WSL Champions – Ten Years On | OneFootball

On this day in 2016, Manchester City were crowned Barclays Women’s Super League champions for the first time in our history.

Rather fittingly, our heroes of 2016 sealed the title with a game to spare – just like the current WSL champions achieved back in May 2026.

This time, though, it was courtesy of a 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Joie Stadium, sealed in front of a then-record crowd of 4,096.

City would go on to complete an unbeaten WSL season, but Nick Cushing’s side came into our penultimate match of the campaign knowing a point was enough to seal the crown.

Chelsea, the reigning champions, were the only side capable of catching City after the Blues’ 1-0 win at Arsenal two weeks prior.

But there was nothing Emma Hayes’ side could do to spoil the City party, with goals either side of half-time confirming us as champions.

They were scored by two of the marquee signings who’d joined the Club ahead of our professional relaunch two years prior, with Jill Scott opening the scoring after the half-hour mark.

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The midfielder rose highest to guide a Duggan corner into the net through a crowd of bodies via a deflection of Chelsea skipper Katie Chapman, before being mobbed by her team-mates.

And number two would follow soon after the half-time whistle, with Lucy Bronze brought down inside the area by Gilly Flaherty after a typical buccaneering run forward.

Duggan did the honours, sending Rebecca Spencer the wrong way from 12 yards to give City some breathing space.

It was rather fitting that Duggan – the scorer of our first-ever professional goal back in April 2014 – would be the one to deliver the final blow at the Joie Stadium and seal the title for the Blues.

Just seven days later Nick Cushing’s side would complete the double, beating Birmingham City in the League Cup final at the Joie Stadium thanks to an extra time goal from Bronze.

City would have to wait until 30 October 2016 to complete a truly memorable campaign, with a 1-1 draw against Birmingham the final act of a thrilling saga.

The stalemate did nothing to spoil the party atmosphere in Manchester, even though it was only the third time all season that Cushing’s side had dropped points, and only the fourth goal we’d conceded all campaign.

But the hard work had already been done, courtesy of our 2-0 win over Chelsea on 25 September 2016.