New Season, New Battles, WSL Season Is Back!
The 2025–26 Women’s Super League (WSL) season kicks off this weekend with an exciting opening clash at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal Women will face newly promoted London City Lionesses on Saturday, September 6.
This highly anticipated match marks the beginning of a campaign full of ambition for the Gunners, who are aiming to end Chelsea’s domestic dominance—and they’ve made their intent clear with the record signing Canadian forward Olivia Smith.
Saturday’s matchup pits Arsenal, reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, against London City Lionesses, a club making its WSL debut with major ambitions of its own.
Backed by billionaire owner Michele Kang, the Lionesses enter the top flight as the only fully independent club in the league, and they’ve built a roster of WSL veterans including Nikita Parris, Katie Zelem, and Danielle van de Donk (The Sun).
Arsenal will be buoyed by their home support at the Emirates, where the club continues to set attendance records in women’s football. With over 60,000 tickets sold for multiple fixtures last season, the Gunners are hoping to replicate that electric atmosphere again this weekend.
All eyes will be on Olivia Smith, the 20-year-old Canadian international who made headlines this summer by joining Arsenal from Liverpool for a world-record transfer fee of £1 million—the most ever paid (at the time) in women’s football (Sky Sports).
“It’s my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and in Europe,” said Smith. “The atmosphere the supporters create at Emirates Stadium is incredible and I can’t wait to have that behind me now.” (Evening Standard)
While Arsenal celebrated continental success last season by lifting the Champions League trophy, they fell short domestically, watching Chelsea secure their sixth consecutive WSL title.
This year, the Gunners are determined to knock Chelsea off their perch and reclaim the domestic crown for the first time since 2019.
With the additions of Smith and key official signings of Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds, Arsenal now possesses one of the deepest squads in the league and look well-positioned to challenge on all fronts.
New Season, New Era for the WSL
The 2025–26 season also marks a new era for the league, with minimum salaries introduced across the WSL and WSL2 in a historic move for player welfare (The Guardian). Players without sponsorships will also benefit from Nike’s extended deal, which provides free boots, gloves, and match balls (The Guardian).
These changes continue to professionalise the women’s game and provide an even playing field, especially for promoted clubs like the Lionesses.
Back to Arsenal, and with marquee signing Olivia Smith, a packed Emirates Stadium, and silverware in their sights, Arsenal Women enter the new WSL season with confidence and clarity of purpose – Whether they can dethrone Chelsea and become champions of England once again remains to be seen, but the journey starts now.