Laura Hunter, the Sky Sports columnist, breaks down the headline‑making moments from the most recent Women’s Super League fixtures, drawing attention to the pivotal narratives shaping the women’s game today. Manchester City entered the weekend with the league crown seemingly in the bag. If Arsenal had stumbled against Leicester – an outcome that looked remote but not impossible – City’s lead could have become mathematically untouchable with only a handful of games remaining. That scenario evaporated after a stunning reversal at Brighton, leaving the City celebration on hold.
The 3‑2 loss to the Seagulls opened the door for both Chelsea and Arsenal to catch up to the current 49‑point tally. In practice, Sonia Bompastor’s Blues are unlikely to overtake the leaders because of an inferior goal difference, but the Gunners remain very much alive. A probability that was previously described as a one‑per‑cent chance before the weekend has now swelled to roughly five per cent, and Arsenal has not even taken the field yet.
Regular followers of this column will recall my early‑season prediction that the trophy would be handed over as soon as February; perhaps that forecast was premature. Even with the setback, it would still be a tall order for the dominant City side to lose the title at this stage.
As Fran Kirby quipped on Saturday, “We’re happy to keep the title race going a little longer.” Kirby’s creativity in a free‑roaming role proved decisive in a shock defeat that highlighted how thin the margin can be when a team is expected to win comfortably. Andree Jeglertz’s City need at least five points from their remaining fixtures to seal the championship, and as long as Arsenal wins the games they have in hand, the title cannot be confirmed until the final round.
Jeglertz appears unruffled, perhaps reminded that his side has been defeated only once this term – by City themselves – and that any additional slip‑up could prove costly. City’s schedule now 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 fixtures. None of those matches is a guaranteed win; the pressure is high and the momentum has been dented by a defeat that could have been decided in the first half.
It marks the first time this season that City have surrendered points after leading a game. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match assessment, noting how the squad has responded positively to adversity despite admitting that the Brighton loss “hurts because we were in control.” Over the course of a full ninety minutes, City generated seven clear‑cut chances but failed to convert any of them, a sign that the side had not yet fully re‑gel after a 19‑day international break. The fixture list has been a double‑edged sword for City.
On the one hand, the absence of mid‑week European commitments has spared the team the fatigue that rivals in the men’s game often endure. On the other hand, the irregular spacing of matches has sometimes disrupted the rhythm that comes from playing consecutive games.
City’s roster was deliberately built to withstand three‑game weeks, yet there have been stretches this season where the gaps between matches have been unusually long, testing the squad’s consistency. Nevertheless, there is no cause for panic. City have been exceptional for the bulk of the 2025/26 campaign and merit the championship on the basis of a consistency that no other side has matched.
Still, they cannot take the trophy for granted. The prospect of stumbling over the finish line is a vivid anxiety for key figures such as Greenwood, forward Bunny Shaw and prolific striker Lauren Hemp. The memory of missing out on the 2023/24 title to Chelsea on goal difference still looms, a painful reminder that a single swing in the numbers can undo an entire season’s worth of work. Could history repeat itself?
The thought is unsettling for a side that has been so dominant. Turning to Manchester United, the other Manchester club also emerged from matchweek 20 as a disappointment. Their problem was not the goalless draw against Tottenham, but the erosion of any offensive initiative.
Once considered the likeliest challenger for a second‑place finish behind city rivals, United now face an uphill battle to even secure a top‑three slot. Marc Skinner’s side have managed just one victory in their last eight encounters across all competitions. Goals have dried up, and performance levels have nosedived.
The question arises whether this slump exposes the inherent limits of a squad that is numerically smaller than its direct competitors, or whether external factors such as fixture congestion and injuries are to blame. United have failed 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 statistical gap suggests a quality differential that United have struggled to bridge. Even the return of Ella Toone from a long injury layoff on Sunday could not spark the needed revival.
Spurs displayed worrying trends for United. The offensive metrics were dominated by Martin Ho’s side; the expected‑goals (xG) battle was a near‑shutout at 2.58 for Spurs versus 0.47 for United.
It took United a full 56 minutes to register a shot on target, while Tottenham recorded more than double the number of touches inside the penalty area (42 to United’s 20). Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce emerged as United’s reluctant hero.
What does this mean for Skinner? As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, his tenure is perpetually under the microscope, especially given the expectations that accompany the United badge. A single poor result can ignite a chorus of criticism and speculation about his future.
Skinner must also recognize that much of the recent negativity has been self‑inflicted. He openly admits that the outcomes since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, followed by the League Cup final defeat, have been below the required standard.
The squad appears to have run out of steam after trying to juggle a maiden Champions League appearance with domestic commitments. “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 adjustments will involve tactical tweaks, personnel moves, or even a change in his own role remains to be seen. In summary, both Manchester clubs face pivotal crossroads. City must rediscover the clinical edge that has defined their season if they are to avoid a repeat of the 2023/24 heartbreak, while United must find a way to revive their attacking firepower and reclaim the belief that once made them contenders for a top‑three finish. The coming weeks will be decisive for the futures of both squads and for the narrative of the Women’s Super League as a whole.