2017–18 FA WSL

The 2017–18 FA WSL 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]

FA WSL
Season2017–18
ChampionsChelsea
Champions LeagueChelsea
Manchester City

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 and acted as a warm up tournament.[5]

Teams

With the collapse of Notts County Ladies just prior to the Spring Series, the ten clubs of WSL2 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]

WSL 1
Arsenal
Birmingham City
Chelsea
Everton
Liverpool
Sunderland
Yeovil Town
Locations of the 2017–18 WSL 1 teams
TeamLocationGroundCapacity2016 seasonSpring Series
ArsenalBorehamwoodMeadow Park4,5023rd3rd
Birmingham CitySolihullDamson Park3,0505th7th
Bristol CityFiltonStoke Gifford Stadium1,5002nd, WSL 28th
ChelseaKingston upon ThamesKingsmeadow4,8502nd1st
EvertonWidnesSelect Security Stadium13,3503rd, WSL 21st, WSL2
LiverpoolWidnesSelect Security Stadium13,3504th4th
Manchester CityManchesterAcademy Stadium7,0001st2nd
ReadingHigh WycombeAdams Park9,6178th6th
SunderlandSouth ShieldsMariners Park3,0007th5th
Yeovil TownYeovilHuish Park9,5651st, WSL 29th
WSL 2
Locations of the 2017–18 WSL 2 teams
TeamLocationGroundCapacity2016 seasonSpring Series
Aston VillaTamworthThe Lamb Ground4,0007th4th
Brighton & Hove AlbionLancingCulver Road2,0001st, 2015–16 WPL6th
Doncaster Rovers BellesDoncasterKeepmoat Stadium15,2319th, WSL 12nd
DurhamDurhamNew Ferens Park3,0004th5th
London BeesCanons ParkThe Hive Stadium5,1766th7th
Millwall LionessesBermondseySt. Paul's Sports Ground2,5008th3rd
Oxford UnitedMarstonCourt Place Farm3,2009th10th
SheffieldDronfieldCoach and Horses2,0005th9th
Tottenham HotspurCheshuntThe Stadium3,0001st, 2016–17 WPLn/a
WatfordKings LangleyGlobal Metcorp Stadium1,00010th8th

WSL 1
FA WSL 1
Season2017–18
ChampionsChelsea
Matches played90
Goals scored282 (3.13 per match)
Top goalscorerEllen White (15 goals)
Biggest home winLiverpool 8–0 Yeovil Town
(6 January 2018)
Biggest away winSunderland 0–6 Chelsea
(30 September 2017)
Highest scoringLiverpool 8–0 Yeovil Town
(6 January 2018)

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]

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) Champion; (Q) Qualified to 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
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

WSL 2
FA WSL 2
Season2017–18
ChampionsDoncaster Rovers Belles
Matches played90
Goals scored325 (3.61 per match)
Top goalscorerJessica Sigsworth
(15 goals)
Biggest home winDoncaster Rovers Belles 6–0 Aston Villa
(29 October 2017)
Tottenham Hotspur 6–0 Watford
(22 February 2018)
Biggest away winWatford 0–5 Sheffield
(16 May 2018)
Highest scoringTottenham Hotspur 6–3 Durham
(29 April 2018)

Ten teams competed during this season.[1][3]

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

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Doncaster Rovers Belles (C, R) 18 15 2 1 52 15 +37 47 Obtained then gave up Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League
2 Brighton & Hove Albion (P) 18 12 1 5 35 26 +9 37 Awarded a Tier 1 licence
3 Millwall Lionesses[lower-alpha 1] 18 12 3 3 40 23 +17 36
4 Durham 18 11 2 5 44 26 +18 35
5 Sheffield (R) 18 9 1 8 40 31 +9 28 Obtained then gave up Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League
6 London Bees 18 6 5 7 29 32 −3 23
7 Tottenham Hotspur 18 6 4 8 32 34 −2 22
8 Oxford United (R) 18 3 3 12 24 41 −17 12 Failed to obtain a Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League
9 Aston Villa 18 3 2 13 21 40 −19 11
10 Watford (R) 18 1 1 16 8 57 −49 4 Failed to obtain a Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League
Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Millwall Lionesses had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their first game of the season against Watford.[9]

Results
Home \ Away AST BRI DON DUR LON MIL OXF SHE TOT WAT
Aston Villa — 0–1 0–4 1–3 3–3 0–2 1–0 3–4 1–1 4–0
Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 — 1–0 3–2 3–1 0–3 5–1 1–0 2–0 4–1
Doncaster Rovers Belles 6–0 4–1 — 3–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–2 3–0 3–1
Durham 3–0 4–0 1–2 — 0–0 2–1 1–1 3–2 2–1 4–0
London Bees 2–1 2–1 1–4 1–3 — 2–3 2–1 0–0 1–2 3–1
Millwall Lionesses 2–1 4–3 0–1 3–2 1–1 — 1–0 2–1 4–1 3–1
Oxford United 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–4 2–3 2–4 — 1–0 1–2 1–2
Sheffield 2–1 1–4 1–2 0–4 3–1 3–0 4–1 — 4–3 4–0
Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 0–1 1–4 6–3 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–4 — 6–0
Watford 0–3 0–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–5 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 20 May 2018. Source: FA WSL
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goalscorers
As of 20 May 2018.[7]
Rank Player Team Goals
1 Jessica Sigsworth Doncaster Rovers Belles 15
2 Melissa Johnson Sheffield F.C. Ladies 12
3 Kirsty Hanson Doncaster Rovers Belles 11
Beth Hepple Durham W.F.C.
5 Charlie Devlin Millwall Lionesses 9

See also

References
  1. "Women's Super League to switch to winter season in 2017". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. "FA Women's Super League to move to new calendar in 2017". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. Garry, Tom. "Women's Super League: WSL 2 clubs invited to apply to replace Notts County Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  4. Garry, Tom. "Women's Super League: Restructure can help make league best in world – Katie Brazier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. "New calendar for FA WSL". Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  6. "Everton have been elected to FA Women's Super League 1". Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. "PLAYER STATS". Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  8. "Top Scorers – Womens Super League – Football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  9. "Club Statement". Millwall Lionesses. The Football Association. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
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