Laura Hunter, the Sky Sports columnist, breaks down the most pressing issues emerging from the latest Women's Super League fixtures, drawing readers closer to the pivotal narratives shaping the women's game today. Manchester City entered the weekend on the brink of clinching the championship, poised to seal the title by Wednesday without needing another match. If Arsenal had stumbled against Leicester—a scenario that seemed unlikely but not impossible—City’s lead could have become unassailable with only a handful of games left.
That possibility has now evaporated, and the celebratory atmosphere surrounding City’s title party has been replaced by uncertainty. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend dramatically altered the landscape. Both Chelsea and Arsenal now possess the mathematical ability to match City’s current points tally of 49, although Chelsea, under Sonia Bompastor, are effectively out of contention because of an inferior goal‑difference.
Arsenal, however, remain very much in the mix. What was once described as a one‑percent chance of a title upset before the weekend has surged to roughly five percent, even though Arsenal have yet to take the field. Regular followers of this column will recall my early February prediction that the trophy might be handed over symbolically well before the final whistle. In hindsight, that speculation may have been premature.
While it would still be a tall order for the dominant City side to see the crown slip away, the sentiment expressed by Fran Kirby on Saturday captures the mood perfectly: "We’re happy to keep the title race going a little longer." Kirby’s brilliance in a free‑role position proved decisive in a stunning 3‑2 defeat. Andree Jeglertz’s squad now requires at least five points to push the title across the finish line, and as long as Arsenal win their games in hand, the championship cannot be secured until the very last matchday.
Jeglertz appears unfazed by this reality, but the reminder is stark—Renee Slegers’ United have suffered only one defeat this season, that loss coming at the hands of City. Any further slip‑ups are likely to be costly. Looking ahead, City will host Liverpool before traveling to West Ham for their final two league fixtures, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea sandwiched in between.
None of these matches are easy wins, especially after a defeat that saw them surrender a lead they could have turned into a comfortable victory. It marks the first occasion this season that City have dropped points after being ahead. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match interview, highlighting how the team has consistently bounced back from setbacks despite the sting of a game they felt they controlled. In that Brighton encounter, City generated seven clear‑cut chances yet failed to convert any, a symptom of the lack of cohesion after a 19‑day international break.
The fixture schedule has been both a blessing and a curse for City. The absence of European commitments has reduced fatigue, allowing the squad to focus on domestic duties, yet the irregular rhythm of back‑to‑back games has sometimes disrupted their flow. City’s roster was deliberately built to withstand three‑game weeks, and at times the gaps between matches have been substantial, offering both recovery and the risk of losing momentum.
Despite the recent stumble, panic is premature. City have been spectacular for the majority of the 2025/26 campaign and deserve the title on the basis of a consistency that no other side has matched.
However, they can no longer treat the trophy as a formality. The prospect of falling short looms large for key players such as Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp, who still remember the anguish of missing out on the title to Chelsea on goal difference in 2023/24.
The fear is that history could repeat itself. Meanwhile, Manchester United endured a far worse weekend, not because they lost their match—a goalless draw with Tottenham—but because their forward momentum has ground to a halt. Once considered strong contenders for second place behind their city rivals, United now face an uphill battle to even finish in the top three. Marc Skinner’s side have secured just one win in their last eight outings across all competitions.
Scoring has dried up, and performance levels have plummeted. The question arises: is this decline a symptom of the limited depth of Skinner’s squad compared with the league’s elite, or are other factors at play? United have failed to beat any of the current top‑five teams, a group that includes Spurs, City, Arsenal and Chelsea, each averaging about 1.5 points per game.
This suggests a quality gap that United struggle to bridge. Even the return of Ella Toone from injury could not spark the needed revival.
Tottenham’s statistics painted a worrying picture for United: Spurs dominated every offensive metric, winning the expected‑goals (xG) battle 2.58 to 0.47, and took 56 minutes to register a shot on target, while United’s goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce was the only thing keeping them in the game. For Skinner, the pressure is relentless.
As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, his performance is constantly under the microscope, and a single poor result can ignite talk of his future. Yet much of the criticism he faces is self‑inflicted. He readily admits that the team’s form has slipped since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea and the subsequent League Cup final defeat.
Balancing a maiden Champions League campaign with domestic obligations has taken its toll, leaving the squad exhausted. Skinner, who has one year left on his contract, warned that changes will be necessary over the summer.
Whether those adjustments involve personnel, tactics or a broader restructuring remains to be seen, but the stakes are high for United. The club must decide quickly if a managerial change is part of that overhaul or if Skinner will be given the chance to rebuild. In summary, both Manchester clubs find themselves at a crossroads.
City must rediscover the clinical edge that carried them through most of the season, while United need to reignite their attacking spark and close the quality gap with the league’s elite. The final weeks of the season promise high drama, and the outcomes will shape the narrative of the Women’s Super League for years to come.