Women's Super League 2023/24 Fixtures: Arsenal face testing early schedule

The fixtures for the 2023/24 Women's Super League season have been announced and champions Chelsea will start their title defence at home to London rivals Tottenham on 1st October.

Emma Hayes' Blues are 1/1 to win the WSL again but, like last season, they can expect a strong challenge from 15/8 Arsenal, 4/1 Manchester City and 6/1 Manchester United.

What	Women's Super League 2023/24
Where	England
When	Sunday 1st October 2023 to Saturday 18th May 2024
How to watch	Selected matches live on Sky Sports and BBC
Odds	Chelsea Women 1/1, Arsenal Women 15/8, Manchester City Women 4/1, Manchester United Women 6/1, Aston Villa Women 500/1

Blues bid to extend title dominance in WSL

Chelsea won their sixth Women's Super League title in 2022/23 but it was a close-run thing as they finished only two points clear of runners-up Manchester United, the team they beat 1-0 in May's FA Cup final at Wembley.

The Blues defeated relegated Reading 3-0 on the final day of the campaign and they will start the 2023/24 season bidding for a fifth consecutive league title.

Chelsea kick off the new season on 1st October with a home fixture against Tottenham and they are 1/1 to extend their dominance of the women's game by ending the campaign with another title.

The champions face 11 rivals in the WSL and they should be given a tough early examination when they travel to Manchester City for their second game of the term on 8th October.

City finished fourth last season, level on 47 points with third-placed Arsenal, whose superior goal difference meant they claimed the final Champions League spot in the English top flight.

Chelsea travel to Arsenal on 10th December in what could be a pivotal fixture in the title race and the Blues host Manchester United on 21st January.

The 2023/24 WSL season ends on 18th May when big guns United and Chelsea are scheduled to meet at Leigh Sports Village. 

Gunners hoping for big things from summer signing Russo

Arsenal beat Chelsea in the League Cup final last season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, losing in extra-time to Wolfsburg in front of a record crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

Having lost England captain Leah Williamson and star forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema to serious injuries last term, they will be hoping for better luck when they start the new season at home to Liverpool.

Arsenal are 15/8 to win the title and they can enhance their credentials with a victory away to Manchester United on 8th October.

United completed a league double over the Gunners in 2022/23 although England striker Alessia Russo, who scored the Red Devils' winning goals in both of those victories, has moved to Arsenal this summer.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall will also be wary of the threat of Manchester City, who visit north London on 5th November. Both league meetings between the teams last season were competitive affairs with City winning 2-1 in Manchester and Arsenal coming from behind to claim a 2-1 victory in the return fixture.

Villa out to upset United on opening day

Aston Villa finished fifth in the WSL last season, helped by 22-goal Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly, and they are 33/1 to finish in the top three in 2023/24.

Villa welcome Manchester United to Villa Park on the opening day and their first five fixtures also include a trip to Arsenal and a home clash with champions Chelsea. 

Bristol City, promoted as Championship winners in 2022/23, start their campaign at home to Leicester. Both clubs are expected to be scrapping for top-flight survival with the Vixens 6/4 for relegation and Leicester 11/4.

Bristol City will want to make a strong start to the season as their run-in looks tricky, with their final seven opponents including Chelsea, Arsenal and both Manchester clubs.

The first Merseyside derby of the season takes place on 15th October when Liverpool, 100/1 to finish in the top three, host Everton, who are 66/1 shots in that market.

Brighton and Tottenham, who both finished in the bottom four last season, also meet on 15th October.