The beginning of the Women’s Super League (WSL) 26/27 season is inching closer, with the opening match set for Friday 4 September. With four days to go, The Boar Sport is counting down to kick-off!
Every day leading up to the inaugural blow of the whistle, we will preview a pair of WSL sides facing off on opening weekend, analysing their summer business and setting expectations for the campaign ahead. On today’s agenda is Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.
Tottenham Hotspur
Finishing in fifth place and tallying up the most points in club history in the WSL, Tottenham’s 2025/2026 campaign marked a dramatic turnaround from their disappointing second-from-bottom finish the season prior.
Their solid campaign was led by their newly appointed manager Martin Ho, who has been a key part in transforming the team from an innocuous mid-table (or even bottom of the table) team to legitimate competitors in the top half of the table. Narrowing the gap to the top of the table, Tottenham took points off both Arsenal and Manchester United, while a thrilling 7-3 victory over Aston Villa showcased their newfound high intensity and conviction – a stark contrast to their consistently lacklustre attack last season.
Similar to their quiet improvements on the pitch, their movements during this summer transfer window have gone under the radar. Their aim this season will surely be to challenge for Champions League spots, and their signings so far have made that clear. Despite being a smaller club compared to the top four, they have managed to attract high-level players.
Tottenham boast a squad that, on paper, could challenge for the top spots in the WSL
Following the departure of captain and all-time leading goalscorer Bethany England, Spurs were tasked with rebuilding their frontline. In response, they brought in Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa, who finished as the WSL’s third-highest scorer last season after netting 43% of her former club’s goals. Combining immense quality with a relentless work rate, Hanson stands out as one of their most exciting additions and someone who could prove vital in consolidating Tottenham’s position among the league’s elite.
To strengthen squad depth, Spurs have also invested in bright young talent. Most notably, they paid a club-record fee for centre-back Alice Sombath from OL Lyonnes, who brings European experience alongside an aggressive, high-quality ball-playing style to boost the defence. She joins January signing Signe Gaupset, already recognised as one of the league’s most promising young prospects, in adding a fresh youthful spark to the squad.
Further bolstering the roster, Spurs secured former Arsenal midfielder Victoria Pelova, 25/26 West Ham top scorer Shekiera Martinez, Wolfsburg defender Caitlin Dijkstra, and goalkeeper Selma Panengstuen.
West Ham
Unlike the upward trajectory that Tottenham enjoyed, West Ham spent the larger part of last season stuck in a relegation battle that eventually saw them finish tenth.
The Hammers have so far brought in ten new faces to add depth to every area of the pitch
After winning only one match out of their opening 11, they sacked head coach Rehanne Skinner in December 2025. However, appointing former Juventus coach Rita Guarino did not bring them the so-called immediate ‘new manager bounce.’ Instead, Guarino gradually steadied the ship and instilled some much-needed defensive organisation. As a result, the latter half of the season won them some notable points, such as a dramatic 3-2 win over Brighton and a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Manchester United, helping the Hammers pull away from the relegation zone and into safety.
Following a deeply unsatisfactory season, West Ham embarked on a sweeping squad overhaul as contracts expired in June, parting ways with seven players, including Shelina Zadorsky, Verena Hanshaw, and former captain Katrina Gorry. In their place, the Hammers have so far brought in ten new faces to add depth to every area of the pitch.
A major priority was stability at the back. French international defender Estelle Cascarino made her return from Juventus permanent following her short-term spell, joining high-profile centre-back Laia Codina from Arsenal and French international goalkeeper Constance Picaud. Dynamic Swiss full-back Nadine Riesen and promising young defender Niamh Peacock complete the defensive additions.
In midfield, former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem also made her stay permanent after her loan spell, bringing leadership and composure alongside the youthful energy of teenage prospect Sienna Wareing, who signed her first professional contract this summer.
The London derby will serve as an immediate test for both revamped squads
To address a frontline that scored the second-fewest goals in the league, West Ham added significant pace and attacking threat. Versatile forward Ebony Salmon from Aston Villa and French international striker Kelly Gago from Everton arrived, bringing physicality and goalscoring ability to complement the squad’s emerging talent.
The depth created by such extensive recruitment should also increase competition for places and, in turn, raise standards across the squad.
Heading into their first full season under head coach Rita Guarino, the focus is on stabilising the team and moving away from the bottom-tier struggles of recent years. A mid-table finish is a realistic target, with the hope that these high-tempo additions will allow West Ham to dictate more matches rather than continually operate in survival mode.
The London derby between these two sides on Sunday, 6 September, will act as an immediate challenge for both transformed squads after the transfer window, putting to the test how chemistry between new recruits and established figures has developed over preseason.