From the high of finishing the season with a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton FC Women have been hit with devastating news during the summer break.

Ahead of the 2026/27 season, Southampton are set to make significant cuts to their women’s and girl’s programme reaching around £500,000. Around £100,000 of these cuts are expected to directly impact the senior team with the large remainder of the cuts expected to impact the club’s women’s and girl’s programme, including the demotion of the academy from Category 1 to Category 2 status.

Atlanta Primus currently captains the Saints and is an ever-present member of their team, putting in strong performances week in week out.

The Jamaican internation is shining both for her club, Southampton FC, and on the international stage. So far this season in the Barclays WSL 2, Primus has featured in 16 games, with three goals and two assists to her name.

But her influence is recognised far beyond her statistical contributions.

A club record league attendance of 7,561 are under the lights at St. Mary’s for a highly anticipated South Coast Derby in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 - the first league match of 2026.

The previous meeting between these two finished in a 5-2 victory for the Saints, painting Hampshire red.

The hosts are looking to climb up the table, starting the day in 7th with 15 points. Portsmouth come into this hoping to get back to winning ways, having taken only 1 point from their last 3 fixtures in the league.

This is the Saints’ third season in the Barclays WSL 2 (formerly known as the Barclays Women’s Championship), after gaining back-to-back promotion in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns.

They have played nine league fixtures so far, having secured three of each possible result: winning, drawing and losing. This means they have twelve points on board and sit in sixth place.

With two fixtures remaining in 2025, Simon Parker’s side look to build upon recent performances and see the year out with six points in six.

Ellie Brazil plays as a forward for Southampton FC Women. Having joined the Saints in the summer, she is an exciting prospect who is wonderful with the ball at her feet.

She has been capped for England throughout her youth (from under-15 to under-23 level), proving her to be a confident player.

Club-wise, she currently plays for Southampton in the Barclays WSL 2 (the second tier of women’s football in England). Her journey is certainly a testament to her hard work and determination beyond the pitch.

Mary Bashford is a twenty-year-old midfielder for Southampton FC Women This summer she joined the Saints on a permanent deal from Charlton Athletic.

 Known for her energy and composure in central areas, she is comfortable on the ball and presses aggressively to drive at the opposition.

Offering balance in midfield, she links play between defence and attack. Still developing her game, Bashford is regarded as one of Southampton's young players capable of stepping up as the club continues to push forward in the women's game.

A crowd of 3,896 travelled to St Mary’s Stadium for Southampton's opening fixture in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 against newly promoted Ipswich Town.

Last season, Ipswich finished top of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division by six points, with an impressive +79 goal difference.

The last meeting between these two sides was a mere three years ago in the FA Women’s Premier League Premier Division, with a 2-1 win for Southampton. The Saints will be looking for history to repeat itself. 

First formed in 1970 (unaffiliated with the men’s team), Southampton FC Women won the WFA Cup (now Women’s FA Cup) eight times. However, due to financial issues within the men’s team, the club withdrew support for the women’s team. Thankfully, under new ownership, the women were able to thrive again. 

In the 2018/19 season, they played in the Southern Region Premier Division and were crowned champions with a perfect campaign of eighteen wins. Southampton managed to win the Southern Region Women’s Football League Cup, adding another trophy to their cabinet.

Since then, Southampton Women have risen to the second tier of English football, the Barclays WSL 2 (formerly known as the Barclay’s Women’s Championship). Their home matches are played at St Mary’s Stadium.