Chelsea comfortably defeated West Ham United at Victoria Road, cementing their place at the summit of the Women's Super League standings, even though they have played one more match than the current champions Manchester City, who host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. The London side had to earn their three points, finally breaking the deadlock eight minutes before the break when new signing Melvine Malard, who arrived from Manchester United earlier this summer, curled a composed shot into the bottom corner to give the Blues the lead.
After the interval West Ham continued to press, but it was only with ten minutes remaining that England midfielder Keira Walsh, who has already found the net three times this season, struck from the edge of the box to make the result safe. Walsh's goal, a low drive that left the goalkeeper stranded, put Chelsea firmly in control. Just three minutes later Maika Hamano added a second for the visitors with a well‑timed header from a cross, sealing a 2‑0 win and preserving Chelsea's unbeaten start to the campaign. In another match that underscored the growing gap between the league's elite and the rest, Manchester City demonstrated why they are title‑contenders with a dominant 6‑1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Spurs had arrived unbeaten in the top flight, but the Lionesses ran riot from the first whistle. Spanish star Alexia Putellas opened the scoring within three minutes, reacting quickest to a rebound after Grave Geyoro's long‑range effort was deflected into her path. Putellas then added a second from a corner, capitalising on a well‑executed set‑piece that saw Danielle van de Donk deliver a precise ball into the box. City's second goal came from a slick team move: Lucia Corrales floated a cross that Kadidiatou Diani met with a tap‑in, marking the French forward's first WSL goal.
The third was another Putellas strike, this time from a corner after a coordinated build‑up involving van de Donk. Although Diani missed an open chance that could have made it 4‑0, the Lionesses continued to press. In the second half, Corrales again found Diani, whose low finish slipped under Tottenham keeper Lize Kop, extending the lead to 5‑0.
Spurs managed a consolation when Victoria Pelova headed home from a Julie Blakstad free‑kick, but a defensive lapse allowed Diani to tap in a sixth, sealing a comprehensive victory. Everton's forward Ruby Mace responded to her omission from Sarina Wiegman's England squad with a brace in a 2‑1 win over Birmingham City. After being left out of the Lionesses' upcoming international break, Mace opened the scoring when Yuka Momiki's effort struck the post and she reacted swiftly inside the box to slot the rebound home. Everton dominated the early exchanges, forcing Birmingham keeper Sophie Baggaley into several saves.
Birmingham equalised when Oceane Hurtre finished a low‑driven finish after a quick break, marking her fifth goal in five WSL matches this season. Everton were forced to cope with a serious injury to Zara Kramžar before halftime, but Mace restored the lead with a spectacular long‑range strike that took a double deflection before finding the far corner. Birmingham, still searching for their first top‑flight win, remain second‑bottom, while Everton climb back to fifth place, overtaking Merseyside rivals Liverpool after last week's derby loss. Crystal Palace earned a valuable point at Villa Park thanks to a long‑range effort from Abbie Larkin, which levelled the score after Noelle Maritz had given Aston Villa the lead.
Palace, under interim coach Brian Sorensen following the recent dismissal of Natalia Arroyo, were on the verge of their first win of the season when Larkin surged forward from midfield and unleashed a low drive that bounced past goalkeeper Akane Okuma. Both sides created late chances: Villa substitute Georgia Mullet side‑footed a close‑range effort over the bar, while Palace midfielder Shannon O'Brien missed a clear opportunity in stoppage time, ensuring the match finished 1‑1. Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a crushing defeat to newcomers Charlton Athletic, with Kiko Seike scoring a brace to secure a 5‑1 triumph. Charlton opened the scoring in the third minute when Cassandra Korhonen tapped in a rebound after her initial shot was saved, giving the visitors only their second goal of the season.
Brighton equalised shortly after when Seike finished from close range following a well‑placed pass from Olivia Garcia. Seike then set up Fran Kirby, who slotted home before the break, putting Brighton ahead 2‑0.
Early in the second half Seike restored the lead with a composed finish, and Brighton added two late goals in stoppage time: Maisie Symonds' cross was headed in by Gabriele George after a defensive error, and a final tap‑in completed the rout. These results highlight the widening disparity in the Women's Super League, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City continuing to assert their dominance, while clubs such as Tottenham, Birmingham and Charlton struggle to find consistency. The league's competitive narrative is further enriched by individual stories—Mace's redemption after an England snub, Larkin's emergence as a goal‑scoring midfielder for Palace, and Seike's decisive contributions for Brighton—all of which add depth to a season that promises more excitement as the title race intensifies and the battle for European qualification heats up.