Palace and Birmingham promoted to the WSL as Charlton into play-off

Crystal Palace and Birmingham have been promoted to the WSL, while Charlton will feature in the first promotion/relegation play-off for a place in England's top league.

Charlton were on 42 points at the top of the WSL2 table heading into the final weekend, while Palace and Birmingham were on 41 points. The Blues were ahead on goal difference in second, with the top two teams securing their place in England's top league.

In what turned out to be a shootout for automatic promotion, Charlton and Birmingham played each other at The Valley, while across south London, Crystal Palace took on bottom side Portsmouth.

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Wilma Leidhammar scored twice to see Birmingham to the WSL2 title with 44 points. The Eagles thrashed bottom side Portsmouth 6-1 at home, finishing with the same points but four behind on goal difference.

Charlton will now face the WSL's bottom side - currently Leicester - in a play-off on May 23 at 12.30pm, set to be played at The Valley. It will be a one-legged match and shown live on Sky Sports.

It is the first time two teams have been automatically promoted from the WSL2 as the WSL expands to 14 teams from the start of next season. This will be completed by the play-off winner.

From the 2026/27 season, there will be one automatic promotion spot in the WSL2, while the bottom side in the WSL will be relegated.

Then, the second place WSL2 team and the 13th place WSL team - second from bottom - will compete in a play-off for a place in the top league.