Man United finally broke their early-season slump in the Women's Super League with a 2-1 triumph over West Ham at Leigh Sports Village, marking their inaugural win of the 2026/27 campaign. Coach Eva Olid’s side had managed only a solitary point from their opening trio of fixtures, but they surged ahead within the first ten minutes when Elisabeth Terland calmly headed home a cross from Anna Sandberg, leaving the ball untouched and the goalmouth empty.
The moment seemed set to become a 2-0 lead until West Ham keeper Constance Picaud produced a spectacular fingertip save, deflecting Hanna Lundkvist's powerful header over the bar in the dying seconds of the first half. Undeterred, United emerged from the break with renewed vigor, creating three clear chances in a span of three minutes. Andrea Medina struck the woodwork with a driven effort, Jess Park missed her target with a low shot, and Terland forced another fingertip parry from Picaud.
West Ham, meanwhile, struggled to find a foothold in United’s half; it took a full hour before they registered their first shot on target. Estelle Cascarino broke through the midfield, unleashed a dipping drive that forced United’s goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce to tip the ball over the cross‑bar.
The decisive moment arrived with 18 minutes left on the clock. Medina, who had already been a constant threat, collected a perfectly weighted pass from Jess Park and, after her initial strike was blocked, calmly slotted the rebound into the net to make it 2-0.
The lead, however, was short‑lived. Arsenal’s Viviane Asseyi was brought down inside the box by Sandberg and converted the resulting penalty, sending the ball low into the bottom left corner and giving West Ham a consolation goal.
The match ended 2-1, delivering United their first three points of the season and ending a bleak start to their campaign. In a separate fixture, Chelsea extended their impressive unbeaten run to 12 games with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the London derby at Stamford Bridge. The run, which comprises ten wins and two draws, stretches back to early February and simultaneously snapped Arsenal’s own 23‑match unbeaten streak that spanned nearly a year.
Arsenal dominated much of the first half, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey each seeing their attempts rebound off the post, yet they failed to produce a single shot on target before the break. Chelsea took the lead when Keira Walsh’s long‑range effort was saved by Arsenal keeper Anneke Borbe, only for Alyssa Thompson to pounce on the rebound and fire the ball high into the net.
Despite Arsenal’s late‑game substitutions – Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius – they could not find an equaliser, leaving them three games without a win and trailing league leaders Manchester City by seven points. Liverpool also enjoyed a historic night, clinching a 2-0 win over Everton to record their first WSL Merseyside derby victory at Anfield. The Reds had previously lost eight of nine league encounters at the stadium, five of those defeats coming at Everton’s hands.
Beata Olsson opened the scoring with a looping header in the fourth minute, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Liverpool continued to press, but Everton’s midfielder Ruby Mace provided a solid shield, blocking Natalia Ramos’ shot and clearing a dangerous cross from Cornelia Kapocs off the line. Kapocs eventually broke the deadlock in the closing stages, netting a second goal with just under five minutes remaining, securing a memorable win for the home side. Further up the table, Tottenham delivered a commanding 4-0 second‑half display against Aston Villa, moving within two points of league leaders Manchester City after amassing ten points from their first four games.
Villa, positioned 13th, had held Tottenham at bay in the first half, but the tide turned when Victoria Pelova struck in the 54th minute. The 27‑year‑old doubled the advantage with a curling effort shortly thereafter, followed by a back‑post header from Caitlin Dijkstra and a rebound finish by Cathinka Tandberg that sealed the rout. The victory kept Spurs firmly in the title race and highlighted their attacking depth.
Newly promoted Birmingham continued their search for a maiden WSL win, salvaging a point in a high‑scoring 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s. The Blues had seemed poised for a win, leading 2-1 at halftime thanks to a brace from Oceane Hurtre. Hurtre opened the scoring after just 40 seconds, but Palace responded when a goalkeeper error allowed Shanade Hopcroft’s free‑kick to find the net. Hurtre restored Birmingham’s lead three minutes later with a powerful strike from a tight angle.
In the second half, Palace rallied, with Bethany England equalising in the 70th minute and Lexi Lloyd‑Smith completing the comeback with a clinical one‑on‑one finish. Birmingham’s Suzu Amano entered as a substitute and netted a deflected equaliser in the 87th minute, ensuring the match ended in a draw and granting Birmingham their second point of the season. Across the league, these matches illustrate the shifting dynamics of the WSL, with traditional powerhouses like Chelsea and Manchester City maintaining their dominance, while clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool strive to reverse early‑season setbacks.
The competition remains fierce, and the race for the title, European places, and survival promises further drama as the season progresses.