Laura Hunter, the seasoned Sky Sports columnist, breaks down the most pressing storylines emerging from the latest round of Women's Super League fixtures, offering readers a deeper look at the pivotal moments shaping the women's game today. Manchester City entered the weekend with the league title seemingly secured. Had Arsenal faltered against Leicester – an unlikely but conceivable scenario – City’s cushion at the summit would have become unassailable with only a handful of matches left. That hypothetical has now evaporated, and the celebratory atmosphere surrounding a City title party has been replaced by uncertainty.
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 points total of 49. While Sonia Bompastor’s Blues are effectively out of contention because of an inferior goal‑difference, the Gunners remain very much in the mix.
What was previously described as a one‑per‑cent chance of catching City has swelled to roughly five per cent, and that despite Arsenal not having taken the field yet. Regular followers of Hunter’s column will recall her early‑season prediction that the trophy might change hands as early as February – a forecast that now seems overly optimistic. Even with the setback, City’s dominance is not yet in jeopardy.
As forward Fran Kirby quipped after the Brighton defeat, "We’re happy to keep the title race going a little longer." Kirby’s creativity in a free‑role position proved decisive in a dramatic 3‑2 loss, underscoring how a single player can tilt the balance in tightly contested matches. Andree Jeglertz’s side now require at least five points from their remaining fixtures to clinch the championship, and they can only guarantee the title if Arsenal win the games they have in hand. This reality does not appear to faze Jeglertz, who reminds everyone that his side have suffered only one defeat this season – the loss to City – and that any further slip‑ups will likely be costly. City’s upcoming schedule is a true test of character.
They host Liverpool before travelling to West Ham for their final two league outings, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea sandwiched in between. None of these matches are easy wins; the pressure is immense after a defeat that saw City surrender a lead they had built early in the Brighton game.
It marks the first occasion this season that City have dropped points after being ahead, highlighting a vulnerability that opponents will look to exploit. Captain Alex Greenwood reflected on the Brighton defeat in the post‑match interview. She praised her teammates for how they responded to adversity throughout the campaign, even as she admitted the loss stung because "we were in control." Over the course of the 90 minutes, City generated seven clear‑cut chances yet failed to convert any, a sign that the side may still be finding its rhythm after a 19‑day break for international duties.
The fixture calendar has been both a blessing and a curse for City. On the one hand, the absence of European commitments has spared them the fatigue that often accompanies a congested schedule.
On the other, long gaps between matches have sometimes disrupted their momentum, making it harder to maintain a high‑intensity playing style week after week. City’s squad was deliberately built to endure three‑game weeks, but the irregular spacing of fixtures this season has tested that depth. Despite the recent stumble, panic is premature.
City have been extraordinarily consistent throughout the 2025/26 season and deserve to be crowned champions based on a level of performance that few rivals have matched. However, they can no longer treat the title as a foregone conclusion. Players such as Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp will be keenly aware that a single slip could turn a season of triumph into a nightmare, especially after the heart‑breaking loss to Chelsea on goal difference in 2023/24.
Manchester United, meanwhile, endured an equally disappointing weekend, not because they lost their match – a 0‑0 draw with Tottenham – but because the result exposed a deeper loss of initiative. Once viewed as the likely second‑place finisher behind City, United now find themselves drifting away from the top three.
Marc Skinner’s side have managed only one victory in their last eight matches across all competitions. Goal production has dried up, and overall performance levels have plummeted. The question now is whether this decline reflects the inherent limitations of Skinner’s relatively small squad compared with the league’s heavyweight clubs, or whether external factors such as fixture congestion and injury woes are to blame. 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 whom are averaging roughly 1.5 points per game.
This suggests a quality gap that United have yet to bridge. Even the return of Ella Toone from a long injury layoff could not spark a revival on Sunday. Spurs, on the other hand, displayed a stark contrast in offensive metrics. Their expected goals (xG) tally was a clean sweep – 2.58 compared to United’s 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 penalty area (42 versus 20). Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce emerged as United’s saviour, keeping them in the game despite the on‑field struggles. For Skinner, the situation is increasingly precarious. As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, his tenure is constantly under scrutiny, especially given the high expectations that accompany the United badge.
A single poor result can reignite talk of pressure and potential dismissal. Skinner must also acknowledge that much of the criticism directed at him is self‑inflicted. He openly admits that the team’s form since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea – followed by a League Cup final defeat – has been insufficient.
Balancing a maiden Champions League campaign with domestic responsibilities has evidently taken its toll, leaving the squad exhausted. “We will need to make some changes over the summer,” Skinner said, noting that his contract extends for another year. Whether those adjustments involve tactical tweaks, squad reinforcements, or a reshaping of the club’s overall strategy remains to be seen, but the upcoming transfer window will be crucial for United’s revival. In summary, both Manchester clubs face pivotal crossroads.
City must rediscover the clinical edge that carried them through most of the season if they hope to seal the title before the final whistle. United, meanwhile, need to reignite their attacking spark and close the quality gap with the league’s elite if they are to salvage a respectable league finish.
The next few weeks will determine whether these storied clubs can turn their recent setbacks into stepping stones for future success.