2020–21 FA WSL

The 2020–21 FA WSL season (also known as the Barclays FA Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons) is the tenth edition of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010.[1] It is the third season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football.

FA WSL
Season2020–21
Matches played76
Goals scored262 (3.45 per match)
Top goalscorerVivianne Miedema (12 goals)
Biggest home winChelsea 9–0 Bristol City
(13 September 2020)
Biggest away winWest Ham United 1–9 Arsenal
(12 September 2020)
Highest scoringWest Ham United 1–9 Arsenal
(12 September 2020)
Longest winning run6 matches
Chelsea
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Chelsea
Longest winless run11 matches
Bristol City
Longest losing run5 matches
Bristol City
All statistics correct as of 7 February 2021.

From the 2020–21 season, the FA WSL is given three Champions League places per season, increased from the previous two.[2]

Teams

Twelve teams contest the FA WSL this season. At the end of the previous season, Liverpool were relegated while Aston Villa were promoted.[3]

Locations of the 2020–21 FA WSL teams
TeamLocationGroundCapacity2019–20 season
ArsenalBorehamwoodMeadow Park4,5023rd
Aston VillaWalsallBescot Stadium11,000WC, 1st
Birmingham CitySolihullDamson Park3,05011th
Brighton & Hove AlbionCrawleyBroadfield Stadium6,1349th
Bristol CityBathTwerton Park3,52810th
ChelseaKingston upon ThamesKingsmeadow4,8501st
EvertonLiverpoolWalton Hall Park2,2006th
Manchester CityManchesterAcademy Stadium7,0002nd
Manchester UnitedManchesterLeigh Sports Village12,0004th
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,1615th
Tottenham HotspurCanons ParkThe Hive Stadium6,5007th
West Ham UnitedDagenhamVictoria Road6,0788th

Stadium changes

Four teams changed home ground prior to the start of the season: Reading relocated from Adams Park in High Wycombe to the Madejski Stadium, home of the team's male affiliate since it was constructed in 1998.[4] Newly-promoted Aston Villa signed a two-year deal with Walsall to play their home games at Bescot Stadium, moving from the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground[5] and West Ham United signed a one-year deal with Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. to play at Victoria Road for the season having previously played at the club's Rush Green training ground stadium.[6] In a bid to enable increased attendances amid COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing measures, Bristol City announced they were moving from the 1,500 capacity Stoke Gifford Stadium in Filton which had been purpose-built by the club in 2011 ahead of the first WSL season, to Twerton Park, an 3,528 capacity stadium home to Bath City.[7][8]

Personnel and kits
As of 25 January 2021
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Arsenal Joe Montemurro Kim Little Adidas Fly Emirates
Aston Villa Marcus Bignot (interim) Marisa Ewers Kappa Cazoo
Birmingham City Carla Ward Christie Murray Nike Maple from Canada
Brighton & Hove Albion Hope Powell Danielle Buet Nike American Express
Bristol City Matt Beard (maternity cover) Jasmine Matthews Hummel Yeo Valley
Chelsea Emma Hayes Magdalena Eriksson Nike Three
Everton Willie Kirk Lucy Graham Hummel MegaFon
Manchester City Gareth Taylor Steph Houghton Puma Etihad Airways
Manchester United Casey Stoney Katie Zelem Adidas Chevrolet
Reading Kelly Chambers Natasha Harding Macron YLD
Tottenham Hotspur Rehanne Skinner Josie Green Nike AIA
West Ham United Olli Harder Gilly Flaherty Umbro Betway

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Manchester City Alan Mahon (interim) End of interim period 2 February 2020 Pre-season Gareth Taylor 28 May 2020[9]
Birmingham City Charlie Baxter (interim) End of interim period 3 March 2020 Carla Ward 13 August 2020[10]
West Ham United Matt Beard Mutual consent[11] 19 November 2020 9th Billy Stewart (interim) 19 November 2020
Tottenham Hotspur Karen Hills
Juan Carlos Amoros		 Sacked[12] 19 November 2020 11th Rehanne Skinner 19 November 2020[13]
West Ham United Billy Stewart (interim) End of interim period 23 December 2020 10th Olli Harder 23 December 2020[14]
Bristol City Tanya Oxtoby Maternity leave 15 January 2021 12th Matt Beard (interim) 15 January 2021[15]
Aston Villa Gemma Davies Retained head coach role 25 January 2021 11th Marcus Bignot (interim) 25 January 2021[16]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chelsea 13 10 2 1 39 8 +31 32 Qualification for the Champions League second round
2 Manchester United 14 10 2 2 32 13 +19 32
3 Manchester City 13 9 3 1 43 11 +32 30 Qualification for the Champions League first round
4 Arsenal 12 7 2 3 40 11 +29 23
5 Everton 12 5 3 4 22 18 +4 18
6 Reading 14 4 6 4 18 23 −5 18
7 Tottenham Hotspur 12 3 3 6 13 23 −10 12
8 Brighton & Hove Albion 14 3 3 8 10 30 −20 12
9 Birmingham City 11 3 2 6 10 16 −6 11
10 Aston Villa 12 3 1 8 11 30 −19 10
11 West Ham United 12 2 2 8 14 29 −15 8
12 Bristol City 13 1 3 9 10 50 −40 6 Relegation to the Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2021. Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Results
Home \ Away ARS ASV BIR BHA BRI CHE EVE MCI MNU REA TOT WHU
Arsenal — 3–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 6–1 6–1
Aston Villa 1–0 — 0–1 0–4 0–6 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–0
Birmingham City — 0–0 0–1 2–5 1–2
Brighton & Hove Albion 0–5 0–2 2–0 — 0–1 1–7 1–3
Bristol City 0–4 0–4 3–0 — 0–4 2–2 0–4
Chelsea 1–2 9–0 — 4–0 3–1 2–1 4–0 3–2
Everton 1–1 2–2 4–0 — 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–1
Manchester City 2–1 7–0 0–0 8–1 — a 4–1 4–0
Manchester United 1–0 2–0 3–0 6–1 1–1 2–2 — 0–2
Reading 1–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–2 —
Tottenham Hotspur a 3–1 3–1 a 0–1 1–1 — 1–1
West Ham United 1–9 0–1 1–1 2–4 0–1 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2021. Source: The FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 7 February 2021
Rank Player Club Goals[17]
1 Vivianne Miedema Arsenal 12
2 Sam Kerr Chelsea 10
3 Fran Kirby Chelsea 8
Ellen White Manchester City
5 Jill Roord Arsenal 7
Caitlin Foord Arsenal
7 Leah Galton Manchester United 6
Chloe Kelly Manchester City
Ella Toone Manchester United
10 Ebony Salmon Bristol City 5
Claudia Walker Birmingham City
Georgia Stanway Manchester City

Top assists
As of 7 February 2021
Rank Player Club Assists[18]
1 Chloe Kelly Manchester City 9
2 Katie McCabe Arsenal 7
3 Beth Mead Arsenal 6
4 Caitlin Foord Arsenal 5
5 Lucy Bronze Manchester City 4
Izzy Christiansen Everton
Fran Kirby Chelsea
Hayley Ladd Manchester United
Emma Mitchell Reading
Jordan Nobbs Arsenal

Clean sheets
As of 7 February 2021
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Ann-Katrin Berger Chelsea 6
Mary Earps Manchester United
3 Hannah Hampton Birmingham City 4
Sandy MacIver Everton
Ellie Roebuck Manchester City
6 Lisa Weiß Aston Villa 3
7 Cecilie Fiskerstrand Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Grace Moloney Reading
Megan Walsh Brighton & Hove Albion
Lydia Williams Arsenal

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
September Hope Powell Brighton & Hove Albion Jill Roord Arsenal [19]
October Carla Ward Birmingham City Vivianne Miedema Arsenal [20]
November Casey Stoney Manchester United Tobin Heath Manchester United [21]
December Casey Stoney Manchester United Leah Galton Manchester United [22]

See also

References
  1. "The History of Women's Football". Football Association. The Football Association. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  2. "Women's Super League to get extra Champions League spot from 2021". The Guardian. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. Wrack, Suzanne (5 June 2020). "Chelsea handed Women's Super League title on points-per-game basis". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. "Reading Women: Top-flight side to move to Madejski Stadium". BBC Sport. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  5. "Villa Women to play at Walsall FC from 2020/21 season". Aston Villa. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. "West Ham United women's team reveal new matchday home". www.whufc.com. West Ham United. 29 July 2020.
  7. Leighton, Tony (25 April 2010). "Bristol Academy builds Britain's first women's stadium". the Guardian.
  8. "New home for City Women". Bristol City. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  9. "Manchester City Women appoint Gareth Taylor as manager". The Guardian. 28 May 2020.
  10. "Carla Ward appointed Women's Head Coach". Birmingham City Football Club.
  11. Wrack, Suzanne (19 November 2020). "West Ham undertake WSL reshuffle as manager Matt Beard leaves". The Guardian.
  12. "Karen Hills and Juan Amoros leave Club". Tottenham Hotspur.
  13. "Rehanne Skinner appointed new Tottenham Hotspur Women Head Coach". Tottenham Hotspur.
  14. "WSL side West Ham appoint Harder as boss". BBC Sport.
  15. "Beard in temporary charge as Oxtoby cover". Bristol City.
  16. "Marcus Bignot joins Aston Villa Women as Interim Manager". Aston Villa Football Club.
  17. "The FA Women's Super League Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  18. "The FA Women's Super League Top Scorers - Top Assists". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  19. Stenning, Adam (9 October 2020). "Albion head coach wins manager of the month award". The Argus.
  20. Ambrose, Lewis (9 November 2020). "FA WSL reveal Player and Manager of the Month for October". OneFootball.
  21. Carney, Sam (11 December 2020). "Casey Stoney and Tobin Heath win WSL awards for November". www.manutd.com. Manchester United.
  22. Dunn, Carrie (15 January 2021). "Galton and Stoney pick up December WSL awards". Manchester Evening News.
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