The complete guide to the 2021/22 season
Chelsea will begin their defense of the Super League title for women with a trip to Arsenal on the first day of the 2021/22 season.
Emma Hayes’ side want to defend their crown after a hotly contested title race with Manchester City last season and follow up their tough match against the Gunners with a home match against Everton and a trip to Manchester United – which is about to appoint Marc Skinner as its new boss.
Elsewhere. City trips to Everton on opening day – which will be postponed to September 3-5 due to a new TV broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and BBC Sport – while newcomers Leicester travel to Aston Villa. Brighton host Manchester City, United open against Reading and Tottenham entertain Birmingham to round off the opening weekend.
When it comes to derbies, Manchester City and United only lock the horns on October 8-10, while Tottenham and Arsenal will fight a month later.
Chelsea’s first clash with City – which took them to the thread last season – takes place on the same day as the derby in north London, where the two will meet again in early February.
Emma Hayes’ profile has increased in recent months / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / Getty Images
Here is confirmation of these games and all other WSL matches for the coming season.
* Start times are currently scheduled for 2pm but are subject to change.
Gameweek 1: 3-5 September
Arsenal vs ChelseaAston Villa vs LeicesterBrighton vs West HamEverton vs Manchester CityManchester United vs ReadingTottenham vs Birmingham
Gameweek 2: September 10-12
Birmingham vs BrightonChelsea vs EvertonLeicester vs Manchester UnitedManchester City vs TottenhamReading against ArsenalWest Ham vs Aston Villa
Gameweek 3: September 24-26
Arsenal vs Manchester CityBrighton vs Aston VillaEverton vs BirminghamManchester United vs ChelseaTottenham vs ReadingWest Ham vs Leicester
Gameweek 4: October 1-3
Aston Villa vs ArsenalBirmingham vs Manchester UnitedChelsea vs BrightonLeicester vs TottenhamManchester City vs West HamReading vs Everton
Gameweek 5: October 8-10
Arsenal vs EvertonBrighton vs TottenhamChelsea vs LeicesterManchester United vs Manchester CityReading against Aston VillaWest Ham vs Birmingham
Gameweek 6: November 5-7
Arsenal vs West HamAston Villa vs ChelseaBirmingham vs ReadingEverton vs BrightonLeicester vs Manchester CityTottenham vs Manchester United
2021-22 # BarclaysFAWSL season. Coming to your screens soon …?
September 3-5. ???? ??. pic.twitter.com/DsEjp4MfpV
– Barclays FA Super League for Women (@BarclaysFAWSL) July 23, 2021 Gameweek 7: November 12-14
Birmingham vs Aston VillaBrighton vs LeicesterEverton vs Manchester UnitedManchester City vs ChelseaTottenham vs ArsenalWest Ham vs Reading
Gameweek 8: November 19-21
Chelsea vs BirminghamLeicester vs EvertonManchester City vs Aston VillaManchester United vs ArsenalReading vs BrightonWest Ham vs Tottenham
Gameweek 9: December 10-12
Arsenal vs LeicesterAston Villa vs TottenhamBirmingham vs Manchester CityBrighton vs Manchester UnitedEverton vs West HamReading vs Chelsea
Gameweek 10: December 17-19
Arsenal vs BrightonChelsea vs West HamLeicester vs BirminghamManchester City vs ReadingManchester United vs Aston VillaTottenham vs Everton
Gameweek 11: 7-9 January
Aston Villa vs EvertonBirmingham vs ArsenalBrighton vs Manchester CityChelsea vs TottenhamReading against LeicesterWest Ham vs Manchester United
Gameweek 12: 14-16 January
Arsenal vs ReadingAston Villa vs Manchester CityEverton vs ChelseaLeicester vs BrightonManchester United vs BirminghamTottenham vs West Ham
Vivianne Miedema is Arsenal’s leading light forward / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Gameweek 13: 21-23 January
Brighton vs ChelseaLeicester vs Aston VillaManchester City vs ArsenalManchester United vs TottenhamReading against BirminghamWest Ham vs Everton
Gameweek 14: February 4-6
Arsenal vs Manchester UnitedAston Villa vs West HamBirmingham vs LeicesterChelsea vs Manchester CityEverton vs ReadingTottenham vs Brighton
Gameweek 15: 11-13 February
Birmingham vs TottenhamBrighton vs ReadingChelsea vs ArsenalEverton vs Aston VillaLeicester vs West HamManchester City vs Manchester United
Gameweek 16: March 4-6
Arsenal vs BirminghamAston Villa vs BrightonManchester City vs EvertonManchester United vs LeicesterReading against TottenhamWest Ham vs Chelsea
Gameweek 17: 11-13 March
Birmingham vs West HamBrighton vs ArsenalChelsea vs Aston VillaEverton vs LeicesterReading against Manchester UnitedTottenham vs Manchester City
Gameweek 18: 25-27 March
Arsenal vs TottenhamAston Villa vs ReadingLeicester vs ChelseaManchester City vs BirminghamManchester United vs EvertonWest Ham vs Brighton
Steph Houghton captains Manchester City again for the 2021/22 season / Charlotte Tattersall / Getty Images
Gameweek 19: 1-3 April
Birmingham vs EvertonChelsea vs ReadingLeicester vs ArsenalManchester United vs BrightonTottenham vs Aston VillaWest Ham vs Manchester City
Gameweek 20: 22-24 April
Aston Villa vs Manchester UnitedBrighton vs BirminghamEverton vs ArsenalManchester City vs LeicesterReading vs West HamTottenham vs Chelsea
Gameweek 21: 29 April – 1 May
Arsenal vs Aston VillaBirmingham vs ChelseaEverton vs TottenhamLeicester vs ReadingManchester City vs BrightonManchester United vs West Ham
Gameweek 22: 8 May
Aston Villa vs BirminghamBrighton vs EvertonChelsea vs Manchester UnitedReading vs Manchester CityTottenham vs LeicesterWest Ham vs Arsenal
For more by Toby Cudworth, follow him on Twitter!