Women’s Super League 2 season preview: Every club’s summer transfer business, home stadiums and players to watch | OneFootball

The 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League 2 season kicks off this Friday night under the lights. We take a look at the league’s star players, summer transfer action, and managers hoping to lead their teams to promotion to the coveted Barclays Women’s Super League.

The 2026/27 season sees another promotion and play-off format change. The team finishing first in the WSL2 is automatically promoted to the WSL, replacing the 14th-placed team, who are relegated.

The new fixture then sees the WSL2 second and third-placed teams play each other to determine who faces the 13th-placed WSL side for a play-off match and a chance of promotion.

Come the end of the season, at least one WSL2 team is guaranteed promotion glory to the WSL. Will it be yours?

Bristol City

Bristol City missed out on a promotion play-off by five points, having been there or thereabouts all season. Welcoming seven new signings this summer, they have a new-look squad and promotion to the WSL must be the target. Manager Charlotte Healy enters her second season, having previously been the assistant head coach at Manchester United.

They start their season at 2pm on Sunday, 6th September away at Sunderland. Home matches will be played at Ashton Gate.

Players to watch: Exciting forward-thinking Emily Syme was recently named in the PFA WSL2 Team of the Year and has renewed her contract. Rio Hardy could also help the promotion push. Fans will be hoping Hardy kicks on from her last season haul of 10 goals in 21 matches.

Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. Credit: Lucy Jones

Burnley

Newly promoted Burnley tackle the WSL2 for the first time in their history with new American manager Jackie Bachteler at the helm. A summer of squad changes for the club sees experience brought in with attacking midfielder Christie Harrison-Murray and striker Rachael Williams.

Burnley begin their WSL2 campaign away against Watford at 7.30pm on Friday 4th September. Home matches will be played at Turf Moor.

Players to watch: Striker Charlie Wellings will be looking to lead the line for her new team, having bagged three goals in 14 WSL2 matches for Nottingham Forest last season.

Durham

The Wildcats secured WSL2 status with two wins and two draws in their last five games of the 2025/26 season. The club have signed six new players and extended Dee Bradley, looking to build on last season. Fan favourites Lauren Briggs, Lucy Watson and Beth Hepple have stayed, and exciting transfer additions Jade Pennock and Olivia Ferguson add experience in attack.

The club will be hoping for a mid-table finish this season and not to be in a relegation battle. Durham kick off at 12pm against Southampton from Maiden Castle Sports Park, on Sunday 6th September.

Players to watch: Beth Hepple was last season’s top scorer for Durham with eight goals. The club definitely need those numbers if they are to finish higher in the table.

Ipswich Town

Ipswich finished ninth in the WSL2 last season and have reinforced in the transfer market with 11 signings and one loan addition in Ava Baker from Birmingham. The club has also extended the contracts of club captain Maria Boswell, Leah Mitchell, Megan Wearing and Kenzie Weir.

The team conceded the third most goals last season — they’ll be hoping to make it more difficult to beat them this season and secure safety. Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest on Sunday 6th September at 2pm.

Players to watch: No doubt Ipswich will miss midfield machine Sophie Peskett, but keeping your captain is crucial. Exciting recruits Ava Baker, Tegan McGowan and Jorja Fox bring experience and depth to the squad.

Leicester City

Leicester City fans face a new league this season, having been relegated from the top tier during 2025/26. With 14 first-team players leaving, including Jutta Rantala and Noemie Mouchon, the Amandine Miguel era is definitely over.

The Leicester board always aim high, and they’ll be expecting a quick return to the top tier from manager Rick Passmoor. Behind the scenes, with the owners looking to sell, fans would probably prefer a season to stabilise and see what the future holds. Realistically, a fourth-place finish would be a good outcome for Leicester.

The Foxes host Midlands rivals Sheffield United at 14:00 on 6th September at the King Power Stadium.

Players to watch: Poppy Pritchard, signing from Manchester City, was a great coup. Fans will be looking forward to seeing the attacker in action.

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Newcastle United

Newcastle finished in a disappointing sixth place last season and will be hoping to be closer to promotion this time around. To achieve that, they’ve certainly reinforced in attack, signing ex-WSL duo Leanne Kiernan and Martha Thomas. As well as bagging Arsenal loanee Jessie Gale, who impressed on her loan at Bristol City last season.

Manager Tanya Oxtoby is joined by experienced coaching staff including ex- player Rachel Furness, recently promoted to assistant coach. Newcastle play Wolverhampton at the legendary St James’ Park at 2pm on Sunday 6th September.

Players to watch: Jessie Gale showed real class last season, bagging eight goals and one assist in 22 matches. She will be hoping to learn from fellow new signing, the experienced striker Martha Thomas.

Nottingham Forest

Forest finished in seventh place last season and over the summer they parted ways with manager Carly Davies, who oversaw promotion to WSL2. Tom Mallinson comes in at the helm for this season, and the club have supported him with six new signings. It’s the additional four loan signings that catch the eye, as Forest have delved into the WSL for young talent.

Still fairly new to this league, Forest will be looking to build on last season’s finish. They kick off their season away at Ipswich on Sunday 6th September at 2pm. Their home stadium will be the City Ground.

Players to watch: Jamaican international Shania Hayles has great experience within the WSL2, and has signed a one-year contract in the Midlands. The powerful forward will be a great addition to the team.

Sheffield United

The Blades were four points off relegation last season, thanks to a last-match-of-the-season win securing their WSL2 status for another year.

Summer signings include, among others, commanding defender Gracie Pearse and experienced forward Lucy Quinn on a one-year deal from Birmingham.

This time round the Blades will be hoping to avoid a relegation scrap and secure WSL2 status for another season. Sheffield United host Leicester City on Sunday 6th September at 2pm. They play their home matches at Bramall Lane.

Players to watch: Sophie Harwood has electric pace for a defender and a fine finish as well. Fans should keep an eye out for the excellent leader on loan from Arsenal.

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Southampton

The Saints finished fifth last season, but this summer has seen a lot of squad rotation. Nine first team players out of contract, Fran Stenson sold to Sunderland, and six new signings to integrate. It‘s sure to be a transitional season for manager Simon Parker in his second season. Amy Goddard will need to lead the defensive line well if the Saints want to improve on last season’s finish.

Behind the scenes, the club have seen Director of Women’s Football Marieanne Spacey-Cale leave the club, which could have a knock-on effect on the pitch. Southampton kick off away against Durham on Sunday 6th September at 12pm. They will play their home matches at St Mary’s Stadium.

Players to watch: Saints fans will be hoping Ellie Brazil and Mary Bashford can bag the goals needed to push them up the table.

Sunderland

A bottom half of the table finish in the 2025/26 and 2024/25 seasons would have come as a shock to a team expecting to push for promotion. Stability over the summer as Sunderland were involved in the most player business in the league, with over 30 player transfers being decided. The incoming players bring a wealth of previous WSL2, WSL and international experience.

The signing of Lily Dent on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion is exciting, fans will want to see her get a good run in the side. Surely this season they must be pushing for a top half finish. Sunderland host Bristol City on Sunday 6th September at 2pm.

Players to watch: Elise Hughes leading the line as the new Sunderland number nine, having signed from Crystal Palace.

Watford

Manager Renee Hector has overseen promotion to the WSL2 last season for the first time as manager, but she had experienced it twice before as a Watford player. This time the Golden Girls will be hoping to stay in the league. The squad has seen six players leave on expiration of their contracts, but a shed load of new signings to give the team depth in every position. This includes Eva Gray from Arsenal, Safia Middleton-Patel on loan from Manchester United, and exciting midfielder Vera Jones.

Watford begin their WSL2 campaign hosting Burnley at Vicarage Road. Kick-off is 19:30 on Friday 4th September.

Players to watch: The young midfielderVera Jones has signed for a year on loan from Chelsea and is part of the Young Lionesses pathway.

Wolverhampton fans, SEAH Stadium. Credit: Lucy Jones

Wolverhampton

After achieving elusive promotion to the WSL2, it’s been a changing-of-the-guard era for the Old Gold. Club legends Beth Merrick and Jade Cross retired at the end of last season. 12 first team players have left the club at the end of their contract, making way for nine new signings. Keeping hold of Tammi George, who knows the history of the club, can help them keep the work ethic and winning culture at this level. Alongside new experienced signings Melissa Lawley and Yana Daniels.

Wolverhampton head away to face Newcastle on 6th September, with kick-off at 2pm. Wolverhampton will play their home matches at the SEAH Stadium.

Players to watch: Charlotte Greengrass will be looking to continue from her play-off final success by bagging plenty of goals this season.

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