The stats behind Matchweek 2

The competitiveness of the expanded Barclays Women’s Super League has been there for all to see in the opening two weeks of the campaign.

After two rounds of matches, only champions Manchester City have a perfect record, while just two teams - Manchester United and newly promoted Charlton Athletic - are yet to get off the mark in the top flight.

In Barclays Women’s Super League 2, Sunderland are the early pace-setters. They lead Leicester City and Newcastle United on goal difference, with all three sides earning two wins from two so far.

Here are some of the standout statistical lines from both divisions after two weeks of action.

James inspires five-star Chelsea

Chelsea were left frustrated by a superb goalkeeping performance from Akane Okuma in Week 1, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa. You sense some of that emotion was taken out on Manchester United seven days later.

The Blues ran in five goals in a superb away performance at the Red Devils. Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor would have been delighted with the manner of her team’s performance, as five different players got on the scoresheet; Sjoeke Nüsken, Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze all grabbed both a goal and an assist on the day.

Lauren James also netted and, in the opening weeks of the season, she’s not been shy of letting fly when in shooting range.

She has already had 19 shots in the first two games of the campaign, the most ever by a player across a team’s first two games of a BWSL season.

That’s 13 more than Manchester United have had as a team. The lack of balance in the team will be a concern for new manager Eva Olid, with her side also struggling in defence; they’ve conceded seven goals so far, the most in the league.

Addicks get kick in the teeth

It’s two defeats from two for newly promoted Charlton Athletic so far, albeit their defeats have come in very different fashion.

They were hammered 4-0 in their season opener by Liverpool and seemed intent on being more defensively robust against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. And even when Ashleigh Neville saw red in the 58th minute for Charlton, they remained solid at the back.

In the end, they conceded through an own goal from Leighanne Robe. It meant Charlton actually lost the game without facing a single shot on target, with the Addicks also failing to test Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

It is only the second time in a WSL fixture that neither side has had a shot on target in the game. Charlton also became just the third team in league history to have two players sent off in the same game, as Hawa Cissoko was also given her marching orders in stoppage time.

Charlton head coach Karen Hills will be pleased with the resilience shown by her team at times at Goodison. But with no goals, no shots on target and no points so far, the only way is up for the newly promoted outfit.

Forest finding balance

Tom Mallinson took charge of Nottingham Forest this summer and, in the opening weeks of the season, it’s clear he is looking to implement a possession-based style. So far, the results have been mixed.

Forest are leading the possession stats in BWSL2 so far, with league-high averages for possession - 67.1% - and accurate passes - 483.5 - after two games. There has been a purpose to their play too, as they have had more touches than any other side in the opposition box, with 63.

But they are giving up big chances to the opposition. This weekend, they found themselves two goals down to newly promoted Watford after just 21 minutes, with both goals scored from headers in central positions.

Forest did boss the game from that point on and were able to earn a point, which will please Mallinson. But long passages of positive play are being undone by defensive lapses early on this season; they have drawn their first two games now, having conceded a 93rd-minute equaliser to Ipswich Town in Week 1.

Magpies make it look easy

Newcastle are among the favourites for promotion this season and they have made an ominous start to 2026-27.

Without being at their flowing best going forward, the Toon Army have won back-to-back games with minimal fuss. After striking twice early on against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, the outcome was never in doubt.

They have only faced six shots so far in BWSL2 and, when teams have been able to break through, goalkeeper Anna Tamminen has been on hand to keep them out.

Newcastle are the only team in the second tier to have not conceded a goal in their opening two games as a result, and after finishing the previous campaign in disappointing style - they only picked up two points from their last five games to fall out of promotion contention - Tanya Oxtoby has the team back on the right track in 2026-27.