The new Women's Super League marks the start of a new era for reigning champions Chelsea, with long-serving boss Emma Hayes having departed in summer to start a new adventure with the USA Women's team.
Last year they just about did enough to claim the title on goal difference ahead of Manchester City, while Arsenal will again hope to make it a three-horse race for the WSL title. Meanwhile Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham will hope to progress after further rebuilding this summer.
Crystal Palace were promoted to replace Bristol City in the top flight, while on a wider note, the league is now under the management and operation of a new organisation set up to lead women's football towards further growth and progression, with Nikki Doucet overseeing both the WSL and Championship in a new phase for the game.
Follow the live action below as Aston Villa face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the WSL:
Aston Villa WFC 3 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion WFC
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29Match ends, Aston Villa Women 3, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 3, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29Dejana Stefanovic (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:28Goal! Aston Villa Women 3, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 1. Nikita Parris (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pauline Bremer.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:29Attempt saved. Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:28Offside, Aston Villa Women. Noëlle Maritz is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:28Dejana Stefanovic (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:27Hand ball by Dejana Stefanovic (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:27Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:25Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:24Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Nikita Parris is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:24Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:24Attempt blocked. Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:20Offside, Aston Villa Women. Chasity Grant is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:16Offside, Aston Villa Women. Chasity Grant is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:15Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Corsie replaces Anna Patten.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:14Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes replaces Ebony Salmon.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:14Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Bex Rayner replaces Jelena Cankovic.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:14Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Dejana Stefanovic replaces Caitlin Hayes.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:14Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Pauline Bremer replaces Marit Auée.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:12Foul by Jelena Cankovic (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:10Offside, Aston Villa Women. Chasity Grant is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:09Hand ball by Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:08Goal! Aston Villa Women 3, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Sarah Mayling.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:06Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Sarah Mayling replaces Katie Robinson.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:05Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:11Attempt missed. Fran Kirby (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) header from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:03Jelena Cankovic (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:02Fran Kirby (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:01Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) hits the woodwork with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:59Attempt missed. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:59Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:57Attempt missed. Fran Kirby (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:54Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Fran Kirby replaces Bruna Vilamala.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:54Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Miri Taylor replaces Missy Kearns.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:54Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Jordan Nobbs replaces Rachel Daly.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:54Attempt missed. Nikita Parris (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marisa Olislagers with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:53Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Sabrina D'Angelo.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:52Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:50Attempt missed. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:51Attempt missed. Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ebony Salmon.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:49Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:49Attempt blocked. Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jelena Cankovic.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:47Attempt saved. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:44Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Jelena Cankovic is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:43Attempt saved. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:41Foul by Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:41Nikita Parris (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:41Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:40Nikita Parris (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:39Second Half begins Aston Villa Women 2, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:37Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Rachel McLauchlan replaces Michelle Agyemang.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:22First Half ends, Aston Villa Women 2, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:22Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Maisie Symonds.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:22Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:20Attempt missed. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:19Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Maisie Symonds.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:19Katie Robinson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:18Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Michelle Agyemang.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:18Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:16Goal! Aston Villa Women 2, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:19Attempt blocked. Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Missy Kearns with a cross.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:14Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Caitlin Hayes.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:14Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) is shown the yellow card.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:13Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:13Foul by Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:11Foul by Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:12Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:09Foul by Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:09Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:08Attempt missed. Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Marisa Olislagers with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:07Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:05Foul by Marisa Olislagers (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:03Foul by Nikita Parris (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:03Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:03Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:01Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:03Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion Women. Kiko Seike is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:58Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:58Maisie Symonds (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:54Hand ball by Kiko Seike (Brighton and Hove Albion Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:53Danielle Turner (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:53Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:47Delay in match because of an injury Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:45Attempt saved. Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:41Attempt saved. Michelle Agyemang (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:36Goal! Aston Villa Women 1, Brighton and Hove Albion Women 0. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:36Attempt missed. Bruna Vilamala (Brighton and Hove Albion Women) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Kiko Seike.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:35Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:35Foul by Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:33Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:32First Half begins.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion
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