Women's League Cup to be renamed Players Cup with new format

New Name and Format

The Women's League Cup will be rebranded as the Players Cup and operate under a league system with regionalised fixtures from the 2026-27 season. The changes were approved by clubs last November to address scheduling congestion and enhance player welfare.

Participation and Revised Structure

Under the new format, teams that qualify for the Women's Champions League are excluded. Consequently, holders Chelsea, WSL champions Manchester City, and runners-up Arsenal will miss this year's edition. The remaining 23 clubs from the top two tiers are split into Northern and Southern sections but will compete in a single league table.

Matches will take place from September to December on Champions League match nights. Each team plays three home and three away games against regional opponents, with three points for a win. If the score is level after normal time, a penalty shootout decides the winner, granting two points to the victor and one to the loser.

Knockout Rounds and Final

The top eight teams advance to the quarter-finals in January, with higher-placed finishers earning home advantage. The semi-finals are single-legged, hosted by the better-seeded side, and the final will be held at a neutral venue on the weekend of 13-14 March.

Objectives and Feedback

Zarah Al-Kudcy, WSL's chief revenue officer, said: "We wanted meaningful playing minutes for young and fringe players and to address disparity on playing opportunities across the leagues, without compromising our player welfare principles."

The revamp stems from consultations with clubs, players, and fans to better serve all teams in the top two divisions. Last season, the fixture gap between European and non-European sides exceeded ten games in many cases. Mirroring the Swiss-style Champions League format, the Players Cup aims to provide more minutes for teams that did not finish in the WSL top three.

Guaranteed New Winner

Since only Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have ever won the League Cup, and all three are excluded this season, the Players Cup will see a first-time champion in 2026-27.

Fixtures will be announced on Thursday, 6 August.