Women's Championship
{{Other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox football league
| name = Women's Championship
|logo = FA Women's Championship.png
|pixels = 150
|country = England
|other countries =
|first = 2014
|teams = 11
|promotion = Women's Super League
|relegation = National League North
National League South
|levels = 2
|domest_cup = Women's FA Cup
|league_cup = FA Women's League Cup
|confed_cup =
|champions = Crystal Palace (1st title)
|most_champs = Aston Villa, Sunderland, Reading, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Manchester United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, (1 title each)
|tv =
|season = 2023–24
|website = [https://womensleagues.thefa.com/ womensleagues.thefa.com]
|current = 2024–25 Women's Championship
}}
The Women's Championship, also known as Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in England. It is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The division was established in 2014 as the FA Women's Super League 2 (WSL 2) and renamed the FA Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43155787 FA Women's Championship: New name chosen for England's second tier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301145332/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43155787|date=1 March 2018}} BBC Sport, 26 February 2018 "The FA" was subsequently dropped from the league name ahead of the 2022–23 season,{{cite web |title=Barclays Women's Super League rebranded |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/barclays-women-s-super-league-name-change-63790385 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323214634/https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/barclays-women-s-super-league-name-change-63790385 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=www.mancity.com}} prior to new ownership for the 2024–25 season by clubs in the first and second tiers.
WSL 2 replaced the previous level 2 division, the FA Women's Premier League (WPL) National Division, which ended after the 2012–13 season. The WPL's last national division champions, Sunderland A.F.C. Women, were not promoted and also became the first winners of WSL 2 in the 2014 season. In addition to Sunderland, other WPL clubs that joined WSL 2 in 2014 were Watford and Aston Villa. From 2014 to 2016, WSL 2 ran a summer-based season calendar before reverting to the winter season in 2017–18, the same as WSL 1. Having sponsored the first tier since the 2019–20 season, 2022–23 marked the first season of Barclays as the title partner of the division.{{cite web |title=New look for BWSL and BWC |url=https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/womens-super-league-and-championship-rebrand-for-2022-23-season-20221006 |website=womenscompetitions.thefa.com |date=10 June 2022 |access-date=10 May 2023 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610090557/https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/womens-super-league-and-championship-rebrand-for-2022-23-season-20221006 |url-status=live }}
For the 2023–24 season, changes were made so that two clubs would be relegated from the league allowing one team each from National League North and South to be promoted to the Championship rather than having to play a season end playoff. This change resulted in two teams being relegated from the Championship at the end of the season. No changes were made to promotion from the league to the WSL with still only one promotion and one relegation respectively.{{cite web |title=Statement: 2023-24 promotion and relegation |url=https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/statement-promotion-and-relegation-between-tiers-two-and-three-20232804 |access-date=15 April 2024 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530190237/https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/statement-promotion-and-relegation-between-tiers-two-and-three-20232804 |url-status=live}} For the 2024–25 season, the league was reduced to eleven teams, due to Reading’s withdrawal from the Championship, citing financial issues.{{cite web |title=Reading withdraw from Championship |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/30/RFCW-Statement/ |website=Reading FC |date=30 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803082936/https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/30/RFCW-Statement/ |url-status=live }} The FA confirmed two relegation spots would reduce to one. The league will return to a twelve team league at the beginning of the 2025/26 season.{{cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nick |title=FA and Women's Professional Game statement on Reading FC Women |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/fa-womens-professional-game-statement-reading-fc-women/ |website=The FA |date=30 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630095414/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/fa-womens-professional-game-statement-reading-fc-women/ |url-status=live }}
History
File:Sunderland AFC Ladies promotion celebration.jpg
For the 2014 season, the FA Women's Super League was expanded to create a second division with nine new teams added and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remained as eight teams, with one new team inserted, with the WSL 2 having ten teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/fa-wsl-applications-2014.aspx|title=FA WSL 2014: Applications|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313125548/http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/fa-wsl-applications-2014.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/C59A214D19F44A42AD0475172F422B41.ashx|title=FA WSL 2014-2018 brochure|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182759/https://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/C59A214D19F44A42AD0475172F422B41.ashx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/D8A111434B7D4BC0AAEAF9311328E138.ashx|title=The FA WSL Club Development Plan|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422080530/https://www.thefa.com/News/2012/dec/~/media/D8A111434B7D4BC0AAEAF9311328E138.ashx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/News/fawsl/2013/mar/fawsl-club-bids-2014|title=Clubs bid for WSL spot|publisher=thefa.com|access-date=27 May 2013|archive-date=17 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117164749/http://www.thefa.com/News/fawsl/2013/mar/fawsl-club-bids-2014|url-status=live}}
The new WSL 1 licence was awarded to Manchester City in 2014. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to WSL 2, with nine new licences awarded to London Bees, Durham, Aston Villa, Millwall Lionesses, Yeovil Town, Reading, Sunderland, Watford, and Oxford United.{{cite web|title=FA Selects Clubs for WSL|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_selects_clubs_for_wsl_licences.html|publisher=WSL|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=8 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708100759/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_selects_clubs_for_wsl_licences.html|url-status=live}} Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful.{{cite web|last=Baber|first=Mark|title=Doncaster Belles lose appeal over demotion from Women's Super League|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/12809-doncaster-belles-lose-appeal-over-demotion-from-women-s-super-league|publisher=Inside World Football|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041935/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/12809-doncaster-belles-lose-appeal-over-demotion-from-women-s-super-league|url-status=dead}}
In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to ten-team league. Two teams would be promoted from WSL 2, while one team would be relegated to WSL 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|title=FA WSL 2 promotion announcement|publisher=Faws1.com|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420010456/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30298483|title=BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204065923/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30298483|url-status=live}} Also, for the first time, a team would earn promotion to WSL 2 from the Women's Premier League (now National League), effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the English women's football pyramid.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | title=Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off | publisher=BBC | date=24 May 2015 | access-date=29 July 2015 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924223810/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | url-status=live }}
This left WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with ten teams for the 2016 season, and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 consisted of ten teams each for the 2017–18 season. In addition to being able to prove their financial solvency, clubs applying for entry to the WSL had to show they would attract an average of 350 spectators in 2016, increasing to at least 400 in 2017.{{cite web|title=Katie Brazier: FA head of women's leagues targets WSL expansion|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33676705|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=17 August 2015|date=27 July 2015|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119114031/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33676705|url-status=live}}
FA WSL 2 was renamed the Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season.
In May 2020 the Championship season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Stonelake |first=Anthony |date=2020-05-15 |title=Women's Super League Season to End |url=https://herfootballhub.com/womens-super-league-season-to-end/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Her Football Hub |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018054318/https://herfootballhub.com/womens-super-league-season-to-end/ |url-status=live }} In 2022 the league was renamed to simply the Women's Championship, with the FA part being dropped.{{Cite web |last=Reja |first=Arpan |date=2020-05-15 |title=Women's Super League and Women's Championship to be rebranded ahead of 2022/23 season |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/womens-super-league-and-womens-championship-to-be-rebranded-ahead-of-2022-23-season/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Sports Mint Media |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828221232/https://sportsmintmedia.com/womens-super-league-and-womens-championship-to-be-rebranded-ahead-of-2022-23-season/ |url-status=live }}
In November 2023, it was announced that all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA. The organization is called NewCo, and Nikki Doucet has been named CEO.{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Kelly |title=Get the big decisions right and this can be a landmark year for women's football |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/jan/25/get-the-big-decisions-right-landmark-year-womens-football-wsl-fa-premier-league |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 April 2024 |date=25 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Nikki Doucet appointed as NewCo CEO |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/nikki-doucet-appointed-as-newco-ceo |website=The FA |access-date=1 April 2024 |date=28 November 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401095858/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/nikki-doucet-appointed-as-newco-ceo |url-status=live }} From the 2024–25 season, the company was known as the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Statement: Women's Professional Leagues Limited |url=https://womensleagues.thefa.com/statement-womens-professional-leagues-limited/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914163216/https://womensleagues.thefa.com/statement-womens-professional-leagues-limited/ |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=The FA}}{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Emma |date=2024-09-11 |title=Women's Professional Leagues Limited: What are the priorities for the new WSL company this season? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8er0w48kn0o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924043831/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8er0w48kn0o |archive-date=24 September 2024 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=BBC Sport}}
On {{date|23 March 2025}}, Newcastle United W.F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C Women set a new attendance record of 38,502 in the Women's Championship in their second meeting in the league, a Tyne-Wear derby match played at St James' Park in Newcastle.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Louise |title=Newcastle and Sunderland striving to give WSL north-eastern outpost |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/13/newcastle-and-sunderland-striving-to-give-wsl-north-eastern-outpost |website=The Guardian |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241013190348/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/13/newcastle-and-sunderland-striving-to-give-wsl-north-eastern-outpost |archive-date=13 October 2024 |language=en |date=13 October 2024 |url-status=live}} The previous record had been an attendance of 15,387 set in 2024 in the reverse fixture in the same season.{{cite web |title=Women's Championship: Sunderland vs Newcastle to break attendance record |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c07n21y4pkjo |website=BBC Sport |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241013185541/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c07n21y4pkjo |archive-date=13 Oct 2024 |language=en |date=11 October 2024 |url-status=live}}
Clubs
The following eleven clubs are competing in the 2024–25 season.
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | data-sort-type="number"|2023–24 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | Birmingham | St Andrew's | style="text-align:center"| 29,902 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|05|5th}} |
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn | Ewood Park | style="text-align:center"| 31,367 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|06|6th}} |
| Bristol City | Bristol | Ashton Gate | style="text-align:center"| 27,000 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|01|WSL, 12th}} |
| Charlton Athletic | Charlton | The Valley | style="text-align:center"| 27,111 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|02|2nd}} |
| Durham | Durham | Maiden Castle | style="text-align:center"| 1,800 (League) 2,400 (Cup) | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|09|9th}} |
| London City Lionesses | Hayes, Bromley | Hayes Lane | style="text-align:center" | 5,000 | style="text-align:center" | {{sort|08|8th}} |
| Newcastle United | Newcastle | Kingston Park Stadium | style="text-align:center"| 10,200 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|11|WNL North, 1st}} |
| Portsmouth | Havant | Westleigh Park | style="text-align:center"| 5,300 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|12|WNL South, 1st}} |
| Sheffield United | Sheffield | Bramall Lane | style="text-align:center"| 32,050 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|07|7th}} |
| Southampton | Southampton | St Mary's Stadium
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|32,384}} | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|04|4th}} | |
| Sunderland | Hetton-le-Hole | Eppleton CW | style="text-align:center"| 2,500 | style="text-align:center"| {{sort|03|3rd}} |
{{col-2}}
{{location map+ |England |float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of clubs for the 2024–25 season |places=
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.4221 |long=-1.7661 |label_size=80 |label=Birmingham City|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |England |lat=53.7000 |long=-2.5700 |label_size=80 |label=Blackburn Rovers|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |England |lat=51.4379 |long=-2.6779 |label_size=80 |label=Bristol City |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4559 |long= 0.1699 |label_size=80 |label=Charlton Athletic |position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.7883 |long=-1.5424 |label_size=80 |label=Durham |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.39 |long=0.021111 |label_size=80 |label=London City |position=top}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=55.029 |long= -1.703 |label_size=80 |label=Newcastle United |position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.8668 |long=-0.9746 |label_size=80 |label=Portsmouth |position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.2536 |long=-1.4250 |label_size=80 |label=Sheffield United |position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.9338 |long=-1.5099 |label_size=80 |label=Southampton |position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.828 |long=-1.4543 |label_size=80 |label=Sunderland |position=right}}
}}
{{col-end}}
{{-}}
Winners
:Unless noted, only teams in first were promoted to the WSL.
Notes
:p.{{note|1|}}Second place team was also promoted
:r.{{note|2|}}Withdrew from league and relegated
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://womensleagues.thefa.com/ Official website]
{{FA Women's Super League}}
{{Women's football in England}}