WSL 2 Promotion Race Intensifies
Wilma Leidhammar joined Birmingham City in January for a club record fee.
With fewer than four weeks remaining in the Women's Super League 2 season, four clubs remain in contention for promotion, with the league title still undecided.
Birmingham City currently lead the standings, narrowly ahead of Charlton Athletic on goal difference, while Crystal Palace and Newcastle United also remain competitive.
The top two teams will secure automatic promotion to England's top tier, while the third-placed team will enter a play-off against the bottom club from the WSL.
Birmingham narrowly missed promotion last season to London City Lionesses on the final day and are determined to return to the top division.
"We were one of the founding members of the WSL and now if you look at the investment that's been done, the infrastructure, the ambition... absolutely we should be in WSL," manager Amy Merricks told .
"But we have to earn the right. I think emotion is good. We have real experience under our belts of managing the situation.
"Last season, there's probably moments where we thought we were out of it. We weren't out of it until the last minute of the last day.
"I truly believe in this group, the quality and the ability that we have, and that's why I'm excited."
"Everyone's fighting for everything"
Birmingham spent much of the campaign chasing Charlton, who led the table until recent weeks. However, Birmingham have won three consecutive matches to overtake Charlton on goal difference, with only two games remaining.
The title race is expected to be decided on the final day when Birmingham travel to Charlton on 2 May at 15:00 BST.
Regarding the pressure following last season's near miss, Merricks said:
"External noise is external noise. We're in that position because we did so well last season and we have real ambition," she said.
"If you come to Birmingham, you have to accept that. We look for that ambition in players when we recruit because that's what we're about and the direction we're moving in.
"We're fighting for something and that's where we want to be. We've said there's no limits here. You want to win again and again.
"What that means is WSL football, then the Champions League and then you go again. It should be that in elite sports. You want to be the best, don't you?"
Birmingham have seen significant investment in recent years, including NFL legend Tom Brady becoming a minority owner. In February, US-based Shelby Companies Limited acquired the women's team, with former England and Birmingham star Karen Carney among several independent investors involved.
In January, Birmingham broke their club record transfer to sign midfielder Wilma Leidhammar. The club is also completing the construction of a new gym at their training ground this month. Merricks affirms the club is "WSL ready."
In contrast, Charlton operate with one of the lowest budgets in WSL 2 and have relied on astute signings and a strong defensive record.
Charlton have conceded the fewest goals in the league (17), kept the most clean sheets (eight), and maintained a 27-game unbeaten streak that ended in March.
Despite opening a nine-point lead earlier in the season, three defeats in their last four matches mean Charlton must continue to fight for promotion.
"Everyone's fighting for everything. We are certainly fighting as well. You look at all the points, you look how tight it is at the top and at the bottom," manager Karen Hills told .
"It's just an incredible league. If you'd have told me in pre-season this is where we would be at this point in the season I'd have bitten your hand off.
"But these players deserve to be where they are. If we were to be promoted then I believe it's probably one of the greatest achievements in my career."
"We've still got work to do"
England midfielder Jordan Nobbs is among the stars to have joined Newcastle.
Newcastle have drawn three consecutive matches, causing them to fall behind in the promotion race, though they remain mathematically capable of securing promotion.
However, Newcastle face a challenging task, needing to overcome a five-point deficit to Crystal Palace in their final two games.
Crystal Palace were relegated from the WSL in April after only being promoted in 2024. During their brief top-flight tenure, they underwent two managerial changes.
The appointment of former Rangers manager Jo Potter in June revitalized the club, with Palace winning five of their last six matches to solidify third place, three points behind the top two.
Palace's remaining fixtures are against teams in the bottom five, which could be advantageous, but Newcastle are focused on long-term development regardless of the outcome.
"The club is ambitious. This league is so competitive. The club knows that and we know where we want to get to, but we have to also do that in a sustainable way," Newcastle boss Tanya Oxtoby told .
"We've still got work to do. I think every team in our position would say that but we have the foundations there to launch and I think that's the most important thing.
"Everything that we're doing is to be WSL ready and that started the moment I walked in the door. We are heading in the right direction for sure."
"We'll be even hungrier next season"
Bristol City conceded a late goal in a 2-2 draw against Durham on Sunday, eliminating them from the promotion race.
The Robins have undergone significant changes this season, including a takeover by investors Mercury13 and the appointment of Charlotte Healy as manager.
Inconsistency on the pitch has hindered their promotion ambitions, but interim chief executive officer Lowri Roberts emphasized that a project initiated two years ago aims to build towards a WSL return.
Changes include new staff in analysis, medical, and physical performance departments, alongside clear recruitment goals and commercial expansion at Ashton Gate stadium.
"I feel so proud to be able to show people around [our training ground]. It's an incredible facility and a really special environment," Roberts told .
"I came in to develop a new women's football strategy. It was all around how we bring in new investment to be able to unlock its true potential.
"I think we're now building a staffing structure who are excited about the future, have got a real thirst for development and want to grow in their roles.
"If we have to be patient and wait another season, then we'll be even hungrier and even better set up."
Manager Healy had to adapt quickly, integrating 13 new players over the summer and adding staff.
"It was a case of trying to build foundations on and off the pitch to enable us to be in a position where we can compete in this league," she said.
"If we want to attract the level of player that we want to, then we have to make sure that we can support those players and give them the best opportunity to perform."
Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie return for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday on , with interviews and additional content from the Women's Super League and beyond available on the Women's Football Weekly feed.
