When is the WSL winter break and which other leagues take a hiatus?

4th December 2025 Oliver Taliku

The WSL is preparing to take a break over the winter period and it isn’t the only league in Europe that goes on a hiatus in December.

When do the top leagues take their winter breaks?

  • Première Ligue 1: 15 December to 1 January

  • Women’s Super League: 15 December to 9 January

  • Frauen-Bundesliga: 21 December to 9 January

  • Women’s Super League 2: 22 December to 10 January

  • La Liga Femeni: 23 December to 2 January

Why does women’s football take a winter break?

While all of the top European leagues in women’s football take a break, the majority of men’s competitions don’t do the same.

This is largely due to the weather during December and January which effect playing conditions.

With the majority of WSL and WSL2 teams still playing on their own pitches, facilities aren’t the best.

England weather conditions tend to take a turn for the worst towards the end of the year and many of the pitches become unplayable in December.

A winter break means that the league isn’t forced into making postponements which ends up overloading the schedule towards the business end of the campaign.

The hiatus also ensures players can get ample rest after what has been a busy end to the year.

International breaks and a packed European/league schedule can overload players and a break gives teams time to recover and get players back from injury.

WSL key dates

January transfer window

With the WSL taking a break over Christmas, some players will leave their current teams before the new year.

That is because the January transfer window opens on New Years Day – January 1st 2026.

The transfer rumours are already flying with a month to go until the window opens.

Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing former Manchester City midfielder Julie Blakstad.

Arsenal and USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger could be on her way out of the league as she struggles for game time with the gunners.

Transfer rumours will of course only escalate up until January, with the window coming to a close on Monday, February 2nd.

Upcoming Events

Would you like to read more women’s football news just like this? Sign up to receive the She Kicks Women’s Football newsletter

About Oliver Taliku 422 Articles
Olly Taliku has worked with highly respected sports and gambling websites where he has produced hundreds of articles, as well as being published with Burton Albion and Chesterfield FC. At Burton Olly worked closely alongside the women's team, producing mainly matchday content including reports and interviews. He also has experience as an accredited Premier League and EFL writer for Prost International where he worked during the 2021/22 season to produce matchday content as an on location reporter. Olly specialises in women's football as well as long form SEO content plus news and tips. While he enjoys writing about all football, Olly supports Arsenal passionately as a lifelong fan of the club.

Related Articles