After a decade-long wait, Manchester City have finally reclaimed the Women's Super League title—and they didn't even need to take the pitch to seal it. Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday handed City the crown with one match still to play.
The Gunners were the only team with a mathematical chance of catching City, holding three games in hand. But dropping points on the south coast ended their hopes, allowing City to celebrate before their season finale at West Ham United on May 16.
Brighton struck first just before halftime through Fuka Tsunoda, only for Frida Manuum to level for Arsenal in the 62nd minute. It was a familiar frustration for the visitors, who also fell to Brighton in the FA Cup back in April—a double blow that ultimately defined their title chase.
For City, this championship marks a triumphant first season under head coach Andree Jeglertz. Appointed as the permanent successor to Gareth Taylor in the summer of 2025 after leading Denmark at the European Championship, Jeglertz has transformed the squad into a relentless force. His side won all 11 home league matches this season—a feat last achieved by Chelsea in the 2022-23 campaign. Overall, City have won 17 of their 21 matches, setting a punishing pace that no one could match.
This title also ends Chelsea's remarkable six-year stranglehold on the WSL. The Blues had finished top in eight of the last nine seasons, but City's consistency and firepower proved too much this time around. It's just the second WSL title in City's history, following their first in 2016.
A big reason for their success? A devastating attack. City boast the league's most potent offense with 58 goals in 21 matches, led by Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw (19 goals), Vivianne Miedema (10), and Kerolin (9)—three of the WSL's top six scorers. That firepower has been the foundation of a campaign built on resilience.
After a disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them finish fourth and miss out on Champions League qualification, City resisted the urge for a major overhaul. Instead, they added smartly in January with signings like Grace Clinton, Sydney Lohmann, and Sam Coffey, blending fresh talent with a core that had already proven its quality.
Now, with 51 points already secured, City have surpassed the 50-point mark for the third time since the WSL expanded to 11 teams in 2018. A win at West Ham on the final day would see them match their all-time best tally of 55 points—a fitting finish to a season that has restored City to the summit of English women's football.