The writing has been on the wall for Leicester City Women for some time now. Nine consecutive Women's Super League defeats, just 10 goals scored all season—the numbers tell a painful story. Wednesday's 7-0 thrashing at Arsenal confirmed, with two games left to play, that Rick Passmoor's side will finish bottom of the table.
Coming just over a week after the men's team suffered relegation to League One, this is another tough blow for a club that seems to be unraveling. But here's where the story takes an unexpected turn. Instead of immediate demotion to the second tier, the Foxes have a one-off shot at redemption. They'll face a relegation play-off on Saturday, May 23, at the home of whoever finishes third in WSL 2.
Why the lifeline? The WSL is expanding from 12 to 14 teams before the 2026-27 season, creating this unique opportunity. For Passmoor and his squad, the mission is simple: win and stay up. "A double relegation would be a complete PR disaster," says BBC Radio Leicester reporter Zoe McGrady.
It's a far cry from last season, when under Amandine Miquel, Leicester achieved their WSL record points tally of 20, winning five games at King Power Stadium to finish 10th. But the summer departures of key players Yuka Momiki and academy graduate Ruby Mace—both to Everton—significantly weakened the squad. Even more damaging, just 10 days before the start of the 2025-26 season and with two years remaining on her contract, Miquel left the club.
The Foxes scrambled for a replacement, bringing in former West Ham assistant Passmoor, initially as interim and then permanently. To those in the know, he's made a positive impact with the players, but that hasn't translated to results on the pitch. "Last season under Amandine, there was a lot of disconnect between staff and players," McGrady explains. "But now, it's odd because Hannah Cain told me [in March] that it was the best mood in the dressing room she'd experienced in the five-and-a-half years she's been there."
For the players, staff, and fans, this play-off represents everything—a chance to rewrite the narrative, avoid a double relegation nightmare, and keep WSL football at the King Power Stadium. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the stage is set for a dramatic finale.