Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterManchester Citys womens team did the double last season but theres no guarantee theyll have everything their own way again this term.Andree Jeglertzs side lifted the FA Cup at the end of May, having won the Womens Super League earlier that month their first league trumph for a decade.It ended Chelseas run of six consecutive league titles, with the Blues finishing third behind Arsenal, who won the Champions League in 2025.Latest Videos FromFourFourTwoWatch full video here: New contendersAll of last seasons top three will have serious ambitions of challenging for the major honours this time around, and they could be joined by London City Lionesses.The Bromley-based club are in only their second season following promotion to the WSL, but have invested heavily in a number of big-name signings under owner Michele Kang. 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Transfer update This summer, Mary Earps, Mapi Leon and Kadidiatou Diani have joined London City Lionesses, as well as two-time Ballon dOr winner Alexia Putellas arguably the biggest signing in WSL history.Asked who she expects to be the strongest womens team in the country this season, England great Fara Williams admits the answer is not obvious.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Thats a difficult one, the TNT Sports pundit tells FFT. There have been so many signings, so many changes.Arsenal have made some real key signings, Manchester City have pretty much kept hold of their same squad Kerolin has gone to Barcelona, but theyve brought in Beth Mead.London City have heavily invested in big name players, so its whether they can mould that together in a season and be real contenders, and we cant ever rule out Chelsea, with the history of their womens team. What to read next Enzo Fernandez might be a better fit to replace Rodri than Ayyoub Bouaddi hes already got experience of the Premier League, thats a big factor Former Manchester City star gives FFT his verdict on the clubs midfield transfer conundrum Chelsea transfer business will take them back into the Champions League and it's just as well Mikel Arteta is under a very different pressure to go and win it all over again, while new managers have been installed at every other Big Six' outfit FourFourTwo's 2026-27 Arsenal season preview I think it will still be those three top teams, and London City could have a real push in trying to change that especially with City, Chelsea and Arsenal all playing Champions League football as well.London City Lionesses finished sixth in their first season in the WSL last term, but Williams thinks they can close the gap quickly after their high-profile signings, particularly Putellas.It makes a big difference, the level of the player and how that impacts the rest of the squad. she said.I think it will show quite early in the season for them. I was a part of a Liverpool team that was a brand new team when we ended up becoming back-to-back WSL champions in 2013 and 2014. It definitely can happen with the right group of players.With the experience that Arsenal and Chelsea and Manchester City have, it will be hard to break that, but top players have signed, experienced signings. Mary Earps is massive for them in goal.I think their intention will be to challenge this season. Last year was about bringing in players of experience to keep them in the league, because teams that come up tend to go back down.It was about establishing themselves in the WSL, which they did quite convincingly. Then adding to that, the names that have come in this summer, the experience within that team now.Theres no doubt that among them and the owners, theyll be expecting to be pushing for that title this year."They have to spend the money"While London City Lionesses have provided an intriguing new storyline to the womens game in England, it's true that historically, clubs that have made progress by spending large amounts of money havent always been widely popular across the country.Williams, though, says London City Lionesses have no choice but to take that approach if theyre to break into the elite.They have to they have to buy the biggest names in order to create a fanbase, because theyre a new team, she said.Theyre not affiliated with a mens team, they havent been established long enough for women's fans to be a part of their fanbase. In the women's game, what tends to happen is that fans follow individual players around.What better player to bring in than one of the world's best in Alexia Putellas, and try to bring that fanbase? Draw fans in that want to get a sighting of her live.They have to spend the money. In order to compete nowadays, whether it be the mens or women's game, its those who are prepared to put their hands in their pocket and bring in the very best who are the ones who seem to be successful.With the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Emirates FA Cup and Womens FA Cup ALL in one place. Theres levels to this. TNT Sports.TOPICSAlexia PutellasManchester CityArsenalChelseaWomen's FA CupWomen's Super LeagueChris FlanaganSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff WriterChris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from more than 20 countries, in places as varied as Ivory Coast and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, AFCON and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.
