The 2019–20 FA WSL season (also known as the Barclays FA Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth edition of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010. It was the second season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football and the twelve teams contesting the season was the greatest number in the league's history to date, following a steady increase from the original eight. It is the first under the new Barclays title sponsorship following a landmark multi-million pound investment.
On 13 March 2020, in line with the FA's response to the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced the season was initially suspended until at least 3 April 2020. After further postponements, the season was ultimately ended prematurely on 25 May 2020 with immediate effect. On 5 June 2020, Chelsea were named as champions, moving them up one place ahead of Manchester City on sporting merit after The FA Board's decision to award places on a points-per-game basis. Manchester City were awarded the second Champions League place and Liverpool were relegated using the same method.
This result also confirmed the two teams for the 2020 Women's Community Shield. However, Manchester City were allowed to enter as the current holders of the Women's FA Cup (the 2020 final didn't happen until October) rather than the league runners up.
Teams After the WSL's restructure going into the 2018–19 season, membership of the league returned solely to performance in the previous season, though the league expanded from eleven teams to twelve as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were both promoted after finishing first and second respectively in the Championship during the 2018–19 season, while only Yeovil Town were relegated.
Team Location Ground Capacity 2018–19 season Arsenal Borehamwood Meadow Park 4,502 Birmingham City Solihull Damson Park 3,050 Brighton & Hove Albion Crawley Broadfield StadiumMatch v Birmingham City moved to Falmer Stadium 6,134 Bristol City Filton Stoke Gifford StadiumOpening weekend match v Brighton & Hove Albion held at Ashton Gate 1,500 Chelsea Kingston upon Thames KingsmeadowMatch v Tottenham Hotspur held at Stamford Bridge 4,850 Everton Liverpool Walton Hall ParkOpening six home fixtures played at Haig Avenue 2,200 Liverpool Birkenhead Prenton ParkMerseyside derby held at Anfield 16,587 Manchester City Manchester Academy StadiumManchester derby held at City of Manchester Stadium 7,000 Manchester United Leigh Leigh Sports Village 12,000 Reading High Wycombe Adams ParkMatch v Bristol City moved to Madjeski Stadium 9,617 Tottenham Hotspur Canons Park The Hive StadiumNorth London derby held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 6,500 West Ham United Romford Rush Green StadiumMatch v Tottenham Hotspur moved to London Stadium 3,000
Stadium changes In response to the record viewing figures during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, three select fixtures were initially moved to Premier League grounds: The Manchester derby at the City of Manchester Stadium, Chelsea v Tottenham at Stamford Bridge and the North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In total, eight of the twelve teams have moved FA WSL fixtures to the larger grounds of their men's affiliate teams: Bristol City later announced their opening game would be played at Ashton Gate, Reading moved one of their league fixtures (as well as all three League Cup games) to the Madjeski Stadium and West Ham announced they would host Spurs at the London Stadium. Brighton & Hove Albion moved their match against Birmingham to the Falmer Stadium to coincide with the FA's Women's Football Weekend, held during a men's international break. Liverpool later moved their Merseyside derby, held on the same weekend, to Anfield and Everton scheduled the reverse fixture in February at Goodison Park (the match was ultimately left unplayed when the season was suspended and then cancelled).
After originally planning to permanently relocate to their new Walton Hall Park stadium in October 2019 following their opening two home games, delays meant Everton had to postpone the move until February 2020 and eventually scheduled six of their 11 home league games at Haig Avenue in Southport.
Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorArsenal AdidasFly EmiratesBirmingham City (interim) AdidasMaple from CanadaBrighton & Hove Albion NikeAmerican ExpressBristol City Bristol SportYeo ValleyChelsea NikeYokohama TyresEverton UmbroSportPesaLiverpool New BalanceBetVictorManchester City (interim) PumaEtihad AirwaysManchester United AdidasChevroletReading Kelly Chambers MacronYLDTottenham Hotspur Karen Hills Juan Carlos Amorós NikeAIAWest Ham United UmbroBetway
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentManchester City Signed with New York City FC2 February 20201st (interim)3 February 2020Birmingham City Mutual separation3 March 202011th (interim)3 March 2020
League table
Results
Season statistics
Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Vivianne MiedemaArsenal162 Bethany EnglandChelsea143 Pauline BremerManchester City104 Chloe KellyEverton95 Lauren JamesManchester United6 Ji So-YunChelsea Ellen WhiteManchester City8 Daniëlle van de DonkArsenal5 Rachel FurnessLiverpool Lauren HempManchester City Adriana LeonWest Ham United Kim LittleArsenal Jordan NobbsArsenal Guro ReitenChelsea Ebony SalmonBristol City Aileen WhelanBrighton & Hove Albion Fara WilliamsReading Katie ZelemManchester United
Clean sheets
RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Ellie RoebuckManchester City102 Manuela ZinsbergerArsenal63 Mary EarpsManchester United54 Ann-Katrin BergerChelsea4 Tinja-Riikka KorpelaEverton Becky SpencerTottenham Hotspur Megan WalshBrighton & Hove Albion8 Sophie BaggaleyBristol City39 Hannah HamptonBirmingham City2 Rachael LawsReading Pauline Peyraud-MagninArsenal Carly TelfordChelsea
Records The match between Arsenal and Bristol City on 1 December 2019 ended 11–1, setting a new WSL record scoreline, surpassing the 9–0 win of Liverpool Ladies over Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2013.
Awards
Monthly awards MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthRef.ManagerClubPlayerClubSeptember Karen Hills Juan AmorósTottenham Hotspur Chloe KellyEvertonOctober Emma HayesChelsea Kirsty HansonManchester UnitedNovember Willie KirkEverton Millie BrightChelseaDecember Joe MontemurroArsenal Vivianne MiedemaArsenalJanuary Emma HayesChelsea Bethany EnglandChelseaFebruary Emma HayesChelsea Bethany EnglandChelsea
Annual awards
Award Winner Club Barclays FA WSL Player of the Season Bethany England Chelsea Barclays FA WSL Manager of the Season Emma Hayes Chelsea PFA Players' Player of the Year Bethany England Chelsea PFA Young Player of the Year Lauren Hemp Manchester City FWA Footballer of the Year Vivianne Miedema Arsenal
PFA Team of the Year Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea) Defenders Maren Mjelde (Chelsea) Leah Williamson (Arsenal) Millie Bright (Chelsea) Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea) Midfielders Caroline Weir (Manchester City) Kim Little (Arsenal) Ji So-yun (Chelsea) Forwards Bethany England (Chelsea) Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal) Chloe Kelly (Everton)
Prize money An FA WSL prize fund was put in place for the first time, following the new Barclay's sponsorship deal, with the entire pot totaling £500,000. The money was awarded in decreasing increments with the champions winning £100,000 and the last placed team being awarded £6,000.
FinishPrize money1st£100,0002nd£67,0003rd£60,0004th£55,0005th£49,0006th£43,0007th£36,0008th£30,0009th£24,00010th£18,00011th£12,00012th£6,000
See also 2019–20 FA Women's League Cup 2019–20 FA Women's Championship (tier 2) 2019–20 FA Women's National League (tier 3 & 4)
References
External links Official website