then comes into this high intensity environment. To do what she did in the game shows her quality and professionalism and fingers crossed it is nothing serious. We've had enough injuries!"

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton endured a poor start to the 2024-25 WSL campaign, picking up just nine points (two wins, three draws) and scoring six goals in their opening 10 matches.

However, since the New Year, they've won two and drawn one of their five matches and found the back of the net eight times.

Following Sunday's 2-0 away win over Aston Villa, they've climbed up to eighth in the table and are 10 points clear of bottom-placed Crystal Palace. Though far from mathematically safe, with only seven matches remaining, their relegation fears have eased considerably.

Central to their upturn in form, particularly in front of goal, has been the impact of their January signings.

Everton were the busiest side during the transfer window, signing Hayley Ladd from Manchester United, Kelly Gago from Nantes, and Maren Mjelde and bringing in three players (Martina Fernandez, Louna Ribadeira, and Emma Watson) on loan.

Gago has made the biggest impact, scoring three goals in five league matches since the WSL resumed in mid-January, and although she was kept off the scoresheet by Aston Villa, she remained a nuisance in attack, linking up well with forward Toni Payne on a number of occasions and bullying Aston Villa's defenders with her pace.

Late in the second half, she breezed past Anna Patten and found the side-netting with a shot from an acute angle and had she been more selfish in the final third throughout the game, she would likely have added another goal to her tally.

Highly experienced defender Mjelde, previously of Chelsea, poached the opening goal against Villa, reacting fastest to a bouncing ball in the box before dispatching a cool volley over goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo, while Ladd and Fernandez were in the starting XI for the fifth successive match since their respective arrivals.

It's early days but you suspect Everton will be satisfied with how their winter recruits have settled in.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace may well be rock bottom of the Women's Super League, but in defeat to Liverpool they showed enough to suggest that relegation back to the Championship may not be a foregone conclusion.

Playing under experienced Norwegian coach Leif Smerud for the first time since the sacking of Laura Kaminski on Thursday, Palace created several chances that on another day could have secured valuable points.

Though Smerud does not have time on his side, his side certainly have a fighting chance of overhauling the four-point gap between themselves and safety.

Liverpool are looking to finish the season strongly under interim boss Amber Whiteley, but while three points are important, there will be plenty of areas she wants her side to improve in.

Liverpool wasted several opportunities to kill off the game before relying on goalkeeper Rachael Laws to preserve their advantage.

If Whiteley wants to secure her job on a permanent basis, then she could do worse than work on her side's efficiency in the final third.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner was dealt a tough hand ahead of his side's WSL meeting with Leicester on Sunday.

Top scorer Elisabeth Terland was unavailable after picking up a knock on international duty, while some of his players flew halfway around the globe on Thursday night to report back for training on Friday.

Despite that, United produced the kind of performance that has put them in pole position to qualify for the Champions League for just a second time.

Melvine Malard made the most of the opportunity afforded to her by Terland's absence, the striker scoring the opener before setting up United's second.

Though United flagged in the second half - as Skinner predicted might happen - the home side never really looked in danger of throwing away a seventh consecutive league win.

Leicester came into the match with two wins in their previous three outings, more than in their 19 league matches prior.

Amandine Miquel can take positives from the way her side went at United after the break, in particular the performance of Nicole Momiki just three days after she scored in Japan's 2-1 win against the United States in California.

Goals are still an issue for the Foxes, having scored just nine in 15 games this term.

After facing Chelsea on Wednesday, they'll look to exploit the leaky defences of Brighton and Tottenham in the coming weeks.