The 2022–23 Women's Championship season (also known as the Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England.
Ahead of the season the top two tiers unveiled a new visual identity, dropping "The FA" from the league names as part of the long term strategy for the leagues to be under new ownership in the future. Having sponsored the first tier since the 2019–20 season, it marks the first season of Barclays as the title partner of the Women's Championship.
On 2 April 2023, Coventry United were mathematically confirmed as relegated from the Championship after four seasons in the second division. They sat 10 points adrift from safety with three games remaining. On 23 April 2023, Bristol City were confirmed as champions with one game remaining, holding a four point lead ahead of final day opponents Birmingham City. They earned promotion back to the WSL after two seasons in the Championship.
Teams
Twelve teams will compete in the Championship for the 2022–23 season, the same number as the previous season. Liverpool were promoted to the FA WSL as 2021–22 FA Women's Championship winners. They were replaced by Birmingham City who finished bottom of the FA WSL in the 2021–22 season and were relegated after 20 years in the top flight. Watford were relegated to the FA Women's National League after just one season in the Championship. They were replaced by Southern Premier Division winners Southampton who beat Northern Premier Division winners Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2021–22 FA Women's National League playoff to earn promotion.
Team Location Ground Capacity 2021–22 season Birmingham City Birmingham St Andrew's 29,902 Blackburn Rovers Bamber Bridge Sir Tom Finney Stadium 3,000 Bristol City Failand Robins High Performance Centre Charlton Athletic Bexley The Oakwood 1,180 Coventry United Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 Crystal Palace Bromley Hayes Lane 5,000 Durham Durham Maiden Castle 1,700 Lewes Lewes The Dripping Pan 3,000 London City Lionesses Dartford Princes Park 4,100 Sheffield United Sheffield Bramall Lane 32,050 Southampton SouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium Sunderland Hetton-le-Hole Eppleton CW 2,500
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentLewes Craig Gill (interim)End of interim period12 May 2022End of season (8th) 12 May 2022Coventry United Jay BradfordResigned28 May 2022End of season (11th) Lee Burch18 July 2022Sheffield United Neil RedfearnResigned25 November 202210th Luke Turner (interim)25 November 2022London City Lionesses Melissa PhillipsSigned by Angel City FC23 January 20231st Nikita Runnacles (interim)23 January 2023Sheffield United Luke Turner (interim)End of interim period14 February 202311th Jonathan Morgan14 February 2023Crystal Palace Dean DavenportSuspended12 March 20236th Mike Lowne (interim)12 March 2023Blackburn Rovers Gemma DonnellyMutual consent4 April 202311th Matt Bee (interim)4 April 2023
Table
Results
Top scorers As of 30 April 2023 Rank Player Club Goals1 Melissa JohnsonCharlton Athletic122 Sarah EwensLondon City Lionesses11 Shania HaylesBristol City Jade PennockBirmingham City5 Saffron JordanBlackburn Rovers106 Courtney Sweetman-KirkSheffield United97 Atlanta PrimusLondon City Lionesses8 Emily ScarrSunderland9 Grace ClintonBristol City7 Mia EnderbySheffield United Rio HardyDurham Katie WilkinsonSouthampton
Awards
Annual awards AwardWinnerClubPlayer of the Season Jade PennockBirmingham CityGolden Boot Melissa JohnsonCharlton AthleticGolden Glove Fran BentleyBristol City
See also 2022–23 FA Women's League Cup 2022–23 Women's Super League (tier 1) 2022–23 FA Women's National League (tier 3 & 4)
References
External links Official website