Ryan Asman

After an incredible summer of international action, the Barclays Women’s Championship 2023-24 season gets underway this weekend.

All 12 clubs across the Barclays Women’s Championship are in action this weekend, keeping the spotlight firmly on the women’s professional game after a year of record attendances and audiences.

Beginning today, the league opener features last season’s runners-up Birmingham City making the trip to Blackburn Rovers. Sunday will see the rest of the opening fixtures unfold, with newly promoted Watford welcoming Durham to mark their return to the second division.

This season marks the tenth anniversary of the Barclays Women’s Championship, first established in 2014. Last season the league recorded a 75% uplift in average attendance figures last season compared to 2021-22.

The league will feature several players who participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding to the excitement after a historic summer for the women’s game.

Ireland’s Louise Quinn, Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg represent Birmingham City, while Grace Moloney and Ruesha Littlejohn join up with London City Lionesses. Fresh from their round-of-sixteen run, Jamaica’s Paige Bailey-Gayle will begin her second season at Crystal Palace and international teammate Atlanta Primus has joined Southampton from LCL.

All first and second round fixtures of the Barclays Women’s Championship will be available live on The FA Player streaming platform. From the third round onwards, one match per round in the in the Barclays women’s Championship will be selected for live broadcast on The FA Player.

First round fixtures are as follows:

Saturday 26 August 2023

Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City | Ewood Park | 17:30

Sunday 27 August 2023

Watford v Durham | Wealdstone FC | 12:00

Sunderland v London City Lionesses | Eppleton CV | 13:00

Crystal Palace v Reading | Sutton United | 14:00

Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United | The Valley | 15:00

Lewes v Southampton | The Dripping Pan | 16:00

The FA Player is a free streaming service.