5 days to kickoff: WSL countdown – Crystal Palace vs. Everton

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 five 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. Next on the list is Crystal Palace and Everton!

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s inaugural season in the WSL ended in major disappointment two years ago when they finished bottom of the table with only ten points, sending them back down to the Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2).

However, after just a year away from top-flight football, they are back. With newly appointed manager Jo Potter at the helm, Crystal Palace’s campaign last season saw an encouraging upward trajectory. While they started on an unstable footing, failing to find a win in the first few matches of the regular season, they slowly began to find their rhythm, losing just one league game throughout 2026 during the latter part of the season. This incredible run of form came at just the right time, propelling them to a second-place finish that granted them automatic promotion to the WSL.

[Crystal Palace] have strengthened both ends of the pitch with tried and tested elite players

Not only did they manage to impress in the league, but the Eagles also enjoyed positive results in cup competitions, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the second time, as well as the quarter-finals of the Subway Women’s League Cup for the first time ever.

Eager to ensure that they do not get relegated this time around, Crystal Palace have placed a strong emphasis on adding proven WSL experience and greater squad depth during this summer transfer window.

Most notably, they have strengthened both ends of the pitch with tried and tested elite players, bringing in forward Bethany England and centre-back Molly Bartip from Tottenham. The club have also added promising young talent, including Lexi Lloyd-Smith from Bristol City, the WSL2’s leading goalscorer last season. Alongside these new arrivals, they have secured the future of 21-year-old Abbie Larkin, who enjoyed a standout campaign last term, scoring 11 goals –  the most of any player at the club.

With highly rated additions on board, Crystal Palace step into the upcoming WSL season determined not to let history repeat itself, focused on establishing themselves as a permanent top-flight force.

Everton

Everton experienced a transitional 2025/26 campaign, finishing 8th in the WSL with 23 points. There were moments of magic that indicated signs of promise, such as Ornella Vignola scoring a derby hat-trick against Liverpool and an impressive December victory that ended Chelsea’s 31-game unbeaten streak. However, inconsistency and a slew of mid-season struggles prompted a managerial change in February 2026, with Brian Sørensen departing and Under-18 coach Scott Phelan stepping in as interim head coach to steady the squad for the remainder of the season after being just four points from the bottom of the table.

The front office responded proactively to fix their lack of fire power, adopting a forward-thinking approach to reinforce the attack

On the pitch, the Toffees found themselves locked in a constant battle for structural balance. The attack dazzled in spurts but lacked persistent bite, outputting just 25 goals across 22 league matches. Defensively, marquee signing Ruby Mace provided much-needed composed distribution alongside Courtney Brosnan’s heroism between the posts, but constant lapses still led to 37 goals conceded overall.

Heading into the summer transfer window, Everton moved swiftly to establish stability by handing Phelan a permanent contract.

The club also faced a clear rebuilding challenge after key departures, losing 2024/25 Young Player of the Season Martina Fernández back to Barcelona alongside established strikers Katja Snoeijs and Kelly Gago.

However, the front office responded proactively to fix their lack of firepower, adopting a forward-thinking approach to reinforce the attack. The additions of Welsh forward Hannah Cain, Australian international Holly McNamara, versatile striker Jutta Rantala, and Arsenal loanee Jessie Gale signal a decisive effort to inject much-needed dynamic edge into Phelan’s frontline. They also brought in Manchester City centre-back Naomi Layzell to fill gaps in the backline.

Victory for Everton is vital for building momentum and proving that their struggles with form are in the past

If Phelan can successfully integrate this new-look frontline to fix their goal-scoring output while maintaining a more consistent defence, Everton will hope to challenge for a top-half finish rather than lingering in mid-table obscurity.

The opening-weekend clash on Sunday 6 September between Crystal Palace and Everton serves as a crucial early litmus test for two revamped sides eager to avoid an early relegation scrap. For Crystal Palace, it presents an enticing opportunity; while Everton bring top-flight experience, they remain a side in transition with lingering vulnerabilities that the newly promoted club can exploit. A win for Palace would offer immediate validation that they have what it takes to compete in the WSL, while victory for Everton is vital for building momentum and proving that their struggles with form are in the past.