Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the latest Women’s Super League matches and the key stories at the heart of the women’s game.
Man City show vulnerability at the worst possible time
Manchester City’s title march, which looked all but sealed, has been jolted by a dramatic defeat to Brighton. Had Arsenal slipped against Leicester, City might already have had the trophy in the bag. Instead, Brighton’s win means Arsenal — and, mathematically, Chelsea — can still reach City’s current points total (49). Chelsea’s inferior goal difference makes their challenge unlikely, but Arsenal remain in contention.
A slim outside chance that felt negligible before the weekend has grown. City had appeared dominant through much of 2025/26, a team built for consistency, yet Brighton exposed cracks. Fran Kirby’s influence in a free role made the difference for Brighton, while City squandered seven big chances and failed to score, a clear sign of a side lacking sharpness after a 19-day break for internationals.
Andree Jeglertz insists City’s destiny is in their own hands. The team need a minimum of five points to clinch the title, and with Arsenal holding games in hand, City cannot secure the championship until the final day if Arsenal win theirs. City still have Liverpool at home and a trip to West Ham left in the league, with an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea between them — none of which are guaranteed wins given the pressure now and the dented momentum after Brighton.
Captain Alex Greenwood acknowledged the hurt, stressing City’s positive response to setbacks this season, but noted they were in control of the Brighton game. It was the first time City have dropped points from a winning position this term. The campaign’s schedule has been a mixed blessing: lacking European fixtures helped with freshness, but long gaps between matches sometimes disrupted rhythm for a side used to back-to-back competition. City’s squad has been constructed to handle congested weeks, yet large intervals have also left them susceptible to rust.
Despite the setback, City remain the form side over the season and deserve credit for their consistency. But they cannot now treat the run-in as a formality. Memories of losing out to Chelsea on goal difference in 2023/24 add a sting to the prospect of a late collapse.
Have Man Utd reached their limit?
Manchester United were another big disappointment in matchweek 20, held to a goalless draw by Tottenham and losing momentum. Once viewed as strong contenders for second behind City, United now risk failing to finish even in the top three. They have won only once in their last eight matches across all competitions; goals have become scarce and performances have dipped.
Marc Skinner’s side have struggled against the league’s best, failing to win any of their fixtures against teams currently in the top five. That disparity — City, Arsenal and Chelsea averaging around 1.5 points per game against them — suggests a quality gap. Ella Toone’s return from injury didn’t spark a revival on Sunday.
Tottenham dominated offensive metrics at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: xG was 2.58 to United’s 0.47, Spurs had more than double United’s touches in the box (42-20), and it took United 56 minutes to register their first shot on target. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce kept United in the game.
Skinner, the longest-serving WSL manager, will inevitably face scrutiny when form dips for a club of United’s stature. He acknowledges recent results have been subpar since defeats to Chelsea in the FA Cup and League Cup final. Balancing first-time Champions League commitments with domestic fixtures appears to have stretched United’s smaller squad. Skinner admitted, “We have to do some changes in the summer,” a phrase that inevitably raises questions about whether those changes might include him; he has another year on his contract.
A reminder
Last column analysed Alessia Russo’s best position for Arsenal after switching between No 9 and No 10 in recent outings.