The 2023/24 Women's Super League title race was, as in the Premier League, an engrossing battle that went right to the wire.
Chelsea and Manchester City went into the final matchday of the top league in English women's football level on 52 points, with each team boasting a record of 17 wins, one draw, and three defeats from their first 21 games of the season.
City beat the reigning champions 1-0 away from home in February and have since sustained their challenge for a first league title since 2016. Things had looked like going City's way when Chelsea lost a seven-goal thriller to Liverpool on May 1, but Gareth Taylor's team lost at home to Arsenal four days later to surrender their new-found advantage.
Chelsea's 8-0 demolition of Bristol City, followed by a 1-0 victory over rivals Tottenham, ensured they went into the final day above City on goal difference. Yet Emma Hayes' side faced the more daunting task: while City faced mid-table Aston Villa, Chelsea travelled to FA Cup winners Manchester United.
The Sporting News looks at how things played out as a dramatic title race came to a close.
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Who won WSL title 2023/24?
City battled to a 2-1 win at Aston Villa, with Lauren Hemp netting a late winner for Taylor's side.
Such a narrow margin of victory would not have been enough to overhaul Chelsea in any event but the Blues left nothing to chance at Old Trafford.
Emma Hayes enjoyed a glorious farewell as Chelsea demolished United 6-0. Mayra Ramirez scored twice and Fran Kirby wrapped up the scoring on her final appearance for the club, sealing Hayes' seventh WSL title of her incredible tenure.
WSL final standings, table 2023/24
| Pos. | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1. | Chelsea | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 71 | 18 | +53 | 55 |
| 2. | Man City | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 61 | 15 | +46 | 55 |
| 3. | Arsenal | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 53 | 20 | +33 | 50 |
| 4. | Liverpool | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 28 | +8 | 41 |
| 5. | Man United | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 35 |
| 6. | Tottenham | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 36 | -5 | 31 |
| 7. | Aston Villa | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 43 | -16 | 24 |
| 8. | Everton | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 37 | -13 | 23 |
| 9. | Brighton & Hove Albion | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 48 | -22 | 19 |
| 10. | Leicester City | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 45 | -19 | 18 |
| 11. | West Ham | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 45 | -25 | 15 |
| 12. | Bristol City | 22 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 70 | -50 | 6 |
MORE: Emma Hayes's contract and salary details with USWNT
Which team has won the most WSL titles?
Chelsea are the most successful side in the Women's Super League with seven titles.
The Blues have at least twice as many trophies as any other team in the competition, which began in its current guise back in 2011.
Arsenal have won more league titles at the top of the English women's game than any other team, though: the three-time WSL winners have been champions 15 times since 1991, the year that the FA Women's National League structure was founded.
All-time Women's Super League title winners
| Team | Titles won | Years won |
| Chelsea | 7 | 2015, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 203/24 |
| Arsenal | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2018/19 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 2013, 2014 |
| Manchester City | 1 | 2016 |
How many trophies has Emma Hayes won?
Emma Hayes has largely changed the landscape of women's football at the highest level in England since taking charge of Chelsea back in 2012.
In total, she has won 16 trophies with the Blues, including this record seventh WSL titles.
Hayes has also won numerous individual accolades, including The Best FIFA Women's Coach in 2021.
Emma Hayes career trophies won as manager
| Competition | Trophies won |
| Women's Super League | 7 |
| Women's FA Cup | 5 |
| Women's League Cup | 2 |
| FA WSL Spring Series | 1 |
| Women's Community Shield | 1 |
