LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Champions Wigan are set to kick off the new season against Leeds, as reported by bbc.com. The league will undergo a structural change, dividing into two groups of four-comprised of the top four teams and the bottom four. These teams will compete against each other both home and away in an extended playoff series.
Successful teams from this series will be awarded the League Leaders' Shield and secure direct entry into the Grand Final. Meanwhile, the teams finishing in second and third place will compete for the final spot in this major event.
At the lower end of the standings, the team that places eighth will have to challenge the winners of the National Championship for the last available Super League spot in 2027.
"The Women's Super League evolves in 2026, introducing an extended, high-impact play-off series designed to elevate performance, intensify competition, and unlock the next phase of commercial growth," stated Thomas Brindle, general manager of the Women's Super League.