FA Women's League Cup

Women's League Cup
Organising bodyThe Football Association
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
RegionEngland
Number of teams24
Current championsArsenal (7th title)
Most successful club(s)Arsenal (7 titles)
2024–25 Women's League Cup

The 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

Winners trophy

Before the creation of the 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]

Pedro Martínez Losa and Kelly Smith with the FA WSL Cup, 2015

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]

Women's League Cup winners
Season Winners Score Runners–up Venue Attendance
2011 Arsenal 4–1 Birmingham City Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent 2,167
2012 Arsenal 1–0 Birmingham City Underhill Stadium, London 2,535
2013 Arsenal 2–0 Lincoln The Hive, London 3,421
2014 Manchester City 1–0 Arsenal Adams Park, High Wycombe 3,697
2015 Arsenal 3–0 Notts County New York Stadium, Rotherham 5,028
2016 Manchester City 1–0 (a.e.t.) Birmingham City Academy Stadium, Manchester 4,214
2017–18 Arsenal 1–0 Manchester City Adams Park, High Wycombe 2,136
2018–19 Manchester City 0–0 (4–2 p) Arsenal Bramall Lane, Sheffield 2,424
2019–20 Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal City Ground, Nottingham 6,743
2020–21[10] Chelsea 6–0 Bristol City Vicarage Road, Watford 0[a]
2021–22[11] Manchester City 3–1 Chelsea Plough Lane, Wimbledon 8,004
2022–23[12] Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea Selhurst Park, London 19,010
2023–24 Arsenal 1–0 (a.e.t.) Chelsea Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 21,462
  1. ^ The 2021 final was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Results by team

Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence.

Results by team
Club Wins First final won Last final won Runners-up Last final lost Total final
appearances
Arsenal 7 2011 2024 3 2020 10
Manchester City 4 2014 2022 1 2018 5
Chelsea 2 2020 2021 3 2024 5
Birmingham City 0 — — 3 2016 3
Lincoln 0 — — 1 2013 1
Notts County 0 — — 1 2015 1
Bristol City 0 — — 1 2021 1

References

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