Crystal Palace return to the Women’s Super League on Sunday when Jo Potter’s side host Everton at the VBS Community Stadium.
Palace are back in the top flight after just one season in WSL2 and have strengthened their squad significantly ahead of their return. Bethany England is among the headline additions, while Everton also arrive with a changed squad and new attacking options for Scott Phelan.
The opening fixture should provide an early indication of how quickly Palace can adapt to WSL opposition and whether Everton can make progress after finishing eighth last season.
Crystal Palace vs Everton match information
| Competition | Barclays Women’s Super League |
| Date | Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Kick-off (UK) | 2:00pm BST |
| Kick-off (Central Europe) | 3:00pm CEST |
| Venue | VBS Community Stadium |
| TV/stream (UK) | Sky Sports+ |
| Matchweek | 1 |
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Everton
Crystal Palace against Everton will be available to watch on Sky Sports+ in the UK, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00pm BST. The match begins at 3:00pm CEST for viewers in Central Europe. Watching the WSL from outside the UK? Try the BWSL YouTube or W-Sport.
Broadcast arrangements outside the UK vary by territory, so supporters should check their local Women’s Super League broadcaster.
Crystal Palace team news
Palace begin the season without My Cato, who is sidelined with an ACL injury. Potter otherwise has a significantly strengthened squad available following a busy summer.
Bethany England gives Palace proven WSL experience through the middle, while Molly Bartrip has added another experienced option to the defence.
Palace have continued strengthening right up to the start of the season. Fuka Tsunoda has arrived on loan from Brighton, while Shanade Hopcroft and Comfort Erhabor completed moves to the club in the final days of the transfer window.
Hopcroft has already made an impact. She scored as Palace pushed Arsenal in their final preseason match before eventually losing 2-1.
Palace also tested themselves against Real Madrid during their preparations, giving Potter’s new-look squad experience against high-level opposition before returning to the WSL.
Predicted Crystal Palace lineup
Peyraud-Magnin; Goldie, Bartrip, Everett, Napier; Ladd, Enge; Weerden, Blanchard, Lloyd-Smith; England.
Palace’s starting XI is difficult to predict following a busy summer, with Jo Potter having several new combinations available for the opening weekend. The likes of Vanhaevermaet, Larkin, O’Brien and Hopcroft provide further options.
Everton team news
Everton also begin the season with a reshaped squad as Scott Phelan prepares for his first full campaign as permanent head coach. The Toffees have added several attacking options, including Holly McNamara, who arrives after winning consecutive A-League Golden Boots with Melbourne City.
McNamara has been handed Everton’s No.9 shirt and could immediately lead the attack.
Noémie Mouchon, Hannah Cain and Jutta Rantala provide further options further forward, while Everton have also strengthened defensively with Hannah Silcock and Manchester City loanee Naomi Layzell.
Megan Finnigan returned to action during preseason after injury, providing another important option in defence. Scott Phelan therefore has considerably more competition across the squad as Everton look to improve on last season’s eighth-place finish.
Predicted Everton lineup
Brosnan; Blundell, Finnigan, Silcock, Layzell; Galli, Kramžar; Rantala, Mouchon, Cain; McNamara.
Everton have several new attacking combinations available to Scott Phelan, with McNamara among the leading candidates to play through the middle after being given the No.9 shirt.
What to expect from Crystal Palace vs Everton
Palace’s preseason suggests Potter will not be afraid to test her team against strong opposition.
The Eagles were competitive for long periods against Arsenal and now have greater WSL experience throughout the squad, with England particularly important in giving them a proven goalscorer at this level.
Everton may present a different challenge. Phelan’s side showed last season that they can threaten quickly in transition, and the addition of McNamara and other attacking options could make those situations more dangerous.
Palace will want to make home advantage count on their return to the WSL, but they will also need to avoid leaving space for Everton to exploit when possession changes hands.
With both teams integrating numerous summer signings, the opening game should also provide the first real indication of how their new combinations are developing.
Crystal Palace vs Everton prediction
Palace should be competitive on their return to the WSL, particularly with England giving them an established focal point in attack.
Everton, however, have added more quality in the final third and have greater recent experience at this level. There may be little between the teams on opening day.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton
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