Charlton lose all eight WSL matches after 6-0 defeat by Chelsea
Charlton Athletic have lost all eight of their opening Women's Super League matches, culminating in a 6-0 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday. The relegation-threatened side remain without a point after eight games in the top flight.
Promoted as last season's playoff winners after beating Leicester on penalties, Charlton have struggled to adapt to WSL standards, conceding more than three goals per game on average. Their early-season campaign has been hampered by injuries to the club-record signing Linda Líf Boama, who suffered a serious knee injury in September, and France defender Hawa Cissoko, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. The team’s difficulties on the ball are reflected in their statistics: only six sequences of 10 or more passes and an average pass accuracy of 65%.
Charlton reported financial losses in the year ending 30 June 2025, with the women's team making a loss of £1.32m and net liabilities of £2.18m in accounts filed in October; the company was deemed entitled to exemption from audit under section 479A of the Companies Act 2006. Promotion to the WSL has also increased mandatory expenditure, with minimum-salary thresholds rising from WSL2 levels (aged 23+ £26,900; 21-22 £22,200; 18-20 £17,500) to WSL minima (aged 23+ £42,500; 21-22 £34,700; 18-20 £26,900). Central distributions to clubs were modest: WSL Football's 2024-25 accounts show £9.41m paid to 24 member clubs, approximately £400,000 each.
Charlton's recruitment timeline and scale contrasted with fellow promoted sides. Their first signing was announced on 18 July, while Birmingham secured two Manchester United players and Crystal Palace added Bethany England and Lexi Lloyd-Smith. Birmingham's head coach Amy Merricks had spoken of trying to become "WSL ready" as early as the 2024-25 campaign.
On the field, the promoted trio occupy the WSL's bottom three and Charlton are only the fifth team in WSL history to lose their opening eight matches. Birmingham and Palace have managed results against top opposition this season, each drawing at Arsenal and causing other sides problems, whereas Charlton have struggled to compete against clubs with greater financial resources.
Amy Merricks said on Friday that "the way the table looks now is probably a way off how it will finish" but added that the gap between the divisions was "an absolute ocean". Karen Hills, Charlton's manager, said: "We’re trying to make the jump and trying to stay with this pack. The gap is continuing to get bigger and you see with some of the top teams the players that they’ve brought in and the finances and the resources that they have. It’s going to be a big challenge and we’re finding that out on a weekly basis." Hills also said her Charlton players have "prepared really well this week".
Charlton travel to second-bottom Crystal Palace on Sunday, a fixture the club regard as one of their better chances to secure a point, while Birmingham will visit London City Lionesses on the same day.