How WSL 2 title contenders Charlton are defying the odds

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• Published4 April 2026

An earlier version of this article was published on 4 April.

Hardly anyone was talking about Charlton Athletic being title contenders before the Women's Super League 2 season.

So it is no surprise manager Karen Hills feels it would be "one of the greatest achievements of her career" if they were to gain promotion.

With one game remaining, her side sit at the top of the WSL 2 with 42 points, one point ahead of title rivals Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.

Charlton face Birmingham in a massive game on Saturday, 2 May at 15:00 BST, with Crystal Palace taking on relegated Portsmouth at the same time.

As the WSL expands from 12 to 14 teams next season, the top two in WSL 2 will automatically secure promotion to the WSL, while the team finishing third will face bottom-of-the-table WSL side Leicester in a play-off on Saturday, 23 May.

Charlton have led the way for the majority of the campaign, but their form has dipped significantly with three defeats in their past four matches.

With one of the lowest budgets in the league, competing against big spenders Newcastle United and Birmingham, as well as Crystal Palace, it has already been a remarkable campaign for the Addicks.

"If you'd have told me in pre-season this is where we would be at this point, I'd have bitten your hand off," Hills told BBC Sport.

"These players deserve to be where they are. The amount of work that they've put in, the way that they've played and the way that they've executed everything we've asked of them, they deserve all the accolades and the achievements.

"If we were to be promoted then I believe it's probably one of the greatest achievements in my career.

"Just in terms of where the league is at this moment, what other teams have spent and the calibre of players. I think it would be an unbelievable achievement."

'The money in WSL 2 is frightening'

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Hills has done it before when she guided Tottenham to the WSL for the first time in their history in 2019, alongside coach Juan Carlos Amoros.

Former defender Hills' Charlton side have been built on strong foundations, consistency and a formidable defensive record, havng conceded the league's fewest goals (19).

Their goal difference is +12 - eight worse than Birmingham's but one ahead of Crystal Palace's.

They had a nine-point cushion earlier in the season, but losses last month were costly and their lead has reduced to only one point.

"There's always highs and lows within every season," said Hills. "We've had some unbelievable moments and going 27 games unbeaten is a milestone that any team would be happy with and proud of.

"Everyone's fighting for everything. It's just an incredible league, right?"

'No-one is bigger than the team'

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Striker Amalie Thestrup joined Charlton in the summer and said the club's unique "culture" is their "biggest strength" in the promotion race.

"No-one is bigger than the team. A lot of clubs want that because that makes you really strong. That's not just done, it's a culture that's built and maintained," Thestrup told BBC Sport.

"That's really something that stood out to me. Our biggest strength is our whole team, and I think we've shown this season how far that can take you.

"I feel like this season has been reaping the rewards of all the hard work that has been put in place for the past five seasons. "

But if Charlton do achieve their dreams, are they ready for the WSL?

"It's a good question and the answer is that there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make us WSL ready," added Hills.

"We have a goal and we have to work towards that. There probably will be a lot of work that has to happen in the off-season.

"I've done it before and that league is very different to what the WSL 2 is. You've got to pick the games and be realistic. The biggest thing is to be sustainable."

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

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