| Season: | 2017–18 |
| Matches: | 90 |
| Total Goals: | 282 |
| Nextseason: | 2018–19 |
The 2017–18 FA WSL was the seventh edition of the FA WSL since it was formed in 2010. It was the first season of WSL which ran as a winter league.[1] It started in September 2017 and ended in May 2018, with ten teams competing in both leagues.[2] [3]
The Football Association removed promotion and relegation between the two tiers for the end of the season. The league was instead restructured, with clubs required to apply for licenses under new criteria for the top tier in the 2018–19 season.[4]
A one-off competition, the FA WSL Spring Series, ran from February to May 2017 to bridge the gap from the 2016 FA WSL season.[5]
With the collapse of Notts County Ladies just prior to the Spring Series, the ten clubs of WSL2 were invited to apply for a place in the 2017–18 season. Two sides, champions Everton and runners-up Doncaster Rovers, applied. On 9 June 2017, subject to appeal, Everton were awarded the position.[6]
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | data-sort-type=number | 2016 season ! | data-sort-type=number | Spring Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,502 | 3rd | 3rd | |||||
| 3,050 | 5th | 7th | |||||
| 1,500 | 8th | ||||||
| 4,850 | 2nd | 1st | |||||
| 13,350 | 1st, WSL2 | ||||||
| 13,350 | 4th | 4th | |||||
| 7,000 | 1st | 2nd | |||||
| 9,617 | 8th | 6th | |||||
| 3,000 | 7th | 5th | |||||
| 9,565 | 9th |
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | data-sort-type="number" | 2016 season ! | Spring Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | 7th | 4th | ||||
| 2,000 | 6th | |||||
| 15,231 | 2nd | |||||
| 3,000 | 4th | 5th | ||||
| 5,176 | 6th | 7th | ||||
| 2,500 | 8th | 3rd | ||||
| 3,200 | 9th | 10th | ||||
| 2,000 | 5th | 9th | ||||
| 3,000 | n/a | |||||
| 1,000 | 10th | 8th |
| Competition: | FA WSL 1 |
| Season: | 2017–18 |
| Winners: | Chelsea |
| Continentalcup: | Champions League |
| Continentalcup Qualifiers: | Chelsea Manchester City |
| League Topscorer: | Ellen White (15 goals) |
| Biggest Home Win: | (6 January 2018) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (30 September 2017) |
| Highest Scoring: | (6 January 2018) |
| Matches: | 90 |
| Total Goals: | 282 |
| Prevseason: | Spring Series |
| Nextseason: | 2018–19 |
Ten teams competed this season. Following the closure of Notts County Ladies in April 2017, the FA announced that one place in the league would be given to a team which competed in the Spring Series, based on an evaluation by the FA of applicant clubs' business plans, budget, youth development, facilities and on-pitch performance. The place was subsequently given to Everton.[6]
There was no relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.
| Competition: | FA WSL 2 |
| Season: | 2017–18 |
| Winners: | Doncaster Rovers Belles |
| League Topscorer: | Jessica Sigsworth (15 goals) |
| Biggest Home Win: | (29 October 2017) Tottenham Hotspur 6–0 Watford (22 February 2018) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (16 May 2018) |
| Highest Scoring: | (29 April 2018) |
| Matches: | 90 |
| Total Goals: | 325 |
| Prevseason: | Spring Series |
| Nextseason: | 2018–19 |
Ten teams competed during this season.
There was no promotion or relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Sigsworth | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 15 |
| 2 | Melissa Johnson | Sheffield F.C. Ladies | 12 |
| 3 | Kirsty Hanson | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 11 |
| Beth Hepple | Durham W.F.C. | ||
| 5 | Charlie Devlin | Millwall Lionesses | 9 |