WSL still grappling with how to fit League Cup into football ecosystem

The Women’s League Cup group stage kicks off on Wednesday with 10 matches between Women’s Super League and Women’s Super League 2 teams, excluding those competing in the Champions League, with minimal fanfare. It is a tournament that has lost its way a little, which lacks a strong identity, struggling to compete with heavily marketed WSL, WSL2 and FA Cup fixtures, and which doesn’t garner much love from fans unless their club wins it.

It is understood that WSL Football is consideringthe future of the League Cup. Over the years the idea of scrapping the competition has raised its head at various times as those concerned have grappled with where it fits in the women’s football ecosystem.

There is some logic to the thought that instead of having to share the investment in women’s football across multiple competitions it could, and should, be focused on building up the ‘hero product’ – in the case of WSL Football, WSL and WSL2, and in the case of the Football Association, the FA Cup. The football calendar is also tight, with available matchdays a premium resource.

However, losing the League Cup removes an already limited opportunity for silverware, albeit only three teams, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, have won the competition since its rebrand from the FA Women’s Premier League Cup in 2011. Ditching it would also deny teams the possibility of a domestic treble, a feat Chelsea achieved last season in Sonia Bompastor’s first year in charge, an achievement that is highly regarded and keeps the number of trophies available in England aligned with other key European nations. Another positive is that the League Cup group stage gives teams in the WSL2 and outside the top three in the WSL more games to play, which helps with the issue of player underloading.

What is clear is that, at the very least, the League Cup needs a boost and has done so for some time. The new title sponsorship deal with Subway has helped in this regard, with their giveaways proving popular among fans. But that is simply not enough. The group stage is undoubtedly a big issue, with the arbitrary geographical splits not really working; too many teams means that one group has five teams while the rest have four. There is also no consistent broadcasting of games (Sky Sports have the rights as part of the WSL deal).

The point scoring is also odd. Currently during the group stage, a winner gets three points, but if a game ends in a draw both teams get a point and a penalty shootout takes place with the winner earning an additional point. Confused? You’re not alone.

Another frustration is that teams competing in the Champions League get a bye and enter at the quarter-final stage, meaning they can win the competition having only played three games. This season it is Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United that join after the group stage is concluded and with only one team from each group progressing to join them, the likelihood of a cupset of any significance is minimal.

Switching to a more traditional straight knockout competition would alleviate many of the issues the tournament faces, injecting much-needed jeopardy into every matchday, and subsequently increasing the chance of a WSL2 side tipping over the applecart.

The WSL and WSL2 are growing and have a pathway to further growth; the League Cup now needs heads to swing their way, too. For that to occur, the competition needs a rethink and a bit more love.