London City Lionesses: WSL newcomers not affiliated with a men's team
Ambitious newcomers London City Lionesses claimed promotion to the riches of the Women's Super League on Sunday.
It is not often in football you end up with a match that amounts to a straight knockout, but that is what the Women's Championship delivered on Sunday, with the hosts needing a victory to return to the WSL.
In front of 8,749 fans at St Andrew's, the home of Birmingham City for more than a century, Michele Kang-owned London City triumphed. Needing only a point to go up, they managed to hold on for a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Women's football entered into a new era. One of the American billionaire businesses women's three women's football teams, who split from Millwall in 2019 to form their own club, will be among some of the best in Europe as the first standalone women's side in the top flight.
Birmingham City, who lured fans in with the promise of half-price pints- to be enjoyed in full view of the pitch as one of four Championship clubs taking part in a trial - free tickets for season-ticket holders and a fan park with live music, their women's side could ultimately not repeat the feat of the men's and earn promotion.
Telegraph Sport breaks down who London City Lionesses are - and whether they can stay up.
Who are the London City Lionesses?
It is a rare sight when the owner - in this case Kang - walks out onto the field celebrating with the trophy before the players have had a chance to receive their medals, but that is why London City Lionesses are where they are.
One of just a handful of sides not affiliated with a men's team, London City will be the only WSL team not to be aligned with a Premier League outfit next season.
They were Millwall's women's team until breaking from the club in 2019, forming London City, and Kang bought the club in 2023.
Since then, she has appointed Jocelyn Precheur, who managed Paris St-Germain women, and tasked him with building a side.
When asked about delivering a WSL team at the first time of asking for owner Kang, Precheur said: 'I was so satisfied to give her this gift and this promotion, because people cannot really realise what she's doing right now for women's football. She's really changing the game.
'She needs to be supported and that's why I'm very proud to be part of this project.
'I hope she's proud of these girls in return today. We're just very motivated to keep going, to develop and to create what she wants.'
Can they stay in the Women's Super League?
As the only standalone women's side in the WSL, there will be many challenges for London City in the 2025-26 season.
Megan Campbell insists there is 'no ceiling' for the players but traditionally sides struggle to stay in the top flight after promotion - although the London club is about anything but tradition.
Kang said: 'When I first came to England and bought London City, a lot of people were concerned for me and were saying, 'How can she do this? There's no men's team, you need a men's team to draw the brand power, fanbase and resources - an independent team can't do it.'
'Well, we are the proof that with the proper investment and focus, anything is possible.'
Although Kang's Kynisca Sports International Group is certainly poised to back the club financially in the top flight - and they are planning a world-class and female-centred training facility in Kent - but it will still be a significant challenge against a host of Premier League-affiliated teams.
Precheur said: 'We have in mind what happened the last two seasons for sure, so we don't want to have the same story, which means we need to be sure we are strong enough, and it will be tough.
'I'm not naive, I know the gap is huge between the Championship and the WSL.'
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