Summary

  • Reigning champions Chelsea win season opener against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge

  • Blues debutant Fishel headed in and James added second; Thomas pulled goal back after Musovic save

  • Arsenal suffer shock defeat against Liverpool in front of record WSL crowd

  • Wins for title challengers Man Utd and Man City

  • Brighton hold on to beat Everton and Leicester see off newly-promoted Bristol City

  1. Postpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30)

    BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    You can listen to live coverage of this evening's game on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

    Press the 'play' icon at the top of this page to tune in.

  2. Postpublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Here are all the results from the WSL opening day!

    WSL opening day fixtures and results graphicImage source, The FA
  3. Games in main stadia more common in WSLpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30 BST)

    Emirates StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Last season was a record-breaking year in the Women's Super League and the new season promises to be no different with big stadiums and crowds "the norm now".

    More than half of this weekend's games will be played at club's bigger stadiums, usually reserved for their men's sides.

    Arsenal beat the WSL record attendance of 47,367 set last season (53,737 tickets sold) with 54,115 at their defeat by Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.

    "It's the norm in the WSL now" Liverpool manager Matt Beard said.

    "We're playing in big stadiums and getting big crowds now."

    Read the full piece here.

  4. One-sided derbypublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30 BST)

    Chelsea v Tottenham statistic graphicImage source, The FA
  5. Chelsea up nextpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30 BST)

    So after Arsenal's shock defeat at the Emirates to Liverpool, Chelsea have a chance to leave an early marker in the title race against a new-look Tottenham side WITHOUT Sam Kerr.

    Who are you backing at Stamford Bridge? Hit the thumbs (up for Chelsea, down for Spurs)

  6. Team news - Kirby on bench for Chelsea, Kerr missing from squadpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30 BST)

    Chelsea begin their title defence with a couple of new faces in the squad.

    The big news is that there's no Sam Kerr in the line-up. She picked up an injury at the World Cup and has perhaps not fully recovered.

    Emma Hayes has opted to hand debuts to German midfielder Sjoeke Nusken and American forward Mia Fishel while familiar faces and key Chelsea players Millie Bright, Guro Reiten and Lauren James also start.

    The good news for England fans is that midfielder Fran Kirby is on the bench after a long time out injured. Will she make an appearance today?

    Starting XI: Musovic, Fishel, Bright, Ingle, Nusken, Carter, James, Reiten, Mjelde, Rytting Kaneryd, Charles

    Subs: Berger, Nouwen, Leupolz, Lawrence, Kirby, Perisset, Fleming, Buchanan, Jankovic

    Chelsea team graphic

    Tottenham have a new manager in Robert Vilahamn and some new faces in their line-up with forward Martha Thomas making her debut after joining from Manchester United this summer.

    Swiss defender Luana Buhler and Finnish midfielder Olga Ahtinen also start.

    Ash Neville returns after an important season with Spurs last year along with Drew Spence and Molly Bartrip.

    No involvement, of course, for the injured Bethany England against her former side.

    Starting XI: Spencer, James, Buhler, Bartrip, Neville, Ahtinen, Summanen, Spence, Bizet, Clinton, Thomas

    Subs: Votikova, Zadorsky, Ale, Ayane, Percival, Turner, Graham, Naz, Pearse

    Tottenham team bbc graphic
  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Man City get their WSL campaign off to a winning start despite going down to 10 players following the dismissal of Leila Ouahabi.

    Rehanne Skinner's first game in charge of the Hammers ends in defeat.

    Leila Ouahabi is sent offImage source, PA Media
    Manchester City celebrate scoringImage source, The FA
  8. YELLOW CARDpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Hawa Cissoko gets West Ham's first booking of the game.

  9. Postpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Man City have a free-kick, Laia Aleixandri takes. Filippa Angeldahl has a shot at goal and it looks like it's going in at the near post but Mackenzie Arnold makes the save.

  10. Postpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Seven additional minutes.

    Manchester City's Mary Fowler and West Ham's Lisa EvansImage source, PA Media
  11. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Filippa Angeldahl replaces debutant Jill Roord who is given a warm applause by the away fans as she exits the field.

  12. Postpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Anouk Denton puts in a teasing cross but Alanna Kennedy wins the header and it's an easy catch for Khiara Keating.

  13. Postpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Viviane Asseyi takes a shot on early and tries to fire it in at the near post but it's another effort over the bar.

  14. Postpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Shannon Cooke has an effort from a long way out but is just goes over the bar.

    West Ham have been unable to trouble Man City despite having a player advantage.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Julie Blakstad comes on and replaces Deyna Castellanos who was booked early in the first half.

  16. Postpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    10 minutes left to play.

    Can't see anything major changing in this game but you never know.

  17. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    A double change for West Ham.

    Anouk Denton and Keira Flannery come on for Mel Filis and Abbey-Leigh Stringer.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Following Leila Ouahabi's dismissal, Man City make a change.

    Chloe Kelly goes off and is replaced by Kerstin Casparij.

    Leila Ouahabi is sent offImage source, The FA
  19. Postpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Ah Leila Ouahabi kicked out at Emma Harries off the ball and was dismissed for violent conduct to get the second red card of the new season.

  20. RED CARD - Leila Ouahabi (Man City)published at 16:31 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    West Ham 0-2 Man City

    Man City are down to 10 players!

    Leila Ouahabi fouls Emma Harries, it seemed fairly innocuous but after consultation with the fourth official, the referee Abigail Byrne has shown Ouahabi a straight red.