FA Women's League Cup explained

FA Women's League Cup
Organiser:The Football Association
Number Of Teams:24
Current Champions:Arsenal (7th title)
Region:England
Most Successful Club:Arsenal (7 titles)
Current:2024–25 FA Women's League Cup

The FA Women's League Cup is a league cup competition in English women's association football. The competition was originally open to the eight teams in the FA WSL, but since the WSL's restructuring to two divisions, it has featured 23 teams. Prior to this it was known as the FA WSL Cup. Continental AG sponsored the competition from the inception until 2024 and during this period, the cup was referred to as the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup.[1] Following the completed takeover by Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), the cup is now referred to as The Women's League Cup.[2]

Thirteen editions have been played, with Arsenal being the most successful club with seven titles.

History

Before the creation of the FA Women's Super League the top women's clubs competed in the FA Women's Premier League Cup.

The first League Cup edition under the WSL was played after the inaugural FA WSL season. Arsenal, having already won the WSL and the FA Women's Cup, completed the national treble after a 4–1 win over Birmingham City.[3] [4]

The 2012 cup saw a change of format. The straight knock-out was abolished and group-stage with two groups was created. The top two of each group advance to the semi-finals.[5]

2014 saw 18 teams enter, with the new WSL 2 teams joining the WSL teams. There are three groups of six teams. In 2015 for the first time a quarter-final stage was played.

For 2016 the cup changed to a true knock-out format and abolished the group stage. A move which was made in agreement with the clubs to increase excitement and competitiveness.[6] With 19 teams, the bottom six teams play a preliminary round. The round of 16 following that is seeded, so that WSL 1 teams meet WSL 2 teams, who have home advantage.

In 2017–18 again a group stage was added.[7]

In 2018–19, as part of the restructuring of women's football, 22 teams entered. The competition was split up into 11 North and South, with each region having one group of six and one group of five. Each team would play one match against each other, with the top two in each group advancing to a quarter-final.[8]

The format was similar in 2019–20, with an extra team in the South. The groups are A (North, 6 teams) B (South, 6 teams) C (North, 5 teams) D (South, 6 teams) making 23 teams.

List of finals

Only Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have won the FA Women's League Cup. Arsenal, Birmingham City and Chelsea have lost the most finals, finishing as runners-up three times.[9]

Season!scope="col"
WinnersScoreRunners–upVenueAttendance
2011scope=rowArsenal4–1Birmingham CityPirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent2,167
2012scope=rowArsenal1–0Birmingham CityUnderhill Stadium, London2,535
2013scope=rowArsenal2–0LincolnThe Hive, London3,421
2014scope=rowManchester City1–0ArsenalAdams Park, High Wycombe3,697
2015scope=rowArsenal3–0Notts CountyNew York Stadium, Rotherham5,028
2016scope=rowManchester City1–0 Birmingham CityAcademy Stadium, Manchester4,214
2017–18scope=rowArsenal1–0Manchester CityAdams Park, High Wycombe2,136
2018–19scope=rowManchester City0–0 (4–2 p)ArsenalBramall Lane, Sheffield2,424
2019–20scope=rowChelsea2–1ArsenalCity Ground, Nottingham6,743
2020–21[10] scope=rowChelsea6–0Bristol CityVicarage Road, Watford0
2021–22[11] scope=rowManchester City3–1ChelseaPlough Lane, Wimbledon8,004
2022–23[12] scope=rowArsenal3–1ChelseaSelhurst Park, London19,010
2023–24scope=rowArsenal1–0 ChelseaMolineux Stadium, Wolverhampton21,462

Results by team

Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence.

Club!scope="col"
WinsFirst final wonLast final wonRunners-upLast final lostTotal final
appearances
scope=rowArsenal7201120243202010
scope=rowManchester City420142022120185
scope=rowChelsea220202021320245
scope=rowBirmingham City0320163
scope=rowLincoln0120131
scope=rowNotts County0120151
scope=rowBristol City0120211

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FA WSL goes Continental. The FA. 5 October 2011. 19 August 2011.
  2. Web site: WSL and Women's Championship takeover: Deal complete for club-owned body to replace FA . BBC Sport . 15 August 2024.
  3. Web site: VIDEO: Gunners lift Continental Cup. The FA. 5 October 2011. 25 September 2011.
  4. Web site: Arsenal and Tavagnacco take first-leg leads. UEFA. 5 October 2011. 29 September 2011.
  5. Web site: FA WSL Conti Cup draw announced. fawsl.com. 21 February 2012. 21 February 2012.
  6. Web site: FA WSL Continental Cup is knockout! . shekicks.net . 10 December 2015 . 12 December 2015.
  7. Web site: Continental Tyres Cup Groups Drawn. 16 August 2017.
  8. Web site: Matches Cup, TheFA WSL. www.fawsl.com. 2018-08-06.
  9. Web site: Women's Continental Cup final: Manchester City 1–0 Birmingham City (aet) . BBC Sport . 2 October 2016 . 2 October 2016.
  10. Web site: Williams. Laura. 14 March 2021. Bristol defence no match as Chelsea win consecutive Conti Cup final. 19 May 2021. Her Football Hub. en-GB.
  11. Web site: Chelsea 1–3 Manchester City: Second-half comeback seals League Cup final victory. BBC Sport. 5 March 2022. 5 March 2023.
  12. Web site: Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea: Gunners fight back to win Women's League Cup final . BBC Sport . 5 March 2023 . 5 March 2023.