Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the headline‑making moments from the most recent Women’s Super League fixtures, drawing readers into the pivotal narratives shaping the women’s game. Manchester City appeared to have the championship secured by mid‑week, with the possibility of clinching the title without needing another match.
If Arsenal had somehow faltered against Leicester – an unlikely scenario but technically possible – City’s lead would have become mathematically insurmountable with only a handful of games left. That hypothetical has now vanished, and City’s celebratory mood has been put on hold. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend has reopened the race.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal now possess the theoretical ability to match City’s current points total of 49. In reality, Sonia Bompastor’s Blues are effectively out of contention because their goal‑difference deficit is too great, but the Gunners remain very much in the mix.
What was previously described as a one‑percent chance of a title upset before the weekend has surged to roughly five percent, even though Arsenal has not yet taken the field. Regular followers of this column will recall my early February prediction that the trophy would be handed over symbolically long before the season’s end.
Perhaps that forecast was premature. Even so, it would still be a tall order for the dominant City side to see the crown slip away at this stage.
As Fran Kirby quipped after Saturday’s match, "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 needs at least five points from their remaining fixtures to keep the title hopes alive, and as long as Arsenal win the games they have in hand, the championship cannot be settled until the final matchday. Jeglertz seems unfazed by the pressure, but the reminder that Renee Slegers’ United have suffered only one defeat this term – that loss came at the hands of City – underscores how costly any further slip‑ups could be. City’s upcoming schedule features a home clash with Liverpool followed by an away trip to West Ham, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea sandwiched between the two league games.
None of those fixtures is a guaranteed win; the pressure is high after a defeat that could have been decided in the first half. It marks the first occasion this season that City have dropped points after leading a match. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match assessment, highlighting the team’s resilience despite the disappointment of conceding a goal they felt they should have prevented.
She noted, "It hurts because we were in control," after a Brighton performance in which City generated seven clear‑cut chances yet failed to convert any. The lack of cohesion was evident, as the side had not trained together for 19 days following the international break. The calendar has been both a friend and a foe for City throughout the campaign. On one hand, the absence of European fixtures has reduced fatigue and allowed the squad to focus on the league.
On the other, long gaps between matches have disrupted rhythm, especially when the team is accustomed to playing multiple games in a week. City’s roster was built to endure three‑game weeks, but the irregular spacing of fixtures this season has tested that design. There is no need for panic at this juncture.
City have been spectacularly consistent for the bulk of the 2025/26 season and deserve the title on the basis of a level of steadiness that no other club has matched. Nonetheless, they cannot take the trophy for granted. Players such as Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp will be acutely aware of the danger of stumbling at the final hurdle, recalling the heartbreak of missing out on the 2023/24 title to Chelsea on goal difference.
Could history repeat itself? The prospect feels unsettling, but the team’s depth and experience give them a fighting chance. Manchester United, meanwhile, emerged as the other major casualty of matchweek 20. Their disappointment was not a loss – they held Tottenham to a goalless draw – but a loss of momentum.
Once considered strong contenders for second place behind their city rivals, United now appear unlikely to finish in the top three. Marc Skinner’s side have managed just one victory in their last eight outings across all competitions. Scoring has dried up, and performance levels have plummeted. The question arises whether this decline reflects the limited size of Skinner’s squad compared with rivals, or whether other 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 which are averaging around 1.5 points per game. This suggests a quality gap that United have struggled to bridge.
Even the return of Ella Toone from injury could not spark the needed revival. Spurs displayed worrying trends of their own.
Their offensive metrics were dominated by Martin Ho’s side, with an expected‑goals (xG) differential of 2.58 to 0.47. United required 56 minutes before registering a shot on target, while Spurs recorded more than double the number of touches inside the box (42 versus 20). Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce was United’s lone saviour on the day.
What does this mean for Skinner? As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, he is perpetually under scrutiny, especially given the expectations attached to a club of United’s stature. A single poor result can ignite talk of pressure and potential dismissal. Skinner must also recognise that much of the recent criticism is self‑inflicted.
He openly admits that the results since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, followed by the League Cup final defeat, have been insufficient. Balancing a debut Champions League campaign with domestic duties has evidently taken its toll, leaving the squad fatigued. "We have to make some changes in the summer," Skinner said, noting he has another year left on his contract. Whether those adjustments will involve personnel, tactics, or perhaps a change in his own role remains to be seen.
In summary, both Manchester clubs face pivotal moments. City must rediscover the clinical edge that saw them dominate most of the season, while United need to reignite their attacking spark and regain confidence if they hope to climb back into contention. The coming weeks will be decisive for the fortunes of both sides, and the title race remains wide open as the season draws to a close.