Reigning champions Chelsea kick off their 2025/26 WSL campaign on Friday night when they host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge as the Blues look to defend their fifth successive title. Sonia Bompastor and their team have got their eyes set on another year of glory after completing a domestic treble this year, but the competition for the Blues continues to grow.
Aside from the Champions League, Bompastor's first year in charge of Chelsea could not have gone much better, as the London Outfit walked the WSL, achieving an invincible season, one of the few feats that had alluded them, becoming the first team to do so in a 22-game WSL campaign.
They will once again be looking to get off to a fast start this season, but will have to face one of their toughest opponents in Manchester City in the opening match of the 25/26 season. The Citizens are led by a new face this season in Andrée Jeglertz, who joined the club following the conclusion of the Euro 2025 campaign, in which he was the manager of Denmark.
It was a relatively disappointing campaign for City last time out, who dropped out of the Champions League spots, meaning they are without Europe this season. They also endured multiple tough matches against Chelsea, playing them on five occasions last season, beating them only once.
After a reset over the summer, City will be looking to hit the ground running in the latest edition of the WSL, but a meeting with Chelsea makes this a tough ask.
Chelsea:
The biggest and certainly most exciting piece of news for the Chelsea fans will be the imminent return of Sam Kerr, who is set to be in the matchday squad for the first time in 20 months and the first time under Bompastor. It could not have come at a much better time for the Blues after Mayra Ramírez recently underwent surgery that sees her out of action for a lengthy period.
Also missing for Chelsea are England duo Lucy Bronze and Lauren James. Bronze continues to recover from a fractured tibia and remains a few weeks out from being back on the pitch, whilst James is also not ready for the season opener.
Manchester City:
Similar to Chelsea, Manchester City's star striker will be making her return to the matchday squad as Bunny Shaw looks set to feature for the first time since the League Cup final in March, which coincidentally was played against Chelsea.
Defender Rebecca Knaak, however, is a player that Manchester City will be without against Chelsea after she sustained a meniscus injury while on international duty with Germany in the Euros.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea: (4-2-3-1)
Hampton; Carpenter, Bright, Girma, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Nusken, Macario; Beever-Jones
Manchester City: (3-4-3)
Keating; Rose, Prior, Greenwood; Casparij, Hasegawa, Lohmann, Beney; Kerolin, Miedema, Shaw
Key players
Chelsea - Erin Cuthbert
Throughout her whole time at Chelsea, Erin Cuthbert has been so consistent. This was no different last season, where she put in some superb displays, especially against her opponents this Friday.
The Blues will be looking to establish early control against the Citizens, dictating play in the central areas - who better to call upon to do just this than Cuthbert?
Last season, the 27-year-old averaged 2.5 tackles won per 90 minutes, alongside 6.79 duels won and 6.63 recoveries, ranking her, defensively, amongst some of the best midfielders in the division.
Chelsea will be hoping that the Scotland international will gain control from minute one against Manchester City. If she can, then Chelsea should be in for a good evening.
Manchester City - Bunny Shaw
The Jamaican international will have a point to prove in her first game back for Manchester City since March. She was unable to impact three of the key matches against Chelsea last season due to injury, but will be desperate to do so in this one.
In the fourteen matches that she played in the WSL last season, Shaw scored 12 goals, a fantastic record that shows just how clinical the 28-year-old is. Her record of 88 goals in 104 games for Manchester City only adds to this point.
Shaw certainly has the capacity to hurt Chelsea. There is certainly the feeling that if Manchester City do overcome the Blues in the opening game of the season, she will play a big part in it.