The 2017–18 FA WSL 1 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. It started in September 2017 and ended in May 2018, with ten teams competing in both leagues.
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.
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.
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.
There was no relegation based on results at the end of the season due to the league's restructure.
Teams With the collapse of Notts County Ladies just prior to the Spring Series, the ten clubs of WSL 2 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. Team Location Ground Capacity 2016 season Spring Series Arsenal Borehamwood Meadow Park 4,502 3rd 3rd Birmingham City Solihull Damson Park 3,050 5th 7th Bristol City Filton Stoke Gifford Stadium 1,500 2nd, WSL 2 8th Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Kingsmeadow 4,850 2nd 1st Everton Widnes Select Security Stadium 13,350 3rd, WSL 2 1st, WSL2 Liverpool Widnes Select Security Stadium 13,350 4th 4th Manchester City Manchester Academy Stadium 7,000 1st 2nd Reading High Wycombe Adams Park 9,617 8th 6th Sunderland South Shields Mariners Park 3,000 7th 5th Yeovil Town Yeovil Huish Park 9,565 1st, WSL 2 9th
Table
Results
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Ellen WhiteBirmingham City152 Nikita ParrisManchester City113 Beth EnglandLiverpool104 Remi AllenReading9 Isobel ChristiansenManchester City6 Brooke ChaplenReading8 Fran KirbyChelsea Beth MeadArsenal Awards Annual awards Award Winner Club FA WSL Head Coach of the Year Emma Hayes Chelsea FA WSL 1 Players' Player of the Year Jill Scott / Ann-Katrin Berger Manchester City / Birmingham City FA WSL 1 Save of the Season Sophie Baggaley Bristol City FA WSL 1 Top Goalscorer Ellen White Birmingham City PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year Fran Kirby Chelsea PFA Women's Young Player of the Year Lauren Hemp Bristol City FWA Women's Footballer of the Year Fran Kirby Chelsea
PFA Team of the Year Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger (Birmingham City) Defenders Hannah Blundell (Chelsea) Millie Bright (Chelsea) Aoife Mannion (Birmingham City) Demi Stokes (Manchester City) Midfielders Fara Williams (Reading) Ji So-yun (Chelsea) Maren Mjelde (Chelsea) Beth Mead (Arsenal) Forwards Fran Kirby (Chelsea) Ellen White (Birmingham City) See also 2017–18 FA WSL 2 2017–18 FA WSL Cup
References
External links Official website