From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.

[12] During the season the club had been linked with a transfer bid for North American star players Tiffeny Milbrett and Christine Sinclair.

[13] After an eighth-place finish in 2006–07, Gore drafted in England players Siobhan Chamberlain, Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko that summer.

[14] American World Cup winner Lorrie Fair, regarded as one of the best midfielders in the women's game, joined in January as Chelsea finished 2007–08 in fifth position.

On 2 July 2008 Chelsea surprisingly signed Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante from Arsenal Ladies,[16] in addition to veteran Mary Phillip.

Mary Phillip retired a month into the new season,[17] Aluko and Asante left for the new WPS in March 2009, while Fair missed the whole campaign with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in May 2008.

[21] On 13 April 2011, the first-ever WSL fixture was played — at Imperial Fields, Chelsea's home ground — between them and Arsenal, which they lost 1–0.

[22] Beard led the club to the Women's FA Cup final for the first time in 2012, but Chelsea were eventually beaten by Birmingham City on a penalty shootout after twice taking the lead in a 2–2 draw.

[27] The 2014 season was successful for Chelsea, as they finished second in the WSL behind Liverpool on goal difference, after eight wins, two draws and four losses.

Their second-place finish meant that they qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

[30] The team then beat Sunderland 4–0 in October 2015 to secure the FA WSL title and a League and Cup double.

[33] Chelsea were awarded the 2019–20 WSL title on a points-per-game basis after the season had to be abruptly terminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[38] Given their remarkable performances over the season, Suzanne Wrack of The Guardian stated that Chelsea was "one of the best women's teams to ever play in England's top flight".

[40] On 5 December 2021, Chelsea won the delayed 2020–21 FA Cup, beating the league leaders Arsenal 3–0 in a dominant display with goals from Kirby and two from Kerr, winning their first domestic treble.

[52] Their current home attendance record at their primary ground of Kingsmeadow is 4,670, set on 28 April 2019 in a Champion's League semi-final leg against Lyon.

[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.