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WSL
Four WSL academy teams will enter the third tier from 2027-28 after the FA board approved a package of reforms including historic central funding for the Women's National League.
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Women's football in England is getting a shake-up - and it's about time. The FA's board has given the green light for four WSL academy teams to slot into the third tier of the pyramid from 2027-28.
It's part of a broader overhaul designed to beef up the Women's National League, which has long been crying out for investment and competitive depth.
For the first time ever, Women's National League clubs will receive central funding from the FA. That alone is a landmark moment.
On top of that, loan market tweaks will nudge top-flight and Championship clubs into sending players down to tiers three and four. More minutes for young talent, more quality across the board. Everyone wins.
The academy sides won't be eligible for promotion - so no one needs to panic about reserve squads muscling out established clubs. The third tier will split into two geographical divisions: north and south, with two academies in each.
Selection criteria for which WSL academies get the nod are still being hammered out over the coming months, The Guardian reports.
Sue Day, the FA's director of women's football, stressed that the Women's National League must evolve in step with the professional game. The goal? More pathways for young English players to break into senior football.
It's a sensible move. Development without opportunity is just training with extra steps.
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Eva Hernández, Editor-in-Chief
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