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2017–18 FA WSL

The 2017–18 FA WSL 1 was the seventh edition of the FA WSL since it was formed in 2010. It was the first season of WSL which ran as a winter league.[1] It started in September 2017 and ended in May 2018, with ten teams competing in both leagues.[1][2][3]

The Football Association removed promotion and relegation between the two tiers for the end of the season. The league was instead restructured, with clubs required to apply for licenses under new criteria for the top tier in the 2018–19 season.[4]

A one-off competition, the FA WSL Spring Series, ran from February to May 2017 to bridge the gap from the 2016 FA WSL season.[5]

Ten teams competed this season.[1] Following the closure of Notts County Ladies in April 2017, the FA announced that one place in the league would be given to a team which competed in the Spring Series, based on an evaluation by the FA of applicant clubs' business plans, budget, youth development, facilities and on-pitch performance.[3] The place was subsequently given to Everton.[6]

There was no relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.[4]

Teams

With the collapse of Notts County Ladies just prior to the Spring Series, the ten clubs of WSL 2 were invited to apply for a place in the 2017–18 season. Two sides, champions Everton and runners-up Doncaster Rovers, applied. On 9 June 2017, subject to appeal, Everton were awarded the position.[6]

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Locations of the 2017–18 WSL 1 teams
Team Location Ground Capacity 2016 season Spring Series
Arsenal Borehamwood Meadow Park 4,502 3rd 3rd
Birmingham City Solihull Damson Park 3,050 5th 7th
Bristol City Filton Stoke Gifford Stadium 1,500 2nd, WSL 2 8th
Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Kingsmeadow 4,850 2nd 1st
Everton Widnes Select Security Stadium 13,350 3rd, WSL 2 1st, WSL2
Liverpool Widnes Select Security Stadium 13,350 4th 4th
Manchester City Manchester Academy Stadium 7,000 1st 2nd
Reading High Wycombe Adams Park 9,617 8th 6th
Sunderland South Shields Mariners Park 3,000 7th 5th
Yeovil Town Yeovil Huish Park 9,565 1st, WSL 2 9th

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chelsea (C, Q) 18 13 5 0 44 13 +31 44 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Manchester City (Q) 18 12 2 4 51 17 +34 38
3 Arsenal 18 11 4 3 38 18 +20 37
4 Reading 18 9 5 4 40 18 +22 32
5 Birmingham City 18 9 3 6 30 18 +12 30
6 Liverpool 18 9 1 8 30 27 +3 28
7 Sunderland (R) 18 5 1 12 15 40 −25 16 Did not apply for a licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League
8 Bristol City 18 5 1 12 13 47 −34 16
9 Everton 18 4 2 12 19 30 −11 14
10 Yeovil Town 18 0 2 16 2 54 −52 2
Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away ARS BIR BRI CHE EVE LIV MCI REA SUN YEO
Arsenal — 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 3–1 3–0 4–0
Birmingham City 3–0 — 2–0 0–2 2–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–0
Bristol City 1–6 0–2 — 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–6 0–5 1–2 1–0
Chelsea 3–2 2–1 6–0 — 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 6–0
Everton 0–2 0–3 1–2 0–1 — 0–2 2–3 2–1 5–1 3–1
Liverpool 0–3 1–0 2–0 2–3 1–1 — 1–0 0–3 3–1 8–0
Manchester City 5–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–0 4–0 — 0–2 3–0 5–0
Reading 0–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 3–0 3–0 2–5 — 0–1 3–0
Sunderland 0–2 3–0 1–2 0–6 1–1 1–4 0–3 0–2 — 2–1
Yeovil Town 0–0 0–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 15 May 2018. Source: FA WSL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goalscorers

As of 20 May 2018[7][8]
Rank Player Team Goals
1 England Ellen White Birmingham City 15
2 England Nikita Parris Manchester City 11
3 England Beth England Liverpool 10
4 England Remi Allen Reading 9
England Isobel Christiansen Manchester City
6 England Brooke Chaplen Reading 8
England Fran Kirby Chelsea
England Beth Mead Arsenal

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Women's Super League to switch to winter season in 2017". Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ^ "FA Women's Super League to move to new calendar in 2017". Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Garry, Tom. "Women's Super League: WSL 2 clubs invited to apply to replace Notts County Ladies". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b Garry, Tom. "Women's Super League: Restructure can help make league best in world – Katie Brazier". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. ^ "New calendar for FA WSL". Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Everton have been elected to FA Women's Super League 1". Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. ^ "PLAYER STATS". Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Top Scorers – Womens Super League – Football". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2018.