Ahead of Barclays Women’s Super League fixture release day on Friday 25 July, we’re taking a look at each of West Ham United women’s team’s opponents for 2025/26. Today we’re analysing… Chelsea.
2024/25 campaign
Chelsea won their sixth successive Barclays Women’s Super League title in 2024/25, claiming the trophy by 12 points - and a first league success at the Blues for boss Sonia Bompastor. Indeed, the French manager accumulated another two trophies last term, completing the domestic treble by lifting the Subway® Women’s League Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
While it was their sixth league title in a row, the previous five won by now United States manager Emma Hayes, last season was arguably Chelsea’s most impressive feat as they won the trophy unbeaten, drawing only three of their 22 matches.
The crucial victories in the WSL came against second-place Arsenal, winning both fixtures by one-goal margins to see off any title challenge from the Gunners. They stunned Emirates Stadium with two, quick first-half goals in October, ensuring Caitlin Foord’s effort before half-time wasn’t enough to secure a point for the hosts. In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, Guro Reiten’s late penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Chelsea.
And it was after Arsenal’s loss to Aston Villa on 30 April that the Blues were provided with the opportunity to wrap up the title, and they duly accepted with a 1-0 success at home to Manchester United.
It was the Red Devils whom Bompastor’s side beat at Wembley to clinch the Women’s FA Cup, with Chelsea running out comfortable 3-0 winners courtesy of a Sandy Baltimore brace either side of Catarina Macario’s 84th-minute strike.
Elsewhere, it was the blue side of Manchester who faced Chelsea in the Women’s League Cup final, and the west London club secured a 2-1 victory at Derby County’s Pride Park in March.
Next term, Chelsea will be eyeing up their first UEFA Women’s Champions League after they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Barcelona, losing 8-2 over the two legs.
Transfer business so far
Chelsea have been busy in the market this summer, completing four signings at the time of writing.
Defender Ellie Carpenter, an Australia international, has reunited with Bompastor after the pair worked together at Lyon, while goalkeeper Becky Spencer, who spent the last few months of 2024/25 on loan at Chelsea, has made her move permanent. Germany U20 international striker Mara Alber and Switzerland international goalkeeper Livia Peng have also made the move to west London.
Meanwhile, Ashley Lawrence’s contract expired at the end of June and she subsequently joined Olympic Lyon, as Sophie Ingle and Zećira Mušović also departed.
One to watch: Naomi Girma
Naomi Girma caught the eye when she signed for Chelsea in January of last season, as her move to the capital from United States club San Diego Wave was a world-record deal for women’s football.
However, the 25-year-old only made eight appearances across all competitions for the Blues due to struggling with a calf injury, and only made her debut in March against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Injuries continued to hamper Girma’s second half of 2024/25 and the USA international, who won the 2024 Olympics with her country, will be determined to make her mark on the WSL next season.
Played for both: Gilly Flaherty
Former West Ham United women’s team captain Gilly Flaherty made more than 80 appearances across four seasons for Chelsea before making the move to east London.
Flaherty was named skipper ahead of the Hammers’ first-ever Women’s Super League campaign and was instrumental as Matt Beard’s side finished seventh in the 2018/19 standings. In the same campaign, the Hammers also reached the Women’s FA Cup final and Flaherty led her side out to a sea of Claret and Blue at Wembley before they faced off against eventual winners Manchester City.
Flaherty, who became the first women’s team player to reach 100 appearances for the Club, started every WSL match in 2019/20 before the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She then featured in 21 of West Ham’s 22 WSL matches in 2020/21 as the Hammers ended the season ninth in the table before playing 19 league games the following campaign - her final in Claret and Blue colours. But it was memorable for all the right reasons as the Irons clinched their highest-ever WSL finish, ending the campaign sixth - a record that is yet to be beaten.
Memorable meeting: Chelsea 2-2 West Ham, 2024/25
Everyone remembers the Shekiera Martinez show from West Ham United women’s team’s last-gasp 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Sunday 30 March 2025.
After the Irons fell two goals down, the Germany U23 international, latching onto Riko Ueki’s pass, hammered the ball under Blues goalkeeper Hannah Hampton to reduce the gap to one at half-time.
The Hammers pushed throughout the second period in search of an equaliser and, finally, it came in stoppage time when Kirsty Smith’s teasing delivery was headed back across goal and into the far corner by Martinez, sparking superb scenes in the away end at Kingsmeadow.
Rehanne Skinner’s side were the only team in 2024/25 to take points away at Chelsea in the WSL.
