- Palace one of three sides battling for two automatic promotion places
- WSL expansion offers huge opportunity
- Blockbuster final day
Crystal Palace’s Women are closing in on an immediate return to the WSL after their relegation last season. Palace are currently third in WSL2, tied on points with Birmingham in second and one behind South London Rivals Charlton Athletic who top the table.
On the final day of the season, both Birmingham and Charlton face each other on the final day of the season, and therefore promotion is firmly in Palace’s hands. With three teams in the hunt, and just two promotion places up for grabs, it’s set up to be an enthralling final day.
The third placed side will now play a promotion/relegation play-off tie against the bottom side in the WSL, as the league is expanded to 14 teams from the 2026/27 campaign. This expansion has offered a monumental chance for up to three sides to return to the top flight, where just one has gone up before.
Palace’s Final Day
Jo Potter’s Palace side will host Portsmouth on the final day this Saturday, who are bottom of WSL2 and have already been relegated. A draw may be enough for the Eagles if Charlton win, but the best way to secure and confirm their promotion, avoiding the play-off, would be to beat Pompey.
In the reverse fixture back in November, Palace fell to a 2-1 defeat. Palace have won six of their last seven league games, including three consecutive wins heading into this final fixture.
Amongst those wins are victories over both Charlton, a 3-2 home win, and Blues, a 3-1 win away from home.
Palace have actually done the double over Birmingham, winning both games with an aggregate score of 6-1.
Saturday’s opponents Portsmouth are on a dismal run of form, with just one win and two draws in their last twelve league games. Their last win was a huge shock, beating Charlton 2-0 away, but are currently on a run of three consecutive losses.
Potter will be hoping she can guide her team beyond a deflated Pompey side, and regain Palace’s WSL status.
League expansion a huge opportunity for Palace
The expansion in the WSL is a massive chance for the clubs fighting at the top of the second division to cement themselves in the top flight.
A huge challenge for Women’s football has been promoted sides building enough to stay up in the top division, so with the chance for three sides to be promoted and battle for survival increases the likelihood of survival next campaign.
In Palace’s only ever campaign in the Women’s Super League, they finished bottom of the table, ten points behind Tottenham Hotspur above them. A measly two wins in 22 games signifies the gulf between the two divisions, where consistent WSL sides have been able to grow and build elite sides that are simply too good to go down.
Palace kick off on Saturday at 3pm. It’s in their hands, and everyone invested in the club will be hoping to see a positive result and a second promotion to the top flight of English Women’s football.
