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 West Ham United face Aston Villa today in the WSL:
West Ham United WFC 2 - 3 Aston Villa WFC
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:56Match ends, West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:54Second Half ends, West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:54Attempt missed. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Shelina Zadorsky following a set piece situation.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:52Anouk Denton (West Ham United Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:52Foul by Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:54Offside, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon is caught offside.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:50Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Shelina Zadorsky.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:51Attempt blocked. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jill Baijings.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:50Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:50Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:49Foul by Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:49Foul by Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:48Substitution, West Ham United Women. Princess Ademiluyi replaces Amber Tysiak.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:48Foul by Manuela Paví (West Ham United Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:45Offside, Aston Villa Women. Chasity Grant is caught offside.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:43Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:42Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Danielle Turner replaces Lucy Parker.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:39Foul by Jill Baijings (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:38Attempt missed. Seraina Piubel (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Riko Ueki.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:34Foul by Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:32Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:31Substitution, West Ham United Women. Manuela Paví replaces Oona Siren.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:31Substitution, West Ham United Women. Kirsty Smith replaces Verena Hanshaw.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:28Attempt saved. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Verena Hanshaw.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:26Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Maltby replaces Mayumi Pacheco.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:26Foul by Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:24Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Shelina Zadorsky.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:24Attempt blocked. Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Katie Robinson with a cross.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:23Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Katrina Gorry.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:23Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:21Delay in match because of an injury Amber Tysiak (West Ham United Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:20Shelina Zadorsky (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:18Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:14Goal! West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 3. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lucy Parker.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:13Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:11Attempt missed. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box following a set piece situation.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:11Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:09Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:09Foul by Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:09Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:06Offside, West Ham United Women. Riko Ueki is caught offside.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:11Attempt blocked. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:08Attempt blocked. Chasity Grant (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:05Second Half begins West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 2.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
16:05Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Jill Baijings replaces Miri Taylor.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:48First Half ends, West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 2.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:48Attempt missed. Shekiera Martinez (West Ham United Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Seraina Piubel following a fast break.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:47Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:46Shekiera Martinez (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:45Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:40Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:40Foul by Lucy Parker (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:38Goal! West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 2. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:38Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:38Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:37Hand ball by (West Ham United Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:36Goal! West Ham United Women 2, Aston Villa Women 1. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Katrina Gorry.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:34Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:34Attempt saved. Missy Kearns (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rachel Daly with a headed pass.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:34Attempt blocked. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ebony Salmon with a cross.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:32Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:29Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:27Attempt saved. Seraina Piubel (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Oona Siren.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:27Attempt blocked. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mayumi Pacheco.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:22Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:20Goal! West Ham United Women 1, Aston Villa Women 1. Shekiera Martinez (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Verena Hanshaw with a cross.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:17Offside, Aston Villa Women. Jordan Nobbs is caught offside.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:15Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:13Attempt missed. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Seraina Piubel with a cross.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:13Attempt blocked. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Shekiera Martinez.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:08Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:06Goal! West Ham United Women 0, Aston Villa Women 1. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rachel Daly with a through ball.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
15:01First Half begins.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
West Ham United vs Aston Villa
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