WSL opening weekend gives early advantage to winning clubs

London City Lionesses, Arsenal and Manchester City began the 2026/27 Women’s Super League season with victories, while Chelsea and Manchester United made slower starts.[12] Alexia Putellas debuted for London City in a winning performance that became the central focus of analysis from the opening round.[14] Why it matters: The first results put London City’s high-profile project under immediate scrutiny while giving Arsenal and Manchester City an early edge over Chelsea and Manchester United.[12][14] Key insights: London City’s win launched what Sky Sports described as the club’s “galactico era,” although greater consistency was identified as necessary for a sustained challenge.[12] | Putellas was involved in London City’s second-goal celebration with scorer Danielle van de Donk against Manchester United.[14] | The opening weekend featured both the arrival of new contenders and underwhelming starts from established teams.[12] Cheatsheet facts: What changed: London City, Arsenal and Manchester City opened with wins, while Chelsea and Manchester United dropped behind those rivals.[12] | Why now: The results came in the first round of fixtures in the 2026/27 WSL season.[12][14] | Watch next: London City’s subsequent league results will provide a measurable test of the consistency identified as necessary for a genuine challenge.[12]