Structural Changes to the Women's League Cup
The competition formerly known as the Women's League Cup has been rebranded as the Players Cup for the 2026-27 season. The tournament will transition to a league-based structure, excluding teams qualified for the Women's Champions League. Consequently, 2025-26 holders Chelsea, along with Manchester City and Arsenal, will not participate.
Competition Mechanics
The 23 participating clubs from the top two divisions are divided into Northern and Southern sections, though they will compete within a single unified table. Key operational shifts include:
- Scheduling: Matches are set for September through December, coinciding with Champions League fixture windows.
- Regional Format: Each club will play three home and three away matches against regional opponents.
- Point Allocation: Standard wins earn three points. Draws after 90 minutes will be resolved via penalty shootout; the shootout winner earns two points, while the loser receives one.
- Knockout Progression: The top eight teams advance to the quarter-finals in January. Higher-seeded teams will host quarter-final and semi-final matches.
Strategic Objectives
According to WSL chief revenue officer Zarah Al-Kudcy, the restructuring aims to increase competitive minutes for fringe and youth players while addressing fixture disparities between clubs involved in European competition and those that are not. The removal of the "parachute" entry for Champions League sides ensures a new winner will be crowned for the 2026-27 cycle.
Next Steps
The official fixture list is scheduled for release on Thursday, 6 August. The final is confirmed for the weekend of 13-14 March at a neutral venue.
