Birmingham and Palace rise to WSL as Charlton misses promotion in 2026

Birmingham and Palace secured WSL promotion while Charlton missed out and will face a play-off in May 2026.

Women's Super League expansion The Women's Super League will increase from twelve to fourteen teams starting in the 2026-27 campaign. At the start of the decisive afternoon, Charlton sat in first place, one point clear of Birmingham in second and Palace in third. However, dramatic results later reshaped the standings entirely. Birmingham and Palace claimed the top two spots, sealing their spots in the top tier for the upcoming season. ## Key matches decide fate Charlton's lead vanished after a dramatic defeat, as Birmingham triumphed 2-0 at The Valley with two goals from Wilma Leidhammar. Meanwhile, Palace overturned a deficit to crush Portsmouth 6-1, securing their promotion. The Blues finished as WSL 2 champions, returning to the top flight after a four-season absence. Palace bounced straight back up after being relegated the previous year. ## Manager reacts to promotion joy Amy Merricks, Birmingham's manager, expressed overwhelming emotions after the victory. "How does it feel? Amazing! I am speechless," she said. "I just had a feeling; I know my team has bounced back every time. I'm so proud of them today. It's a tough place to come; I have to credit Charlton. They've had a fantastic season. I'm so grateful for the team; this group is incredible, and we're going to enjoy every moment of this." Merricks added, "This is exactly what we deserved last year; we didn't get it, but they came back stronger." ## Charlton's play-off fate confirmed Charlton squandered a nine-point advantage and now must contest a relegation-promotion play-off at The Valley against Leicester on 23 May. Their earlier dominance evaporated in the final stretch, leaving them with a second chance to earn promotion. The outcome hinges on their performance in the upcoming decisive match. ## Palace and Birmingham's key moments Palace opened the scoring against Portsmouth in the third minute through Megan Hornby's direct corner kick. Molly-Mae Sharpe quickly equalized for Palace in the 11th minute. At The Valley, Birmingham gradually took control, with Leidhammar scoring from Hurtre's left-wing cross in the 27th minute. Despite Whitehouse's saves, Birmingham's pressure mounted, and Leidhammar nearly added to the lead from a free-kick before Louis missed the rebound. ## Second-half surge seals promotions Palace dominated the second half, with Ashleigh Weerden scoring twice within two minutes of the restart. Kirsty Howat then made it four before Leidhammar's second goal for Birmingham, a well-placed shot after Charlton failed to clear a corner. Palace extended their lead with goals from Annabel Blanchard and Elise Hughes, finishing 6-1. Birmingham held firm despite a late Charlton flurry in added time, celebrating promotion as the final whistle blew. ## Podcast and additional resources Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie return for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast, releasing new episodes every Tuesday on BBC Sounds. The show features interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond. Fans can access the latest news on a dedicated page for continuous updates on the league.