The 2013 FA WSL was the third season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 14 April and ended on 29 September.
Arsenal were the defending champions, having won their ninth consecutive English title last season. The top two teams qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Women's Champions League.
The season was the last before the creation of a second division of the WSL. All teams had to reapply for a place in WSL 1 in the next season. Doncaster Belles were the only current WSL team not granted a WSL 1 place, thus they played in the WSL 2 the following season. This decision had already been taken before Doncaster finished the season bottom of the WSL with the lowest points tally, as no relegation to the WSL 2 based on points was scheduled until the WSL 2 had completed its inaugural season to produce a corresponding promotion team. The reason for Doncaster's relegation from WSL 1 was a failed reapplication based on financial criteria, which is an aspect of the WSL the FA monitors very closely since it funds the participating teams and the teams must regularly prove they can match the FA funding. The Belles' place in the top flight the following season was taken by the Manchester City Ladies team from the FA Women's Premier League National Division, but now re-branded as Manchester City Women. Likewise, Lincoln retained their place in WSL 1 but relocated and re-branded as Notts County Ladies for the following season.
Teams The same teams as last season returned, as there was no relegation system in place.
Liverpool, who finished bottom in 2011 and 2012, relocated from Skelmersdale to the Halton Stadium in Widnes prior to the 2013 season as part of an ambitious programme of investment. Lincoln left Ashby Avenue to return full-time to Sincil Bank.
Team Location Ground 2012 WSL finish Arsenal Borehamwood Meadow Park 1st Birmingham City Stratford-upon-Avon The DCS Stadium 2nd Bristol Academy Filton Stoke Gifford Stadium 4th Chelsea Staines Wheatsheaf Park 6th Doncaster Rovers Belles Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium 7th Everton Crosby The Arriva Stadium 3rd Lincoln Lincoln Sincil Bank 5th Liverpool Widnes Halton Stadium 8th
League table
Results
Top scorers RankScorerClubGoals 1Natasha DowieLiverpool132Nicole RolserLiverpool103Natalia PablosBristol Academy94Louise ForsLiverpool75Danielle CarterArsenal6Jordan NobbsArsenal6Nikita ParrisEverton6Toni DugganEverton6Sofia JakobssonChelsea6Eniola AlukoChelsea6
References
External links Official website Season on soccerway.com