# 2017–18 FA WSL

The 2017–18 FA WSL was the seventh edition of the FA WSL since it was formed in 2010. It was the first season of WSL which ran as a winter league. It started in September 2017 and ended in May 2018, with ten teams competing in both leagues.
The Football Association removed promotion and relegation between the two tiers for the end of the season. The league was instead restructured, with clubs required to apply for licenses under new criteria for the top tier in the 2018–19 season.
A one-off competition, the FA WSL Spring Series, ran from February to May 2017 to bridge the gap from the 2016 FA WSL season.

## Teams

With the collapse of Notts County Ladies just prior to the Spring Series, the ten clubs of WSL2 were invited to apply for a place in the 2017–18 season. Two sides, champions Everton and runners-up Doncaster Rovers, applied. On 9 June 2017, subject to appeal, Everton were awarded the position.

### WSL 1

| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2016 season | Spring Series |
| Arsenal | Borehamwood | Meadow Park | 4,502 | 3rd | 3rd |
| Birmingham City | Solihull | Damson Park | 3,050 | 5th | 7th |
| Bristol City | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | 1,500 | 2nd, WSL 2 | 8th |
| Chelsea | Kingston upon Thames | Kingsmeadow | 4,850 | 2nd | 1st |
| Everton | Widnes | Select Security Stadium | 13,350 | 3rd, WSL 2 | 1st, WSL2 |
| Liverpool | Widnes | Select Security Stadium | 13,350 | 4th | 4th |
| Manchester City | Manchester | Academy Stadium | 7,000 | 1st | 2nd |
| Reading | High Wycombe | Adams Park | 9,617 | 8th | 6th |
| Sunderland | South Shields | Mariners Park | 3,000 | 7th | 5th |
| Yeovil Town | Yeovil | Huish Park | 9,565 | 1st, WSL 2 | 9th |

### WSL 2

| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2016 season | Spring Series |
| Aston Villa | Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 | 7th | 4th |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Lancing | Culver Road | 2,000 | 1st, 2015–16 WPL | 6th |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 | 9th, WSL 1 | 2nd |
| Durham | Durham | New Ferens Park | 3,000 | 4th | 5th |
| London Bees | Canons Park | The Hive Stadium | 5,176 | 6th | 7th |
| Millwall Lionesses | Bermondsey | St. Paul's Sports Ground | 2,500 | 8th | 3rd |
| Oxford United | Marston | Court Place Farm | 3,200 | 9th | 10th |
| Sheffield | Dronfield | Coach and Horses | 2,000 | 5th | 9th |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Cheshunt | The Stadium | 3,000 | 1st, 2016–17 WPL | n/a |
| Watford | Kings Langley | Global Metcorp Stadium | 1,000 | 10th | 8th |

## WSL 1

Ten teams competed this season. Following the closure of Notts County Ladies in April 2017, the FA announced that one place in the league would be given to a team which competed in the Spring Series, based on an evaluation by the FA of applicant clubs' business plans, budget, youth development, facilities and on-pitch performance. The place was subsequently given to Everton.
There was no relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Chelsea (C, Q) | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 13 | +31 | 44 | Qualification for the Champions League |
| 2 | Manchester City (Q) | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 51 | 17 | +34 | 38 | Qualification for the Champions League |
| 3 | Arsenal | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 38 | 18 | +20 | 37 | |
| 4 | Reading | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 18 | +22 | 32 | |
| 5 | Birmingham City | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 30 | |
| 6 | Liverpool | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 28 | |
| 7 | Sunderland (R) | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 40 | −25 | 16 | Did not apply for a licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League |
| 8 | Bristol City | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 47 | −34 | 16 | |
| 9 | Everton | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 30 | −11 | 14 | |
| 10 | Yeovil Town | 18 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 54 | −52 | 2 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | BIR | BRI | CHE | EVE | LIV | MCI | REA | SUN | YEO |
| Arsenal | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 |
| Birmingham City | 3–0 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| Bristol City | 1–6 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–6 | 0–5 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Chelsea | 3–2 | 2–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 6–0 |
| Everton | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 |
| Liverpool | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 8–0 |
| Manchester City | 5–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | — | 0–2 | 3–0 | 5–0 |
| Reading | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–5 | — | 0–1 | 3–0 |
| Sunderland | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 |
| Yeovil Town | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–1 | — |

### Top goalscorers

    As of 20 May 2018
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Ellen White | Birmingham City | 15 |
| 2 | Nikita Parris | Manchester City | 11 |
| 3 | Beth England | Liverpool | 10 |
| 4 | Remi Allen | Reading | 9 |
| 4 | Isobel Christiansen | Manchester City | 9 |
| 6 | Brooke Chaplen | Reading | 8 |
| 6 | Fran Kirby | Chelsea | 8 |
| 6 | Beth Mead | Arsenal | 8 |

## WSL 2

Ten teams competed during this season.
There was no promotion or relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers Belles (C, R) | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 15 | +37 | 47 | Obtained then gave up Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League |
| 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion (P) | 18 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 37 | Awarded a Tier 1 licence |
| 3 | Millwall Lionesses | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 23 | +17 | 36 | |
| 4 | Durham | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 35 | |
| 5 | Sheffield (R) | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 28 | Obtained then gave up Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League |
| 6 | London Bees | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 23 | |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 34 | −2 | 22 | |
| 8 | Oxford United (R) | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 41 | −17 | 12 | Failed to obtain a Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 21 | 40 | −19 | 11 | |
| 10 | Watford (R) | 18 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 57 | −49 | 4 | Failed to obtain a Tier 2 licence, Relegated to the FA Women's National League |
* ↑ Millwall Lionesses had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their first game of the season against Watford.

### Results

| Home \ Away | AST | BRI | DON | DUR | LON | MIL | OXF | SHE | TOT | WAT |
| Aston Villa | — | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | 6–0 | 4–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 |
| Durham | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| London Bees | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | — | 2–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Millwall Lionesses | 2–1 | 4–3 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 |
| Oxford United | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| Sheffield | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | — | 4–3 | 4–0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 6–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 | — | 6–0 |
| Watford | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | — |

### Top goalscorers

    As of 20 May 2018.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Jessica Sigsworth | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 15 |
| 2 | Melissa Johnson | Sheffield F.C. Ladies | 12 |
| 3 | Kirsty Hanson | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 11 |
| 3 | Beth Hepple | Durham W.F.C. | 11 |
| 5 | Charlie Devlin | Millwall Lionesses | 9 |