Chelsea comfortably dispatched West Ham United at Victoria Road, cementing their position at the summit of the Women's Super League. Although they have played one more match than league leaders Manchester City, who host Arsenal later on Sunday, the Blues’ win keeps them firmly in the title conversation. The match was not a walkover; Chelsea had to grind for their breakthrough. It was only eight minutes before the halftime whistle that they finally found the net.
Summer acquisition Melvine Malard, who arrived from Manchester United, calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the visitors a slender lead. After the break, the Hammers continued to press and test Sonia Bompastor’s side, but the decisive moment arrived with ten minutes remaining.
England midfielder Keira Walsh, already on a good scoring run, struck from the edge of the box for her third goal of the season, putting the game beyond doubt. A few minutes later, Maika Hamano added a second for Chelsea, heading home from a far‑post cross with three minutes left, preserving the team’s unbeaten start to the campaign. In another headline‑making performance, London City Lionesses demonstrated why they are serious title contenders with a commanding 6‑1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Spurs had arrived unbeaten in the top flight, but the Lionesses turned the encounter into a showcase of attacking flair. Spanish star Alexia Putellas opened the scoring just three minutes after kickoff, capitalising on a rebound that followed a long‑range attempt from Grave Geyoro. Her second came shortly thereafter, as a well‑timed cross from Lucia Corrales was met by Kadidiatou Diani, who tucked the ball into an empty net for her first WSL goal.
Putellas added a third from a corner, after a clever movement by Danielle van de Donk, who unfortunately missed an easy chance that would have made it 4‑0. Tottenham’s only bright moment of the first half arrived when Julie Blakstad’s free‑kick was deflected onto the bar. The second half proved even more difficult for the north London side. Corrales again found Diani, this time with a low cross from the right that slipped under goalkeeper Lize Kop, making it 5‑0.
A consolation came when Victoria Pelova headed home from a Blakstad delivery, but the Lionesses’ defence continued to crumble as a Kop clearance fell straight to Diani, who calmly finished for her second of the night. Finally, Delphine Cascarino capped the rout with a late tap‑in, completing a six‑goal haul. Elsewhere, Ruby Mace responded to her omission from Sarina Wiegman’s England squad by delivering a two‑goal performance for Everton in a 2‑1 victory over Birmingham City. After being left out of the Lionesses’ upcoming international break, Mace made her point early, converting a rebound after Yuka Momiki’s effort struck the post.
Everton had dominated the opening exchanges, with Mace and Maria Vignolia forcing goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley into several early saves. Birmingham’s Oceane Hurtre, who has now scored five goals in five WSL matches, reduced the deficit with a low finish after a breakaway, but Everton were forced to cope with a serious injury to Zara Kramžar before the break.
The second half saw Birmingham press, with Hurtre having a penalty claim waved away and Lily Crosthwaite missing a good chance from a created opening. Mace then secured her second goal with a powerful long‑range strike that took a double deflection before finding the far corner. Birmingham remain winless since their promotion, sitting second‑bottom, while Everton climb back to fifth place, overtaking Merseyside rivals Liverpool after last week’s derby loss.
In the South London clash, Abbie Larkin earned Crystal Palace a point with a long‑range effort that levelled the score after Noelle Maritz had given Aston Villa the lead. Palace, under interim coach Brian Sorensen following the dismissal of Natalia Arroyo, were on the verge of their first win of the season but settled for a draw at Villa Park. Maritz’s first‑time finish put Villa ahead early in the second half, but Larkin surged forward, cutting inside and firing a low shot that bounced past goalkeeper Akane Okuma.
Both sides created late chances – Villa substitute Georgia Mullet side‑footed over from close range, while Palace’s Shannon O’Brien missed a clear‑cut opportunity in stoppage time. Brighton & Hove Albion delivered a crushing defeat to newcomers Charlton Athletic, with Kiko Seike scoring a brace as the visitors recorded their fifth loss of the season. Charlton’s Cassandra Korhonen gave her side an early lead in the third minute, tapping in after her initial shot was saved. Brighton equalised when Seike nudged the ball home from close range after Olivia Garcia’s diligent work.
Before the break, Seike’s pace down the left wing produced a second goal, as she laid the ball off to Fran Kirby, who slotted home. The second half saw Seike add a third, sealing Brighton’s dominance. Charlton’s misery continued in stoppage time when Maisie Symonds delivered a cross that found Gabrille George, who headed home, and later, a second late goal followed a cross from Symonds that was headed in by another attacker.
Brighton’s comprehensive win underlines their ambition to challenge for the title, while Charlton must regroup after a heavy defeat. Overall, the week’s action highlighted the growing gap between the league’s frontrunners and those still finding their footing. Chelsea and London City reinforced their status as title contenders, while clubs like Birmingham and Charlton face uphill battles to secure points. The competition remains fierce, with every match offering a chance for teams to climb the table and fans to enjoy high‑quality football across the Women’s Super League.