Women’s Super League fans have been critical on social media about the number of games that kick off at 12pm in the WSL this season.
The WSL returns this weekend following the international break, with all six games set to kick off at noon on either Saturday or Sunday.
In past seasons, the favoured kick-off time in the WSL has usually been between 2pm and 4:30pm.
However, across the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, over 60 per cent of games have been scheduled for 12pm.
How many 12pm kick-offs will there be in the WSL this season?
The exact start times for games in the WSL are only known until Matchday 11, which marks the halfway stage of the WSL season.
Across those 11 weekends, 42 of 66 games have been given a midday kick-off time. That includes Liverpool’s clash with Aston Villa, which was postponed following the death of Matt Beard.
A further seven games started five minutes earlier, meaning just under 75 per cent of games get underway at noon or earlier.
The first 11 weekends feature seven 2.30pm kickoffs on Sundays, while the WSL has also begun trialling 7:30pm Friday games.
There were six 7:30pm kick-offs over the first six weeks, though there are none for the rest of the first half of the season.
WSL games by kick-off time until the end of Matchday 11
- 11:55am – 7
- 12pm – 42 (includes postponed Liverpool vs Aston Villa clash, where the rearranged date is still to be confirmed)
- 1:30pm – 2
- 2:30pm – 7
- 2:50pm – 1
- 4:45pm – 1
- 7:30pm – 6
Why are there so many 12pm kick-offs in the WSL this season?
The increase in 12pm games is a result of the new broadcasting deal for the 2025-26 WSL season.
Last year, at this stage of the WSL season, only six games were shown on Sky Sports.
That number has increased to 24 games after six weeks of the current campaign, as Sky Sports now shows 90 per cent of games.
With the WSL expanding to 14 teams in the 2026-27 campaign, Sky Sports could broadcast an extra 50 games next season.
The WSL is trying to establish a regular time slot during which relatively little men’s football is played to help boost TV viewing numbers.
With the majority of games taking place on Sundays, the games are scheduled before the Premier League offering, which usually begins at 2pm.
What have fans been saying about the early kick-offs?
WSL fans have been critical on social media in recent days about the number of games that kick off at 12pm.
Sky Sports faced criticism on social media for a tweet promoting that 11 of 12 matches across the next two weekends will get underway at noon.
Wendy Beech-Ward questioned the number of games that all get underway at noon on Sundays, writing: “Crazy scheduling. Please try and sort this out @BarclaysWSL, how can we grow the game when all but one game is on Sunday at 12pm.”
@lorss_ added: “Please stop the 12pm Saturday and majority of games on at the same time on Sunday.”
An incredible line-up of WSL fixtures awaits over the next two weeks! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/4H9rNSmdZ9
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) October 30, 2025
Tonya commented: “Why are all the games at the same time? Annoying as a fan
One fan also questioned whether the number of 12pm games will affect attendance numbers at stadiums.
They tweeted: “Attendance for the WSL games will decline because not everyone will get up super early for a 12pm game.”
Sarah W added: “No thought to women’s growth with this scheduling. Most grassroots games are on Sunday and now can’t get to these early kick offs.”
