FA approves WSL academy sides in National LeagueImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, There are 72 clubs competing in the FA Women’s National League structureByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalistPublished6 minutes agoWomen’s Super League (WSL) academy sides will play in tier three from the 2027-28 season after the divisive proposal was approved by the Football Association.Four professional game academy (PGA) sides will be given the opportunity to compete without eligibility for promotion as part of reforms to the Women’s National League (WNL) which are “designed to strengthen the women’s football pyramid, raise standards across the league, and improve the development pathway for young players”.Fifty two of the 72 WNL clubs signed a letter to the FA opposing the proposal to introduce top-tier academy teams in their system in June 2026, describing it as “morally wrong” and claiming “board representatives did not consult their clubs”.
However, the FA has gone ahead with the plan following an “extensive consultation process with clubs and stakeholders”, with the reform addressing the lack of competitive minutes young English players receive compared with their counterparts across Europe.
