After 60 Women’s Super League (WSL) games, each team has played 10 of its 22 fixtures. Thus, the teams are at the so-called halfway mark. They enjoy the three-week-long winter break before the campaign returns on Jan. 17.
Chelsea stormed to the top of the table with 28 points, still unbeaten, and won every game except for a 1-1 draw with Leicester City. Only one point separates second-place Manchester City from Arsenal and Manchester United in the top four. At the other end of the table, the battle for survival is fierce, as only five points separate the bottom six teams.
While the results paint one picture, performances and off-field challenges tell a different story. Two teams — Arsenal and Aston Villa — head into the break without permanent managers, while Man City, Leicester, and Everton have struggled to grapple with consistent injuries to key players.
Here is a look at how all 12 teams have fared so far, starting with leaders Chelsea and running down in order of the standings from there, with a grade given to each side. Three teams have earned A grades for their efforts this season, while two have been assigned dreaded Ds.
1. CHELSEA (A+)
Chelsea have enjoyed a remarkable run under coach Sonia Bompastor, who only joined in the summer but has seamlessly adapted to the London club and the WSL. The Blues have amassed 28 points from nine wins and one draw in 10 games — the best tally ever at this stage of a WSL campaign. They also completed a clean sweep of their Champions League group, winning all six of their games. Their six-point lead over second-place City is the largest gap at the winter break since the league’s 2017-18 restructuring. With 31 goals from 14 players and just six conceded, their strength is evenly distributed across the field. As they compete in two domestic cups, the league and the Champions League’s latter stages, challenges may arise. However, Chelsea’s first-half performance has been pretty much perfect.
2. MANCHESTER CITY (A-)
Despite two losses and a draw this season, Manchester City’s campaign has had its positives. However, the six-point gap to league leaders Chelsea is a daunting challenge to face in the new year. City began the season strongly, remaining unbeaten until their encounter with title rivals Chelsea. But an injury crisis has since derailed their momentum; the losses of prolific striker Khadija Shaw, the WSL’s most creative player so far in Lauren Hemp and captain Alex Greenwood have left City struggling to keep pace. Consecutive defeats — 2-1 to Everton in the WSL and 3-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League — have intensified the challenge. Competing across multiple fronts, including cup competitions, while missing key players, will be difficult for City. However, they have established a solid foundation for the future.
3. ARSENAL (B+)
The Gunners have had a huge turnaround in such a short timeframe following Jonas Eidevall’s resignation in October, but their poor performances early on in the campaign — claiming just two wins in the first five games — left a lot to be desired. However, under interim manager Renée Slegers, Arsenal ended 2024 on a 10-game winning streak in all competitions. The Dutch coach remains undefeated, dropping points only in a 1-1 draw with Man United. Challenges remain, particularly in their attack, and the second half of the season will test Slegers’ leadership if she gets the job permanently, with tough back-to-back away games against Chelsea and Man City. Just one point shy of City in second, Arsenal have allowed themselves to push further in the table come the new year.
4. MANCHESTER UNITED (B)
Manchester United have faced heightened scrutiny due to the legacy of their men’s team and off-pitch turbulence, but their season so far has been solid. Without being crowd-pleasers United have found a way to find results, losing only one WSL game so far. Much of this was down to their impressive defensive record, only conceding three goals and keeping seven clean sheets. Yet, United suffered an early dip with three consecutive draws, where they dropped points in matches they should have won, leaving fans frustrated. However, finishing the first half of the season in fourth, just one point behind second-placed City, is a significant achievement. While the seven-point gap to league leaders Chelsea is substantial, it is not isolated to just United, keeping them firmly in contention for a Champions League spot.
5. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (A)
Brighton have surpassed all expectations, finishing the first half of the season in fifth place. Before defeats to the top two London clubs, they had climbed into the top three and created a six-point gap over sixth-placed Spurs. With star signings Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby bolstering the squad, Brighton have become a force to be reckoned with. Under Dario Vidošić’s leadership, they have emerged as the dark horse of the season and are firmly in contention for a top-six finish following their strong start and resilience to grind out results, setting them up as one of 2024-25’s surprise success stories.
6. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (C)
Spurs have faced significant struggles this season. Last year, the team clicked seamlessly, but the departures of Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet to Manchester United have exposed key issues. Their defence has been a major concern, conceding the second-most goals in the league, highlighting the need for improvements at the back if they are to maintain their top-half position. Additionally, Spurs are yet to win an away game, meaning they will be heavily reliant on home advantage to secure vital points and push for a stronger finish in the table.
7. ASTON VILLA (D)
Fans were eager to see a revitalised Villa under new manager Robert de Pauw, but after 10 games, the team has managed just two wins and three draws in a lacklustre display. Entering the second half of the season without a manager, with De Pauw departing before their final game of 2024, Villa will be looking nervously down the table. The first half of the campaign has been disappointing, marked by a lack of execution, creativity, clinical finishing, and defensive control. It has been a disappointing run for Villa, who were tipped to break into the top half once again. Instead, they are in seventh, five points cushioning them from the relegation zone but eight points adrift of Brighton in fifth.
8. LIVERPOOL (C)
Liverpool have endured a rocky season, struggling to convert strong performances into results and points. Breaking into the top four is a daunting challenge, let alone doing so in consecutive seasons. Manager Matt Beard previously described his team as overachieving last season, but this campaign feels like an underperformance. Defensive struggles have plagued the team throughout, and their inability to counterbalance this with goals has compounded their issues. Scoring just nine times so far, Liverpool find themselves further down the table than expected, sitting eighth and level on points with Merseyside rivals Everton. While there’s potential in the squad, improvement in both ends of the pitch is crucial if they aim to climb higher in the second half of the season.
9. EVERTON (C+)
Scoring just six goals in 10 games highlights Everton’s struggles with clinical finishing, but they have taken four points from their games against the top three, proving that the Toffees may not need to score loads to ensure their future. A third of their total goals came in a shock 2-1 win over City, while a 0-0 draw with Arsenal earned crucial early points. Despite concerning stats — six goals scored and 16 conceded – they have fought hard to claim nine points and climb to eighth, having been in the relegation zone earlier. Persistent injuries to key players have worsened their problems, but there are promising foundations to build upon as they aim to address their glaring weaknesses in the second half of the season.
10. WEST HAM UNITED (C-)
West Ham’s ability to pick up points against teams close to them in the table has provided some cushion from the relegation zone, but it still feels precarious. Their inability to convert chances and secure points in crucial games against higher-ranked teams remains a significant concern for manager Rehanne Skinner. Despite these struggles, West Ham can ensure their survival by focusing on the philosophy of securing wins against lower-table opposition, but it will likely go down to the wire with the bottom half of the table only separated by five points. Every point matters for the Irons, who want to avoid a relegation battle, but their two goals and two wins thus far is a buildable start.
11. LEICESTER CITY (D)
Leicester only narrowly avoid the relegation zone due to a single-point advantage over Palace. They’ve scored the fewest goals (three) and conceded 13, leaving them with plenty to work on after the winter break. Additionally, their passing accuracy is the league’s lowest at 74%, per Opta. Injuries have left the Foxes without a natural striker and limited options across the pitch, yet holding league leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw – the Blues’ first dropped points this season — was a significant achievement. However, this will be in vain unless Leicester reorganise and address their issues to turn their season around after Christmas.
12. CRYSTAL PALACE (C)
Newly-promoted Palace have faced a tough debut season in the English top flight. They’ve conceded the most goals (26) in their first 10 games while scoring just eight — the league’s third-lowest tally. With no home wins from five matches, the young squad has struggled to adjust. However, there are positives to build on as they aim to improve. Palace’s biggest weakness has been their inability to maintain leads or capitalise on early dominance, often letting games slip away and allow the more experienced sides back into the ties.
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