Chelsea comfortably defeated West Ham United at Victoria Road, propelling them to the summit of the Women's Super League standings, even though they have played one more match than the league leaders Manchester City, who are set to host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. The Blues had to exert themselves for the win, and it was not until eight minutes before the interval that they finally found the breakthrough. Summer signing Melvine Malard, who arrived from Manchester United, slipped a composed shot into the bottom corner to put Chelsea ahead.
After the break, the Hammers continued to test Sonia Bompastor’s side, creating several chances and keeping the visitors on their toes. The decisive moment arrived with ten minutes remaining when England midfielder Keira Walsh struck from the edge of the box, netting her third goal of the season and giving Chelsea a comfortable cushion.
The final blow came in the 87th minute when Maika Hamano headed in from a far‑post cross, sealing a 3‑0 triumph and preserving the Blues' unbeaten start to the campaign. In a separate fixture, London City Lionesses underlined their title‑contending credentials with a dominant 6‑1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Spurs, who had remained unbeaten in the top tier up to that point, were overwhelmed as Spanish star Alexia Putellas recorded a brace after opening the scoring against Brighton the previous weekend. Putellas was quick to make an impact, converting a rebound just three minutes into the match after a long‑range effort from Grave Geyoro was deflected into her path.
The Lionesses' second goal was the result of a fluid team move: Lucia Corrales delivered a low cross that Kadidiatou Diani slotted home into an empty net, marking the French forward’s first WSL goal. Putellas added a third from a corner, benefiting from a well‑timed run by Danielle van de Donk, who later missed an open chance that would have made it 4‑0.
Tottenham’s only first‑half chance fell to Julie Blakstad, whose free‑kick struck the bar. Early in the second half, Corrales again found Diani with a cross from the right, and the striker calmly finished past goalkeeper Lize Kop. Spurs managed to pull one back when Victoria Pelova finished from a left‑wing cross by Blakstad, but defensive frailties persisted. A clearance by Kop rebounded to Diani, who tapped in her second goal.
Near the end, Delphine Cascarino added a sixth, sliding the ball under Kop’s outstretched arms. Elsewhere, Ruby Mace responded to her omission from Sarina Wiegman's England squad by delivering a two‑goal performance in Everton’s 2‑1 win over Birmingham City.
After being controversially left out of the Lionesses’ roster for the upcoming international break, Mace opened the scoring with a well‑timed finish inside the box after Yuka Momiki’s effort hit the post. Everton dominated the early exchanges, forcing Birmingham keeper Sophie Baggaley into several early saves.
Birmingham’s Oceane Hurtre, who has now scored five goals in five WSL matches this season, reduced the deficit with a low finish following a breakaway. Everton were forced to cope with a serious injury to Zara Kramžar before halftime, and Birmingham took control of much of the second half. Hurtre had a penalty appeal waved away, and Lily Crosthwaite’s curling effort from a good position went wide.
Mace then struck her second of the game from distance; the shot took a double deflection before finding the far corner, sealing the win. Birmingham continue to struggle, still winless since their promotion and sitting second‑bottom, while Everton climb to fifth place, moving ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool after last week’s derby loss. In the match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, Abbie Larkin earned a point for the hosts with a long‑range strike that levelled Noelle Maritz’s early goal for Villa. Palace, under interim coach Brian Sorensen after the recent dismissal of Natalia Arroyo, were poised for their first win of the season, but Larkin’s equaliser ensured they walked away with a draw at Villa Park.
Maritz’s first‑time finish gave Villa the lead early in the second half, but Larkin surged forward from midfield and fired a low shot that bounced past goalkeeper Akane Okuma. Both teams created late chances: Villa substitute Georgia Mullet side‑footed a close‑range effort over the bar, while Palace’s Shannon O'Brien missed an even better opportunity in stoppage time. Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a crushing defeat to newcomers Charlton Athletic, with Kiko Seike scoring a brace to secure a 5‑1 victory.
Charlton’s Cassandra Korhonen gave the visitors an early lead in the third minute, tapping in after her initial shot was saved. Brighton responded quickly when Seike tapped in from close range after Olivia Garcia’s good work. Seike then set up a second goal with a driving run down the left, delivering a pass to Fran Kirby, who finished before the break.
After the interval, Seike extended the lead, and Brighton added two more in stoppage time: Maisie Symonds’ cross found the net, and Gabriele George headed home to complete the rout. Overall, the week showcased the growing competitiveness of the Women’s Super League, with Chelsea and Manchester City solidifying their positions at the top, while emerging talents like Malard, Mace, and Seike highlighted the depth of quality across the league. The matches also underscored the importance of squad depth, tactical adaptability, and the impact of individual brilliance on the evolving landscape of women's football in England.