Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the headline‑making moments from the latest Women’s Super League fixtures, pulling back the curtain on the narratives that drive the women’s game. Manchester City seemed poised to clinch the championship as early as Wednesday, potentially sealing the title without needing another match. If Arsenal had stumbled against Leicester – an unlikely but not impossible scenario – City’s cushion at the summit would have become insurmountable with only a handful of games left.
That hypothetical has now vanished, and the celebration that might have been is frozen in limbo. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend has reopened the race. Both Chelsea and Arsenal now possess the mathematical ability to match City’s current tally of 49 points, although Sonia Bompastor’s Blues are effectively out of contention because their goal‑difference deficit would still leave them trailing. Arsenal, however, remain very much in the mix.
What was once described as a one‑per‑cent chance for a title upset before the weekend has now swelled to roughly five per cent, and Arsenal haven’t even taken the field yet. Regular followers of this column will recall my early‑season prediction – made as far back as February – that the trophy would be handed over in a symbolic ceremony. In hindsight, that forecast may have been premature.
Even so, it would still be a tall order for the mighty City 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 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 spark can tip the balance. Andree Jeglertz’s side now require a minimum of five points from their remaining fixtures to keep the title hopes alive, and as long as Arsenal win the games they have in hand, City cannot guarantee the trophy until the final round. Jeglertz appears unfazed by the pressure, reminding readers that his side have suffered only one defeat this campaign – that loss came at the hands of City.
Any additional slip‑ups are likely to be costly. 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 in between.
None of these fixtures are easy, especially after a defeat that came after they had the game under control for much of the first half. It marks the first occasion this season that City have surrendered points after leading. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match assessment, stressing how her teammates have consistently responded positively to setbacks throughout the season, even when they concede a goal that "hurts because we were in control." In the Brighton game, City generated seven clear‑cut chances but failed to convert any, a clear sign that the squad had not gelled after a 19‑day break for international duty. The fixture congestion has been both a blessing and a curse for City.
On one hand, the absence of European commitments has allowed them to avoid the fatigue that often hampers other clubs. On the other hand, the irregular rhythm of matches – sometimes with long gaps between games – has disrupted their flow. City’s roster has been built to withstand three‑game weeks, yet the season has featured stretches where the gaps between matches have been unusually large, testing the squad’s ability to maintain sharpness.
Despite the recent stumble, there is no cause for panic. City have been spectacular for the bulk of the 2025/26 campaign and deserve the championship on the basis of a consistency that no other side has matched.
Nevertheless, they cannot treat the title as a foregone conclusion. Players such as Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp will be acutely aware that a single slip could see their dream evaporate, recalling the heartbreak of missing out on the 2023/24 title to Chelsea on goal‑difference.
Could history repeat itself? The memory of that narrow loss still lingers, and the prospect of another such disappointment fuels the urgency in every training session. Turning to Manchester United, they emerged as the other major disappointment of matchweek 20. Their problem was not a defeat – they settled for a goalless draw with Tottenham – but a loss of momentum and purpose.
Once seen as genuine contenders for second place behind their city rivals, United now appear unlikely to finish inside the top three. Marc Skinner’s side have managed only one victory in their last eight matches across all competitions. Their attacking output has dried up, and overall performance levels have plunged dramatically. 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 secure a win against any of the current top‑five teams, a group that includes Spurs, City, Arsenal and Chelsea, all of which are averaging about 1.5 points per game. This suggests a quality gap that United have struggled to bridge. Even the return of Ella Toone from a long injury layoff on Sunday could not ignite the needed spark. Spurs displayed some worrying trends of their own.
Their offensive metrics were dominated by Martin Ho’s side, with an expected‑goals (xG) disparity of 2.58 to 0.47 in United’s favour. United took a full 56 minutes to register a shot on target, while Spurs logged more than double the number of touches inside the opposition box (42 versus 20). Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce emerged as United’s saviour, making several crucial saves. Where does this leave Skinner?
As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, he is perpetually under the microscope, given the high expectations attached to the United badge. One poor result can spark talk of pressure and potential dismissal.
Yet some of the criticism he faces is self‑inflicted; Skinner has openly acknowledged that the results since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, followed by a League Cup final defeat, have been insufficient. The squad appears to have run out of steam after trying to juggle a maiden Champions League campaign with domestic obligations. "We have to make some changes in the summer," Skinner said on Sunday, noting that his contract still has a year left. Whether those adjustments will involve personnel, tactics, or a blend of both remains to be seen, but the window for a dramatic turnaround is narrowing.
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 rekindle the belief that they can compete with the league’s best.
The next few weeks will be decisive, and the outcomes will shape the narrative of the WSL title race and the battle for European qualification.