By OkayGoal 
As the calendar turns to late January 2026, the Barclays Women’s Super League is moving from the question of “who looks good” to “who can survive.” Manchester City has emerged as the team to beat, while the traditional “Big Three” hierarchy is being challenged by a mid-table that refuses to stay in its lane.
Here is a WSL 2026 midway check-in across the Atlantic as we head into the final stretch of the season.
Manchester City has firmly established themselves as the league’s dominant club, currently sitting nine points at the summit of the table. Their relentless play has seen them string together a 12-match winning streak, leading to their league dominance.
Their season continues to be led by Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, who leads the Golden Boot race with 13 goals. Her late-game heroics, most recently against London City Lionesses, have become the hallmark of City’s campaign. Behind her, Vivianne Miedema and her creative partnership with Kerolin has given City an edge that even Chelsea has struggled to contain.
For defending champions Chelsea, the 2025/26 campaign has hit a rough patch. Manager Sonia Bompastor recently conceded that “we know the title race is probably gone, but our mentality is to fight until the very end,” following a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Despite the addition of former NWSL’s Alyssa Thompson as a dynamic force on the wing and Hannah Hampton’s league-leading clean sheet count, the Blues are now playing catch-up.
For Arsenal, the recent “London Derby” win, helped by goals from Beth Mead and Mariona Caldentey, has pulled the Gunners within a point of Chelsea and marking their first away against Chelsea in over seven years. While injuries have tested the team, Emily Fox’s defensive strength has kept them in the running for a Champions League spot.
The January 2026 window has seen led to some big shocks, including from London City Lionesses, who signed French superstar Delphine Cascarino.
Elsewhere, the league continues to look toward Scandinavia for talent. Tottenham recently brought on Norway’s Signe Gaupset and Sweden’s Hanna Wijk. Not to be outdone, Leicester City also secured a “homecoming” for Alisha Lehmann, whose return to England after her time in Italy has provided an immediate boost for the Foxes.
Liverpool, who spent much of the first half of the season in the bottom, clawed its way back up with a stoppage-time victory over Tottenham, led by Mia Enderby.
This has left Everton and West Ham in a precarious position, with only a handful of points separating them from the bottom. What do you think about the WSL 2026 midway check-in? Who will be at the bottom? Who will take the title? It remains to be seen.