London’s Crystal Palace Women’s team crashed out of the Barclays Women’s Super League on April 27, 2025, their fate sealed by a brutal 7-1 loss to West Ham United at home. The defeat, one of the heaviest in the club’s top-flight history, confirmed their drop to the Barclays Women’s Championship after just one season among England’s elite.
The match at Selhurst Park started grimly for Palace and never let up. West Ham’s relentless attack tore through the Eagles’ defense, with goals pouring in from early on. By halftime, the scoreline already looked bleak, and the second half only deepened the rout. Palace managed a single goal, a fleeting moment of defiance, but it was no match for West Ham’s clinical finishing. The final whistle blew, and with it, Palace’s hopes of survival in the WSL vanished.
This relegation marks a bitter end to a tough campaign for the South London side. Promoted to the WSL for the 2024-25 season after a strong Championship run, Palace struggled to find their footing against the league’s heavyweights. Injuries, inconsistent form, and a thin squad left them exposed week after week. Despite flashes of promise under manager Leif Smerud, the gap in class was too wide to bridge.
The numbers tell a stark story: Palace won just three matches all season, conceding goals at an alarming rate. Their defensive frailties were laid bare against West Ham, whose forwards exploited every mistake with precision. The result wasn’t just a loss—it was a demolition that underscored why Palace couldn’t hang with the WSL’s best.
For the club, this is a step back but not the end. The Championship offers a chance to rebuild, regroup, and aim for a swift return. Fans, though gutted, will rally behind the team as they prepare for a new chapter. The road ahead is long, but Palace has bounced back before.
Crystal Palace Women will compete in the Barclays Women’s Championship for the 2025-26 season. Their final WSL match of the current campaign is scheduled for May 4, 2025, against Manchester City.