Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter dissects the headline moments from the most recent Women’s Super League fixtures, drawing readers closer to the pivotal narratives that shape the women’s game. Manchester City appeared poised to seal the championship as early as Wednesday, potentially without needing another match.
If Arsenal had stumbled against Leicester—a scenario that seemed unlikely but not impossible—City’s lead at the summit could have become mathematically untouchable with only a handful of games remaining. That hypothetical outcome has now been erased from the table, and the celebratory atmosphere that surrounded a presumed title party has turned icy. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend reshaped the title race dramatically. With City’s defeat, both Chelsea and Arsenal have, on paper, the ability to equal City’s current points tally of 49.
In reality, Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea side is effectively out of the running because of an inferior goal‑difference, but the Gunners remain very much alive. What was previously described as a one‑percent chance of a surprise winner has swollen to a five‑percent possibility, and this shift has occurred without Arsenal even stepping onto the pitch. Long‑time followers of this column will recall that I suggested the trophy could be symbolically passed on as early as February. In hindsight, that prediction may have been premature.
While it would still be a steep climb for the mighty City to lose the crown at this stage, even the team’s star, Fran Kirby, admitted on Saturday, “We’re happy to keep the title race going a little longer.” Kirby’s brilliance in her free‑role was the decisive factor in a stunning 3‑2 loss, highlighting how a single performance can tip the balance. Andree Jeglertz’s side now needs a minimum of five points to push the title across the finish line, and as long as Arsenal win the games they have in hand, City cannot clinch the championship before the final round.
Jeglertz seems unfazed by this added pressure, reminding us that his side, led by Renee Slegers, have suffered only one defeat this term—a loss to City itself. Any additional slip‑ups are likely to be costly. City’s upcoming schedule includes a home clash with Liverpool followed by an away fixture at West Ham, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea squeezed in between.
None of these matches can be taken lightly, especially after a defeat that came despite a dominant first‑half performance. It marks the first occasion this season that City have surrendered points after leading, a blow to confidence that could reverberate through the squad. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match interview, emphasizing the team’s resilience in the face of adversity. She noted that, even though the Brighton defeat “hurts because we were in control,” the side responded positively.
Over the course of a remarkable ninety minutes, City generated seven clear‑cut chances but failed to convert any, a testament to a lack of cohesion that may be linked to the nineteen‑day break following the international window. The fixture calendar has been both a friend and a foe for City throughout the campaign.
On the one hand, the absence of European commitments has spared the squad the extra fatigue that typically accompanies a deeper run in the Champions League. On the other, the irregular rhythm of matches—sometimes with long gaps, other times with three‑game weeks—has disrupted the team’s momentum. City’s roster was deliberately built to endure such fluctuations, yet the uneven spacing of games has at times exposed a need for greater consistency.
Despite the recent stumble, there is no cause for panic. City have performed at an exceptional level for the majority of the 2025/26 season, and they have a strong claim to the title based on a consistency that no rival has matched. However, the assumption that the crown is a foregone conclusion would be naïve.
Players such as Greenwood, the emerging forward Bunny Shaw, and proven scorer Lauren Hemp will be keen to avoid the nightmare of missing out on the trophy at the final hurdle. The sting of losing out to Chelsea on goal difference in the 2023/24 campaign still lingers in the collective memory of the club. The question now is whether history will repeat itself.
The stakes are high, and the pressure to avoid a repeat of that disappointment is palpable. Turning to Manchester United, the other major disappointment of matchweek 20 was not a defeat but a stagnant draw— a goalless stalemate against Tottenham. More concerning is the erosion of the team’s sense of initiative.
Once considered the clear favorite to finish second behind cross‑town rivals City, United now appear to be struggling to secure a top‑three finish. Marc Skinner’s side have managed just a single victory in their last eight competitive fixtures. The attack has dried up, and performance levels have nosedived.
The question arises: does this decline highlight the limitations of a squad that is numerically smaller than its rivals, or are there other underlying factors at play? United have failed to win any matches against the current top‑five clubs, which includes Spurs, City and Chelsea, all of whom are averaging around 1.5 points per game—a statistical indicator of a quality gap. Even the return of Ella Toone from a lengthy injury layoff on Sunday was insufficient to reignite the team’s spark.
Tottenham’s offensive metrics were starkly dominant, with a massive xG disparity (2.58 for Spurs versus 0.47 for United). United did not register a shot on target until the 56th minute, while Spurs recorded double the number of touches inside the opponent’s penalty area (42 versus 20).
Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce emerged as United’s saviour, but the overall performance underscored United’s struggles. For Skinner, the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, the scrutiny is relentless. A single poor result can ignite talk of pressure and potential dismissal. Yet it is essential to recognize that much of the recent criticism is self‑generated.
Skinner himself has acknowledged that the results since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, followed by a League Cup final defeat, have been sub‑par. The squad appears to have run out of steam after attempting to balance a debut Champions League campaign with domestic obligations.
“We have to make some changes in the summer,” Skinner said on Sunday, noting that he still has a year left on his contract. Whether those changes will involve tactical adjustments, personnel moves, or perhaps even a reshuffle of the coaching staff remains to be seen.
Only time will reveal if any of those modifications will include the manager himself. In summary, both Manchester clubs find themselves at a crossroads. City must recover composure and secure points in the final fixtures to keep their title hopes alive, while United need to rediscover their attacking edge and consistency if they are to finish the season in a respectable league position. The coming weeks will be decisive for the future trajectories of both teams, and fans will be watching closely to see which side can navigate the challenges ahead.