Honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to the Women’s Super League lately, you’ve missed a total shift in power. For years, it felt like Chelsea just had this invisible grip on the trophy, but looking at the current manchester city wfc standings, that grip is definitely slipping. As of mid-January 2026, City isn't just sitting at the top; they are essentially living there.
They’ve played 12 matches and banked 33 points. That is a massive return. When you look at the gap between them and the chasing pack—specifically Chelsea and Arsenal—it’s clear that something has fundamentally changed at the Joie Stadium. It’s not just about winning games anymore; it’s the way they’re dismantling teams.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
Let’s talk stats for a second, but not the boring kind. City has won 11 out of their 12 league games so far. Their only blemish was a 2-1 loss to Chelsea way back on the opening day in September. Since then? Perfect. A 10-match winning streak in the WSL is no joke.
The goal difference is where it gets really scary for everyone else. They’ve scored 34 goals and conceded only 10. When you compare that to Chelsea, who have only scored 24, you start to see why the manchester city wfc standings look so healthy. They are averaging nearly three goals a game.
Khadija "Bunny" Shaw is basically a cheat code at this point. She’s already sitting on 12 league goals. She recently hit her 100th goal for the club during a 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa, becoming the first woman in the club's modern era to do so. It’s reached a point where if she’s in the box, you might as well just update the scoreboard.
Why the Standings Look Different This Year
You might remember last season was a bit of a "what if" story. City finished fourth, which was, frankly, a massive disappointment given the talent in that squad. They missed out on Champions League football, and people were questioning if they’d hit a ceiling.
Then came Andrée Jeglertz.
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The new manager has changed the vibe completely. There’s a directness now that was missing under the previous regime. They still keep the ball—averaging nearly 60% possession—but they’re doing something with it. They aren't just passing for the sake of passing.
Look at the summer signings too. Bringing in Vivianne Miedema from Arsenal was the heist of the century. Most people thought she might struggle after her injuries, but she’s already got 5 goals and a handful of assists. Watching her link up with Shaw is like watching two master musicians who have played together for decades. It’s telepathic.
The Mid-Season Table Breakdown
If you look at the table right now, here is how the top of the pack shakes out:
- Manchester City: 33 points (12 games played)
- Chelsea: 27 points (12 games played)
- Arsenal: 23 points (12 games played)
- Tottenham: 23 points (12 games played)
A six-point lead over Chelsea is significant. Usually, by January, Chelsea is the team with the cushion, forcing everyone else to pray for a miracle. Now, the roles have reversed. Chelsea has been uncharacteristically shaky, recently dropping points against Everton and drawing with Arsenal.
City’s consistency is the outlier. They’ve managed to navigate a tricky December and early January without any major slip-ups. Their recent 2-0 win over Everton was a perfect example—professional, clean, and dominant. Kerolin, the Brazilian winger, has been a revelation on the right side, giving them a pace and flair that makes them almost impossible to pin down.
Is the Title Race Already Over?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It’s City’s to lose, but the schedule coming up is a nightmare.
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While the manchester city wfc standings look great today, the next few weeks are basically a gauntlet. They have a massive League Cup semi-final against Chelsea on January 21st, followed by a league trip to London City Lionesses. But the date everyone has circled in red is February 1st.
That’s when Chelsea comes to the Etihad.
If City wins that, the lead goes to nine points. In a league as top-heavy as the WSL, a nine-point lead in February is basically a death sentence for the rest of the contenders. However, if Chelsea pulls off a win, the gap shrinks to three, and suddenly the pressure is back on.
The "Under the Radar" Heroes
We talk about Shaw and Miedema a lot, but the defense is why they are top. Alex Greenwood is arguably the best ball-playing center-back in the world right now. Her ability to start attacks from deep is why City can bypass midfields so easily.
And don't sleep on Kerstin Casparij. She’s quietly put up 5 assists from the fullback position. In the modern game, your defenders need to be playmakers, and City has that in spades.
What Could Go Wrong?
Injuries are the only thing that seems capable of stopping this train. They’ve been relatively lucky so far, but the squad isn't quite as deep as Chelsea’s. If Shaw or Yui Hasegawa (who is the heartbeat of that midfield) picks up a knock, things could get interesting.
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Also, there’s the psychological factor. City hasn't won the league since 2016. That’s a long time for a club with this much investment. There’s a weight of expectation that starts to get heavier the closer you get to May.
What You Should Watch For Next
If you’re tracking the manchester city wfc standings, the next month is the season.
- January 21: League Cup Semi vs Chelsea. This will set the tone.
- February 1: The big one at the Etihad. If they don't lose this, they’re 90% of the way to the trophy.
- February 8: Away at Arsenal. Another massive test of their title credentials.
City is currently the most efficient attacking unit in England. They aren't just winning; they are demoralizing opponents. If you're a betting person, it's getting harder and harder to look past them for the title.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the goal difference. If City continues to put 3 or 4 goals past mid-table teams like West Ham and Leicester, even a loss to Chelsea might not be enough to unseat them. The "Bunny Shaw" factor is simply too much for most WSL defenses to handle over a 22-game season.
Make sure to check the lineup for the Bournemouth FA Cup game on January 18th; it’ll give a huge hint as to how Jeglertz is planning to rotate his stars for the Chelsea clash. Watching how they manage the minutes of Miedema and Hemp during this congested period will tell you everything you need to know about their confidence heading into the final stretch.