- WSL competition not to be underestimated
- Potter should harness Palace’s attacking threat
- Defensive control needs to be strengthened
Crystal Palace Women will take part in the Women’s Super League 2026/27 season, after manager Jo Potter guided Palace to promotion on the final day of the season.
Palace’s second-ever WSL campaign will begin on Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September, with fixtures being released on Sunday 22 May.
Potter’s side will be hoping for a more successful campaign than their debut, with an opportunity to try and consolidate themselves within the expanded top flight division.
The promotion winning season was great for Palace, but here are three areas the Eagles need to strengthen ahead of the new campaign:
1 – Efficiency in the final third
Palace were one of the top goalscoring threats in the WSL2 last season, finishing with their 6-1 victory over Portsmouth to secure promotion.
However, throughout the season Palace were not always efficient in front of goal, particularly in the early stages of matches. Slow starts to games saw the Eagles dominate possession but struggling to convert chances, often allowing the opponents to go ahead.
There were also moments where cohesion in the final third was lacking, with crosses frequently failing to find targets. In the WSL next season there will be fewer chances against tough defensive opposition, and Palace will need to be precise on the attack.
Palace already have a strong attacking record, but improving chance conversion and attacking connectivity will be crucial for taking points against tougher competition.
2 – Faster starts and early-season momentum
Despite winning promotion to the WSL this season, Palace struggled in the opening months of the WSL2 campaign. The margin of error which allowed them to climb the table and finish second will not exist in the WSL, especially with the expanded table of 14 teams.
Every point will matter next season in securing safety, with 14th place automatically relegated and the 13th place team playing the relegation play-off with the second place WSL team. Building confidence early on in the season will be crucial to holding some momentum throughout the campaign.
Potter needs to prepare the team for the step up in intensity and competition so that Palace can face their first few games with the hope of achieving something from them.
3 – Defensive control and game management
Palace kept clean sheets in just 27% of their league matches last season, and were frequently involved in open, high-scoring matches.
This may have proved effective in the end against WSL2 competition, but in the top flight it is an unsuitable style of play against more clinical WSL sides. Palace need to strengthen their defensive organisation, especially for protecting leads or minimising goal scoring opportunities.
Ball retention will also be key, when against higher-quality opposition periods without possession will increase and careless turnovers become costly. Adding control in midfield and strengthening defensive depth is a crucial area Potter should be working on in the summer.
