The landscape of English women’s football shifted dramatically, during a pulse-pounding final day of the Women’s Championship.
With the WSL expanding to 14 teams for the 2026/27 season, the stakes were higher than ever. Here is how the "Blue" and "Red and Blue" sides of London and the Midlands secured their tickets back to the big time.
The Champions: Birmingham City Rule The Valley
Birmingham City knew that only a victory away at title-rivals Charlton would be enough to guarantee their promotion. In front of a record-breaking crowd at The Valley, the Blues delivered a masterclass in composure.
The Hero: Club-record signing Wilma Leidhammar proved her worth ten times over, netting a clinical brace. Her seventh goal since joining in January settled the nerves before halftime, and she rifled home a second shortly after the break to silence the home fans.
The Achievement: A 2–0 victory saw Birmingham crowned Champions of the WSL2, securing their return to the top flight after a four-year absence.
The High-Flyers: Crystal Palace’s Goal-Fest
While Charlton and Birmingham were locked in a tactical battle, Crystal Palace knew they needed to win big against Portsmouth and hope for a Charlton slip-up. They did exactly that, putting on a ruthless attacking display at Gander Green Lane.
The Scoreline: After falling behind to an early shock goal, the Eagles responded with a devastating 6–1 victory.
Key Performers: Molly-Mae Sharpe sparked the comeback, followed by a brace from Ashleigh Weerden and goals from Kirsty Howat, Annabel Blanchard, and Elise Hughes.
The Result: By the time the final whistle blew, Palace had secured 2nd place on goal difference, earning promotion back to the WSL at the very first time of asking.
Heartbreak for Charlton: One Last Chance
For Charlton Athletic, the day was nothing short of a nightmare. Having led the table for the vast majority of the season, the Addicks fell from 1st to 3rd in the space of 90 minutes.
However, their dream of top-flight football isn't dead yet. Due to the league's expansion, they have been handed a lifeline:
The Play-off: Charlton will now face the WSL’s bottom-placed side, Leicester City, in a high-stakes promotion/relegation play-off.
The Date: Mark your calendars for May 23, 2026, when Karen Hills’ side will get one final opportunity to join Birmingham and Palace in the elite division.
Final Championship Standings 2025/26
| Pos | Team | Points | Status |
| 1 | Birmingham City | 44 | Champions / Promoted |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 44 | Promoted |
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | Promotion Play-off |
| 4 | Bristol City | 37 | Championship |
A New-Look WSL
The inclusion of Birmingham and Palace—two clubs with deep histories and massive fanbases—promises to make the expanded 14-team WSL even more competitive. With recruitment for the new season already underway, the "newcomers" will be looking to do more than just survive next year.