It was the first season after a rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football.

Arsenal won their first WSL since 2012 with a 4–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

[2] Following restructuring of the women's game in order to provide for a fully professional Women's Super League (WSL), membership of both the first and second tier is subject to a licence, based on a series of off-the-field criteria.

Yeovil Town estimated the budget needed for a WSL season at about £350,000.

[4] Fifteen applications were received for both the top two tiers,[5] and West Ham were given a licence in the second stage, so that the league is made up of 11 teams.