The 2017–18 FA Women's Premier League Plate is the fourth running of the competition, which began in 2014.
All 71 Premier League clubs were included in the determining round draw, with 36 teams progressing in the Cup and 35 continuing in the Plate.
Reigning champions Lewes, who beat Huddersfield Town 4–0 in the 2016–17 final,[2] won their determining Round match this season, meaning that they did not defend their title.
Due to there being 35 teams in the competition, three preliminary round matches are played to eliminate three teams allowing a full single-elimination knockout tournament to take place.
The eight second round matches were originally scheduled to be played on Sunday 10 December 2017 before all except one were postponed due to severe weather throughout the country.