Standings: The FA Women’s Championship, previously called the FA Women’s Super League 2, serves as the second one tier of women’s football in England. The 2024–25 season marks its 7th 12 months below the rebranded identity and the 10th for the reason for the inception of WSL 2. This season has been pivotal, introducing huge adjustments and showcasing notable performances.
Overview of the 2024–25 Season
The 2024–25 season started out with tremendous structural adjustments. The league decreased to 11 teams following Reading’s withdrawal because of monetary constraints. Consequently, the variety of relegation spots became adjusted from to one, with the league set to go back to 12 teams in the 2025–26 season.
Current Standings
The pinnacle teams in the FA Women’s Championship (2024–25 season) are intently competing for advertising to the Women’s Super League. The standings are as follows:
Sunderland – 14 matches, 10 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, 33 points
Charlton Athletic – 14 matches, nine wins, 4 draws, 1 loss, 31 points
Bristol City – 14 matches, eight wins, 5 draws, 1 loss, 29 points
Southampton – 14 matches, eight wins, 4 draws, 2 losses, 28 points
Sheffield United – 14 matches, 7 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses, 26 points
Durham – 14 matches, 6 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses, 23 points
London City Lionesses – 14 matches, 6 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses, 22 points
Newcastle United – 14 matches, 5 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses, 20 points
Portsmouth – 14 matches, 3 wins, 3 draws, eight losses, 12 points
Birmingham City – 14 matches, 3 wins, 2 draws, nine losses, eleven points
Blackburn Rovers – 14 matches, 2 wins, 3 draws, nine losses, nine points
Key Players to Watch
Top Scorers
Several gamers have made an effect this season, contributing considerably to their team’s offensive play. These gamers are vital in the combat for advertising to the Women’s Super League.
Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses): With eight goals, Goodwin has been a constant scorer, supporting her team to be aggressive in the mid-table.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Newcastle United): Scoring 7 goals, Lloyd-Smith has demonstrated to be a key participant for Newcastle, providing an important attacking threat.
Shania Hayles (Bristol City): Hayles has contributed 6 goals to Bristol City’s offensive line, retaining them in the race for advertising.
Top Assists
Creating possibilities for goals is simply as vital as scoring them. The following gamers have excelled in imparting assists to their teammates.
Rachel Rowe (Southampton): With 4 assists, Rowe has been instrumental in Southampton’s attacking play, contributing her goals and key passes.
Kosovare Asllani (London City Lionesses): Asllani additionally has 4 assists, demonstrating her all-round ability and cap potential to steer the game.
Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic): With 3 assists, Filis has been a key contributor to Charlton’s offensive setups, supporting them live within touching distance of the pinnacle.
Top Goalkeepers
Defenders and goalkeepers are regularly the unsung heroes, however this season, the subsequent goalkeepers have made important contributions, retaining their teams in matches.
Lucy Thomas (Birmingham City): Thomas has stored 6 smooth sheets this season, making her one of the standout goalkeepers in the league.
Fran Stenson (Southampton): Stenson has been instrumental for Southampton, recording 4 smooth sheets to date this season.
Fran Bentley (Bristol City): Bentley has additionally controlled to hold 4 smooth sheets, solidifying her function as one of the league’s pinnacle shot-stoppers.
Notable Developments
Trial of Alcohol Consumption in Stands
A huge improvement this season is the trial permitting lovers to eat alcohol in the stands in the course of Women’s Championship games. Clubs which include Newcastle United, Bristol City, Birmingham City, and Southampton are collaborating on this initiative, which started out on January 19, 2025, and could keep till the end of the season. This trial aims to decorate the fan’s enjoyment and will set a precedent for destiny rules in women’s football.
Leadership Changes
In January 2025, the Rugby Football Union announced that Zoe Aldcroft might update Marlie Packer as the captain of the England women’s rugby team for the imminent Women’s Six Nations Championship in March and the World Cup in August. While this relates to rugby, it highlights the dynamic nature of management roles in women’s sports.
Coaching Dynamics
Despite the fast boom in women’s football, the variety of girl head coaches in the Women’s Super League (WSL) has declined considerably. In July 2024, best 21% of high-overall performance coaches in the pinnacle women’s stages had been girls, a pointy lower from 65% in 2020 and properly under the FA’s goal of 75%. This fashion underscores the continuing demanding situations in reaching gender parity in education roles inside women’s football.
Medical Support for Players
A TalkSport research discovered that many women’s football clubs aren’t financially helping gamers wanting ACL surgical treatment, highlighting instances wherein gamers needed to crowdfund their surgical treatment costs. This problem emphasizes the disparities in scientific help among women’s and men’s football and the want for regulatory adjustments to make sure all clubs provide important scientific help.
Looking Ahead
The FA Women’s Championship 2024–25 season is proving to be an interesting and aggressive one, with the race for advertising heating up as Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, and Bristol City lead the charge.
However, the league isn’t without its demanding situations, specially in regions like education representation, scientific help, and fan engagement. The final results of those traits will possibly have long-time implications for the destiny of women’s football in England, because the league keeps developing and evolving.
FAQs
How many teams are in the 2024–25 Women’s Championship?
The 2024–25 season functions 11 teams, decreased from twelve because of Reading‘s withdrawal. The league is ready to go back to 12 teams in the 2025–26 season.
How is advertising to the Women’s Super League determined?
The pinnacle team at the end of the season was promoted to the Women’s Super League. In the 2024–25 season, one team could be relegated to the FA Women’s National League.
How do injuries affect women players in the Championship?
Injuries, particularly ACL injuries, are a significant concern for women players. Some clubs have been criticized for not providing sufficient medical support, with players sometimes resorting to crowdfunding to cover the cost of surgeries. This highlights the ongoing challenges women face in securing proper medical care.
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