The fate of the Women's Super League
(WSL) title "came down to a three-way fight" on Sunday, according to Oliver Kay of the LONDON TIMES. For FA Women's Football Dir Kelly Simmons, days such as Sunday, "with the drama played out live on BT Sport
and BBC Radio 5 Live, underline that the struggle for recognition is being
won." The WSL, four seasons old, is developing as Simmons and former England head coach Hope Powell "dared to imagine when they spelt out their bold
proposals to a sceptical FA."
Not all aspects of the WSL "have met with universal acclaim." The new licensing
criteria resulted last summer in the "controversial relegation of Doncaster
Belles." The plight of the Belles "remains a source of unhappiness." With Man City preparing to face Arsenal in the
Continental Cup final on Sunday, though, Simmons believes that the "licensing
requirements have brought greater professionalism and quality, as well as
exposure, to the women's game." Simmons: "That has been so important. One aspect is the strong brands
that help to draw in fans. ... Also, the women’s teams are
benefiting not only from the brands but from the communications and the
marketing experience, expertise and infrastructure at those clubs. If you take Liverpool, they are really pushing the women’s team through their
website, Twitter and LFC TV. That helps to draw fans across" (LONDON TIMES, 10/14).
