This morning, the FA announced a ‘new era’ in women’s football, with a complete makeover for the top two divisions in English women’s football. Alongside a new logo for each division, the second tier has been renamed from the Barclays Women’s Championship, becoming the Barclays Women’s Super League 2, with the leagues headed up by the WPLL.
However, the decision for a rebrand has been criticised heavily online, with many labelling the decision as unnecessary.
Despite the clear branding intentions of a ‘new chapter’ in the women’s game, fans are questioning why the league has taken a step back. The second tier was introduced in 2014 as WSL 2, but was rebranded to the WSL Championship ahead of the 2018-19 season.
The name change is just one of the things that have left fans and pundits confused, with the decision perceived as disrespectful to England’s second division. Online critics have likened it to the PL2, which is purposely marketed as below the Premier League. Whilst it’s the second division, the name gave it it’s own identity, recognising the talent that the league harbours.
One X reply read: “Is it just me or does this seem very undermining for the Championship?”
Another read: “Wasn’t the whole point WSL2 was rebranded to the WSL Championship to give it it’s own identity in the first place? Why revert back… what benefits come from this, at least explain the reasoning.”
Aside from the new name and aesthetic that is set to be implemented over the summer, plenty have criticised the wording of the post that came from the Barclays WSL account, announcing the decision.
We’re not just a league. We’re a movement.
— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 12, 2025
This is the new era of Women’s Super League Football.#BarclaysWSL #BarclaysWSL2 pic.twitter.com/Oycxqv1g1f
Fans have responded harshly, emphasising they just want a football league, as opposed to a movement.
The decision comes across as incredibly out of touch, with higher-ups seemingly ignoring the bigger problems that the game faces.
Megan Feringa, a women’s football correspondent for The Athletic, perfectly encapsulated in an X post why the decision has been recieved so poorly by spectators.
There are clubs refusing to invest properly in their women’s teams, a trench forming between the top four WSL sides + the rest, a totally stagnate state of jeopardy & an officiating system needing funding. But fret not, we have a logo out of the Oscars’ disco archives. https://t.co/qKZpzJvA2H
— Megan Feringa (@megan_feringa) May 12, 2025
The news that Wolves didn’t apply for promotion has been heavily reported on in the past few weeks, and so a decision to create (horrible) new logos, and going back to an outdated name which disrespects its own competition, is a slap in the face to Wolves Women, and other clubs and players, as their governing body seems more concerned about branding than what actually needs to be improved within the sport.
“Can we get some updates on growing the WSL and increasing promotion/relegation? Or insight on how you will narrow the gap between clubs? Or improve officiating? Or stop stagnating fan numbers? These are the things that matter, not a logo.”
This is another reply to the original post announcing the rebrand, and it’s incredibly powerful. It shows exactly what fans care about, they don’t want their sport ‘Americanised’, they just want to see good football, with proper coverage, from people who research and put care into their punditry.
We all want the women’s game to continuously progress, but this is far from what fans want.
