Back To The Top: Birmingham City and Crystal Palace Promoted

The 2025-26 WSL 2 season dramatically wrapped up last weekend, and for Birmingham City and Crystal Palace, the finish line was worth the wait. Both clubs have officially secured their spots in the Women’s Super League for next season, joining an expanded 14-team league.

But while the champagne is already flowing in the Midlands and South London, the promotion race isn't quite finished yet. With the league growing, there is still one spot left in the table. A spot that will be decided by a high-stakes playoff between Leicester City, who finished 12th in the WSL, and Charlton Athletic that came so close to the automatic spot, but finished in 3rd in the WSL2.

Birmingham City: Back Where They Belong

For Birmingham, this isn't just about moving up a division, but more so about being back where they belong. If you’ve followed the WSL since it was formed, back in 2011, then you know Birmingham were founding members of the league. With an impressive introduction to top tier football, Birmingham City finished 2nd in the inaugural season, carrying the longest unbeaten run of 10 games. A team that once boasted names like Rachel Yankey and Alex Scott, brought Champions League football to the Midlands, and lifted the FA Cup in 2012. 

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The fall from that height was a slow deterioration in form and funding, and the departure of now-Manchester United manager Marc Skinner in 2019 marked a turning point, followed by exits of key talent like Ellen White, Hayley Ladd, and Aoife Mannion. All of which ended in relegation in 2021. After the heartbreak of missing out on promotion back up to the WSL last season, after losing to winners London City Lionesses on the final day of the season, there was a real sense of now or never this year. They clinched the title by beating their title rivals Charlton on the final day, making it the second year in a row the top two have faced off with everything on the line, but this time, the Blues made sure history didn't repeat itself.

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The current Birmingham City players to watch out for include Wilma Leidhammar, who showed up when it mattered most with two goals in that final game, while Veatriki Sarri has been the creative engine in midfield all season. Defensively, Neve Herron and Lucy Thomas are very strong, proving that while goals win games, clean sheets are also key to success. Their return also means the introduction of another historic football derby - the Second City derby - against Aston Villa, which is a massive win for the fans and the league’s intensity.

Crystal Palace: The Bounce-Back

Crystal Palace’s journey is more of a modern rise. Whilst they don’t have the depth of WSL history that Birmingham City have, they make up for in ambition. They represent the new era of the women’s game; the club strategically moved from semi-professional in 2018, to fully professional in 2023, in a way that felt sustainable.

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They had a taste of the WSL in the 2024-25 season, but it was a short-lived stay that ended in relegation. However, their in form season run, solidified by their 6-1 win over Portsmouth on the final day was exactly what they needed to guarantee promotion back to the top league.

Crystal Palace also beat play-off competitors and current WSL team, Leicester City, earlier this season in the Subway League Cup, in a shocking 3-0 win, proving that Palace are ready to compete in top flight football. 

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Palace has also become a hub for developing young players, a go-to destination for top team academy players looking to break into professional football. Take a look at Chelsea’s Lola Brown, who came on at half time over the weekend to rack up 3 assists in just 45 minutes. However, experience is just as important as potential, and Palace have done well to secure players like Hayley Ladd and Ruesha Littlejohn to their squads to add depth and experience that they perhaps lacked last time round. 

Key players this season include Elise Hughes, Annabel Blanchard, and Molly-Mae Sharpe, who have been relentless in front of goal. They’ve already shown they can hang with top-flight teams, so this looks like a promising re-entry to the WSL for Palace. 

A New Look WSL

The expansion to 14 teams is a massive milestone for the women’s game. It’s a sign that the demand for high level women’s football is there, with everyone wanting to compete for a spot. The league is about to get just that bit more competitive, and it also gives more teams the opportunity to compete in the WSL2.  

We still have to see who wins that final playoff spot, but the shape of next season is already looking like the most competitive we’ve ever seen. The WSL is getting bigger, and the standard is only going up.