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 West Ham United today in the WSL:
Aston Villa WFC 3 - 1 West Ham United LFC
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:59Match ends, Aston Villa Women 3, West Ham United Women 1.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:59Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 3, West Ham United Women 1.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:58Foul by Gabi Nunes (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:55Substitution, West Ham United Women. Dagny Brynjarsdóttir replaces Oona Siren.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:54Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:54Foul by Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:54Attempt blocked. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:52Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:51Hand ball by Oona Siren (West Ham United Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:51Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Mayumi Pacheco replaces Adriana Leon.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:50Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Adriana Leon.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:49Substitution, West Ham United Women. Shannon Cooke replaces Li Mengwen.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:47Attempt missed. Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) left footed shot from outside the box.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:45Goal! Aston Villa Women 3, West Ham United Women 1. Kenza Dali (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Miri Taylor.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Miri Taylor replaces Lucy Staniforth.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Gabi Nunes replaces Rachel Daly because of an injury.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Delay in match because of an injury Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:40Substitution, West Ham United Women. Kirsty Smith replaces Manuela Paví.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:39Li Mengwen (West Ham United Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:39Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:38Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Sarah Mayling.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:44Attempt saved. Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:33Attempt saved. Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:32Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:32Delay in match because of an injury Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:28Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Kirsty Hanson replaces Ebony Salmon.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:28Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Sarah Mayling replaces Noëlle Maritz.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:27Attempt missed. Manuela Paví (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:25Attempt blocked. Oona Siren (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:24Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:23Attempt saved. Manuela Paví (West Ham United Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Riko Ueki with a headed pass.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:21Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:19Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Viviane Asseyi.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:19Attempt missed. Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:19Attempt blocked. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oona Siren.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:17Offside, West Ham United Women. Riko Ueki is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:16Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:16Foul by Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:17Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:14Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:14Attempt missed. Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:13Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Shelina Zadorsky.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:13Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Kinga Szemik.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:13Attempt saved. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucy Staniforth with a cross.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:13Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Anouk Denton.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:10Attempt missed. Seraina Piubel (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
15:07Second Half begins Aston Villa Women 2, West Ham United Women 1.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50First Half ends, Aston Villa Women 2, West Ham United Women 1.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Noëlle Maritz.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Attempt missed. Amber Tysiak (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Viviane Asseyi with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Danielle Turner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Offside, Aston Villa Women. Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Foul by Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Attempt blocked. Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adriana Leon.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:47Lucy Staniforth (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:50Fourth official has announced %injmins% minutes of added time.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:46Foul by Manuela Paví (West Ham United Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:46Paula Tomás (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:46Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:44Goal! Aston Villa Women 2, West Ham United Women 1. Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:44Attempt missed. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross following a corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:42Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Amber Tysiak.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:38Offside, West Ham United Women. Riko Ueki is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:37Offside, Aston Villa Women. Ebony Salmon is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:34Offside, West Ham United Women. Riko Ueki is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:33Foul by Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:33Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kenza Dali.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:31Foul by Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:30Attempt missed. Katrina Gorry (West Ham United Women) header from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:30Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:26Offside, West Ham United Women. Seraina Piubel is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:25Attempt missed. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) header from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:22Goal! Aston Villa Women 1, West Ham United Women 1. Viviane Asseyi (West Ham United Women) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Katrina Gorry.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:23Attempt missed. Shelina Zadorsky (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:20Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:20Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:19Offside, West Ham United Women. Manuela Paví is caught offside.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:19Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Katrina Gorry.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:19Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:15Attempt missed. Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Adriana Leon.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:14Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:11Delay in match (Aston Villa Women).
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:10Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:08Corner, West Ham United Women. Conceded by Paula Tomás.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:08Attempt saved. Seraina Piubel (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Viviane Asseyi.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:05Goal! Aston Villa Women 1, West Ham United Women 0. Adriana Leon (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:04Attempt saved. Riko Ueki (West Ham United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
14:01First Half begins.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
13:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United
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