The Women's Super League returns tonight as reigning champions Chelsea welcome Manchester City to Stamford Bridge for a heavyweight opening showdown.
There's a significant tweak this season as the division prepares to expand from 12 to 14 teams in the 2026/27 campaign. Whoever finishes bottom will head for a relegation play-off against the third-placed side in the WSL 2, which offers automatic promotions for the top two this season.
Previously, it was a one-up, one-down scenario, so it makes for a fascinating promotion race in an increasingly competitive second tier.
The arrival of London City Lionesses to the top flight is another interesting sub-plot.
The only side in the WSL not affiliated to a men's club - they broke away from Milwall in 2019 - is owned by American billionaire Michele Kang, who bought the Lionesses in December 2023. Kang's Kynisca women's sport organisation already had Washington Spirit and Lyon's women's teams in their portfolio. They are seriously ambitious.
In June, London City Lionesses purchased a 28-acre Kent training ground, and they have brought in 16 new players over the summer, including PSG midfielder Grace Geyoro for a world record £1.4m.
Perhaps it's a canary in the coal mine that such a progressive force has no Irish players on the books. It's not that long ago that the club was home to a few Girls in Green.
Overall, just 10 Irishwomen will fly the flag in England's top division, three of them goalkeepers.
Katie McCabe remains our biggest star and will be central to Arsenal's hopes of mounting a serious title challenge while also defending the Champions League they captured in Lisbon back in May. McCabe missed the Republic of Ireland's summer friendlies in America, taking an extended break after a gruelling club campaign. She'll get a close-up look at the Lionesses on Saturday when they come to the Emirates.
Anna Patten, a seasoned centre-half at the top level, penned a fresh deal with Aston Villa in July that keeps her at the club until June 2028. Patten, 26, has been in the English midlands for the last five years and is closing on 100 appearances for the Villans, who begin their season with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Her occasional partner at the heart of the Republic of Ireland defence, Caitlin Hayes, will hope to nail down a starting spot at the Seagulls, having been in and out of the side since she her switch from Celtic last January.
Leanne Kiernan will also target a bigger role in Liverpool's fortunes under new boss Gareth Taylor but the Cavan native was given a real confidence boost when the Reds offered her a new contract last month.
Liverpool kick off with a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Everton, for whom Courtney Brosnan will likely be between the posts. The 29-year-old won her 50th cap for the Girls in Green against the USA in June.
Heather Payne departed the Toffees in June and later joined Leicester City, who finished 10th last season. The Foxes also swooped for Katie Keane, who continues to mature into a highly-promising keeper having first broken through at Athlone Town and continued her development at Shamrock Rovers. Still only 18, she is one of Ireland's brightest prospects.
That mantle previously belonged to Tara O'Hanlon, who's heading into an enormously important year. It's incredible to think O'Hanlon, 20, hasn't played a single competitive game for Manchester City since she moved there from Peamount United in February 2024.
Knee and hamstring injuries have stalled her career, but O'Hanlon is contracted until the summer of 2027 and was part of City's recent pre-season camp in Spain. Her ability is obvious; O'Hanlon now needs minutes to get back on track, and will hope to do that at Sunderland, where she's gone on loan until December.
Eve O'Carroll was also in Spain with City. The Ireland underage midfielder has been on the fringes of the first team for a while - still just 18, she's another talent Ireland boss Carla Ward will be keeping a close eye on.
Jess Ziu is a Robin. ✅ pic.twitter.com/U4q7ly85Zq
— Bristol City Women (@bristolcitywfc) August 29, 2025
Jess Ziu and Jessie Stapleton are on the books at West Ham but they'll both play in WSL2 this season after heading out on loan.
Ex-Shels player Ziu has has gone to Bristol City after rehabbing a second ACL injury, while the versatile Stapleton - who penned a new two-year deal with the Hammers in July - will spend the year at Nottingham Forest. There will be a familiar face there to greet Ziu: Chloe Mustaki. She was excellent for the Girls in Green in those two tough US friendlies in early summer, heading to Forest after ending her three-year spell at Bristol City.
Keeper Megan Walsh also agreed a fresh two-year contract with West Ham in the summer and will continue to act as back-up to Kinga Szemik.
There has been plenty of movement elsewhere, with strong Irish representation in the WSL 2.
Sunderland have a quartet of Ireland internationals on the books now (five with O'Hanlon) after Izzy Atkinson, Jamie Finn and keeper Grace Moloney joined Marissa Sheva at the Black Cats. Atkinson needed a fresh start following a frustrating spell at Crystal Palace, while Finn has departed Birmingham City in need of games having recovered from an ACL injury. Moloney was a free agent.
Aoife Mannion's time at Manchester United came to an end with a transfer to Newcastle United, where compatriot Emily Murphy has shone since heading to Tyneside last January. The Magpies were fifth last season; they'll be pushing to nab one of the promotion places on offer this time around.
There's a new adventure too for Megan Campbell. She has been appointed assistant coach at Bolton Wanderers, who play in the fifth tier of the English game. Campbell will double up her Bolton job with playing commitments elsewhere as she tries to stay in the Ireland frame.
It was a tough year for Tyler Toland and Blackburn Rovers, who withdrew from the WSL2 in May because the club could not meet the league's requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing. Toland - who was the side's captain - has gone to Durham, which looks like a good move. Durham finished fourth in the second tier last season.
Meanwhile ex-Peamount forward Erin McLaughlin is preparing for an unexpected reunion with old rivals. The Donegal native has switched from Portsmouth to Glasgow City, who have been pitted against Athlone Town in the Europa Cup, UEFA's newly formed secondary competition.
That Celtic derby will be a fascinating affair, as McLaughlin and fellow Ireland international Emily Whelan look to avoid what would be a shock loss to the League of Ireland champions.
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