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, earning their inaugural win of the 2026/27 campaign. Coach Eva Olid’s side had managed just a solitary point from their opening three fixtures, but they arrived with purpose and took the initiative inside the first ten minutes. A clever interplay saw Elisabeth Terland meet an Anna Sandberg cross with a clean header that sailed past the goalkeeper, giving United an early lead. The advantage could have been doubled before the break, but West Ham keeper Constance Picaud produced a spectacular reflex save, tipping Hanna Lundkvist’s second‑half‑time header over the bar.
United responded with relentless pressure, creating three chances in a span of three minutes. Andrea Medina forced a shot onto the cross‑bar, Jess Park missed a clear opportunity, and Terland again tested Picaud, who was forced to make another fingertip parry.
West Ham struggled to find rhythm in the first half, only mustering their first shot on target after an hour of play when Estelle Cascarino burst down the middle and unleashed a dipping drive. Phallon Tullis‑Joyce, the Arsenal‑loaned goalkeeper, was quick to tip the ball onto the cross‑bar, preserving United’s lead. The decisive moment arrived with 18 minutes remaining.
Medina, who had already been a constant threat, collected a precise pass from Jess Park and, after her initial effort was blocked, slotted home a low‑driven finish that sent the crowd into a roar, extending the lead to 2-0. However, the victory was not to be a clean sheet. In the 78th minute, Viviane Asseyi was brought down inside the penalty area by Sandberg and calmly converted the spot‑kick, sending the ball into the bottom left corner and giving West Ham a consolation goal.
The match ended 2-1, a vital three points for United as they look to climb the table. In another headline‑making fixture, Chelsea continued their unbeaten run, stretching it to 12 games with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a fiercely contested London derby at Stamford Bridge. The streak, comprised of ten wins and two draws, dates back to 8 February and effectively ended Arsenal’s own 23‑match unbeaten run that spanned almost a year.
Arsenal dominated large portions of the first half, with Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey both seeing their efforts rebound off the woodwork, yet they failed to register a single shot on target before the interval. Chelsea’s breakthrough came just after the hour mark when Keira Walsh unleashed a 20‑yard strike that was parried by Arsenal keeper Anneke Borbé. The rebound fell to Alyssa Thompson, who struck the ball high into the net, giving the Blues the lead.
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers attempted to spark a comeback by introducing Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius, but the changes could not overturn the deficit. The loss marked Arsenal’s third consecutive league defeat, leaving them seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Further north, Liverpool broke a long‑standing hoodoo at Anfield by defeating Everton 2-0, securing their first WSL Merseyside derby win at the historic ground. Historically, Liverpool had lost eight of nine league encounters at Anfield, five of those defeats coming at the hands of Everton.
The match turned on a fourth‑minute looping header from Beata Olsson, which gave the Reds an early lead. Liverpool pressed for a second goal, but Everton’s midfielder Ruby Mace displayed a tenacious defensive display, blocking Natalia Ramos’ shot and clearing a dangerous cross‑court effort from Cornelia Kapocs off the line. Kapocs eventually found the net in the 85th minute, sweeping home a well‑timed finish to seal a 2-0 win for Everton, but Liverpool’s early dominance proved enough to claim the three points and improve their standing in the league. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding performance against Aston Villa, cruising to a 4-0 victory thanks to a dominant second‑half display.
The win moved Spurs within two points of league leaders Manchester City, holding ten points from their opening four games. Villa, sitting 13th, managed to keep the scores level until halftime, but the floodgates opened after Victoria Pelova opened the scoring in the 54th minute.
Pelova doubled her tally shortly thereafter with a curling strike, followed by Caitlin Dijkstra’s header that rattled the back post and a rebound finish by Cathinka Tandberg that put the match beyond Villa’s reach. Newly promoted Birmingham City continued their search for a maiden WSL win, salvaging a point in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s.
Suzu Amano, introduced off the bench, struck a deflected equaliser in the 87th minute, ensuring the Blues earned a point. Birmingham had seemed poised for a victory, leading 2-1 at halftime thanks to a brace from Oceane Hurtre. The opening goal arrived after just 40 seconds, but Palace responded in the 30th minute 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.
The second half saw Palace mount a comeback, with Bethany England equalising in the 70th minute, followed by Lexi Lloyd‑Smith completing the turnaround with a composed one‑on‑one finish. Amano’s late goal gave Birmingham a 3‑3 draw, their second point of the season, and denied Palace a second win.
The match highlighted the competitive balance in the league, with newly promoted sides capable of challenging established clubs. Overall, the week’s fixtures underscored the unpredictable nature of the WSL, with Manchester United breaking their early drought, Chelsea extending a remarkable unbeaten run, Liverpool ending a historic venue curse, Tottenham reinforcing their title challenge, and Birmingham showing resilience in their debut top‑flight campaign. The league continues to deliver excitement, drama, and a growing showcase for women's football across England.