This expansion will allow up to three teams to achieve promotion, providing a boost to North East clubs [Newcastle United](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle), Sunderland, and Durham Women, who all have ambitions of reaching the top tier.
Durham finished fourth last season, with newly-promoted Newcastle one place behind.
Sunderland ended the season in seventh, despite competing for the title the year before.
Expansion plans, approved by clubs on Monday, end months of speculation about changes in the league following suggestions in March that relegation could temporarily be scrapped in the WSL.
Proposals were presented at a shareholders' meeting by WSL Football, the company in charge of the top two tiers.
Currently, only WSL 2 winners earn promotion, with the bottom club in the WSL relegated, however, starting next season, the top two sides from the second tier, WSL 2, will automatically be promoted.
The third-placed team in the WSL 2 will face a play-off with the WSL's bottom side for a place in the top flight.
These changes will help achieve the expansion of the league to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season.
From then on, there will be one automatic promotion spot for the winner of WSL 2, with the bottom team in the WSL relegated.
In addition, there will be a play-off between the second bottom of the WSL and the runners-up in WSL 2.
The FA will decide the next steps for the lower tiers, with the expectation that the winners from the National League Premier Division North and the National League Premier Division South will gain automatic promotion into the WSL 2 next season.
Runners-up from those third-tier divisions would then take part in a play-off match for the final promotion spot in the second tier.
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Durham Women gained new investors in Euromillions winners Patrick and Frances Connolly in February.
The couple bought a 25 per cent stake in the club and have ambitions of helping the Wildcats to find a bespoke new home.
Sunderland and Newcastle both set league record attendances last season when Stadium of Light and St James' Park hosted derby games between the two bitter rivals.