Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the most pressing storylines emerging from the latest Women's Super League fixtures, giving readers a deeper look at the pivotal moments shaping the women's game. Manchester City entered the weekend with the league title seemingly secured; a win on Wednesday could have clinched the crown without a further match. If Arsenal had somehow stumbled against Leicester—a scenario that was improbable but technically possible—City’s points lead would have become insurmountable with only a handful of games left.
That hypothetical has now vanished, leaving City’s championship celebrations on hold. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend has reopened the race. Both Chelsea and Arsenal now have a mathematical chance to equal City’s current tally of 49 points, although Chelsea, under Sonia Bompastor, are realistically out of contention because of an inferior goal‑difference. Arsenal, however, remain very much in the mix.
What was once framed as a one‑percent chance for a title upset has jumped to roughly five percent, and this shift occurred before Arsenal even stepped onto the pitch. Regular followers of Hunter’s column will recall her early‑season prediction that the trophy would change hands by February; she now wonders whether that forecast was premature. Even with the setback, it would still be a tall order for the dominant City side to lose the title at this stage. As Fran Kirby quipped after the match, “We’re happy to keep the title race going for a little bit longer.” Kirby’s brilliance in a free‑role position proved decisive in a stunning 3‑2 defeat, highlighting how a single player’s performance can tilt a game.
Andree Jeglertz’s side now need at least five points from their remaining fixtures to keep the title hopes alive, and they cannot clinch the championship until the final round as long as Arsenal win the games they have in hand. Jeglertz seems unfazed by the pressure, reminding fans that his team, led by Renee Slegers, have suffered only one defeat this season—a loss to City.
Any additional slip‑ups are likely to be costly. Looking ahead, City will host Liverpool before traveling to West Ham for their last two league matches, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea sandwiched in between. None of those games are easy, especially after a loss that came after City had been in control for much of the first half. It marks the first occasion this season that City have dropped points from a winning position.
Captain Alex Greenwood reflected on the Brighton defeat, noting how her side responded positively to adversity despite the pain of conceding a goal they felt they should have prevented. City created seven clear‑cut chances against Brighton yet failed to convert any, a symptom of the lack of cohesion after a 19‑day international break. The congested schedule has been both a blessing and a curse for City. The absence of European fixtures has reduced fatigue, allowing the squad to focus on domestic matches, but the irregular rhythm of back‑to‑back games has occasionally disrupted their flow.
City’s roster was deliberately built to withstand three‑game weeks, yet the gaps between fixtures have sometimes been too large to maintain sharpness. Nevertheless, panic is premature.
City have been exceptional for the bulk of the 2025/26 campaign and merit the championship for a level of consistency no other side has matched. Still, they cannot treat the title as a foregone conclusion; players like Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp will be keenly aware that a single slip could see their dreams shattered.
The memory of missing out on the 2023/24 title to Chelsea on goal difference still lingers, and the fear of a repeat scenario hangs over the squad. Meanwhile, Manchester United endured a similarly bleak weekend, not because they lost their match— a goalless draw with Tottenham— but because they have lost any sense of momentum.
Once seen as strong contenders for a second‑place finish behind City, United now appear to be drifting out of the top three entirely. Marc Skinner’s side have managed only one victory in their last eight outings across all competitions. Scoring has dried up and performance levels have plummeted.
The question arises whether this slump reveals the limitations of Skinner’s relatively small squad compared with their rivals, or whether external factors such as fixture congestion and injuries are to blame. United have yet to beat any of the current top‑five teams, a group that includes Spurs, City, Arsenal and Chelsea, all of whom are averaging around 1.5 points per game. Even the return of Ella Toone from a lengthy injury layoff could not spark a revival.
Spurs, on the other hand, displayed worrying trends despite their dominance in offensive metrics. Martin Ho’s side completely out‑gunned United in expected goals (2.58 to 0.47).
United needed 56 minutes just to register a shot on target, while Spurs recorded more than double the number of touches inside the opponent’s box (42 versus 20). Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce was United’s lone saviour on the day. What does all this mean for Skinner? As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, he is constantly under scrutiny, and a single poor result can ignite talk of his job security.
Yet some of the criticism is self‑inflicted. Skinner openly admits that the team’s results since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea and the subsequent League Cup final defeat have been inadequate.
Balancing a debut Champions League campaign with domestic duties has evidently taken its toll, leaving the squad exhausted. “We have to make some changes in the summer,” Skinner said, noting that he still has a year left on his contract. Whether those changes involve new signings, tactical tweaks, or even a managerial reshuffle remains to be seen. In summary, both Manchester clubs face pivotal moments.
City must rediscover the clinical edge that carried them through most of the season if they hope to secure the title before Arsenal. United must find a way to reignite their attacking spark and regain confidence if they are to climb back into the top three. The coming weeks will be decisive, and fans of both clubs will be watching closely to see whether their teams can overcome the setbacks and finish the season on a high note.