Players aged under 23 in Women's Super League 2 are not guaranteed to receive the equivalent of the national living wage for a typical full-time worker annually, despite significant pay increases for the division's lowest-paid players following the introduction of minimum salaries this season.
Minimum Salary Structure and Living Wage Comparison
WSL2 clubs are now required to pay players aged 21 and 22 a minimum of £22,200 annually, while those aged 18 to 20 must receive at least £17,500. Regulations stipulate that players must be provided with a minimum "contact time" of 20 hours per week, excluding matchdays and mealtimes. For players aged 23 and over, the minimum salary rises to £26,900.
Under current UK employment law, any employee aged 21 or over must be paid at least £12.21 per hour, which equates to £23,810 annually based on a standard 37.5-hour working week. An 18-year-old on the national minimum wage of £10 per hour would earn £19,500 for the same hours. The real living wage, set at £13.45 per hour (£14.80 in London), translates to £26,227 annually for a 37.5-hour week.
Club Implementation and Player Experience
Despite these disparities, it is understood that many WSL2 clubs are comfortably exceeding the minimum salary requirements. The vast majority of players aged 18 to 20 are reportedly earning at least 15% above the established floor levels. These minimum amounts were established following extensive consultation with the Professional Footballers' Association and have been largely welcomed as a progressive step forward for women's football.
Holly Murdoch, Chief Operating Officer of WSL Football, commented when the minimum salaries were announced in September: "We wanted to make sure that they could focus on being a footballer, not focus on a part-time job." This statement reflects the reality that a significant proportion of lower-paid WSL2 players were previously reliant on second jobs to supplement their income before this season's changes.
Salary Cap Regulations and Enforcement
New salary-cap rules have also been implemented this season, stating that the player wage bill must not exceed the combination of two figures: 80% of the club's revenue, plus either £4 million or a further 25% of the club's revenue, whichever is higher. This structure allows cash-rich WSL2 owners to spend up to £4 million of their own funds on player wages without breaching the cap.
For most clubs, £4 million substantially exceeds 25% of their revenue. According to Deloitte's analysis, only Arsenal (£22.2 million) and Chelsea (£22 million) among WSL clubs reported revenue exceeding £16 million in the 2024-25 season, with Manchester City following at £11.2 million.
Clubs found in breach of these salary-cap regulations could face significant penalties, including fines and points deductions. In the top flight, teams risk having one point deducted for every £100,000 of overspending, with deductions of 10 points or more for overspends exceeding £900,000. In WSL2, the threshold is stricter, with one point potentially deducted for every £50,000 of overspending.
Financial Context and League Development
The minimum salaries represent a marked improvement from previous seasons, when reports indicated that clubs like Blackburn were paying some players as little as £9,000 annually. Blackburn subsequently withdrew from the second tier before this season, citing that "the demands placed on second-tier clubs have become unsustainable."
In the top-tier Women's Super League, minimum salaries are considerably higher: £42,500 for players aged 23 and over, £34,700 for those aged 21 and 22, and £26,900 for 18- to 20-year-olds.
A WSL spokesperson emphasised: "This initial floor establishes a baseline and it's a foundation we are fully committed to building upon. There was no salary floor for players up until this season, and minimum salaries have been implemented as the result of an 18-month consultative process involving key stakeholders. The floor is higher than the minimum wage for an equivalent age, based on 20 hours per week."
Financial Performance and League Independence
On Tuesday, the company operating the WSL and WSL2 published its first accounts since the leagues began operating independently from the Football Association. The accounts revealed an operating loss of £8.2 million between 24 April 2024 – when the company was incorporated – and 31 July 2025. Much of this loss is attributed to costs associated with establishing a new business and is reportedly "in line with the business plan." The accounts showed a remaining cash balance of £10.7 million.
Revenue totalled £17.4 million during this period and has increased this season, with commercial revenue understood to have trebled since the separation from the FA. The company has drawn down £6.1 million from a £20 million loan provided by the Premier League, which will not require repayment until the 2030-31 season. An additional £4.4 million has been drawn this season, with the accounts revealing that the Premier League will be repaid at an interest rate 2% above the Barclays Bank base rate at the time of drawdown.
The highest-paid director, believed to be Chief Executive Nikki Doucet, received £531,000 including pension contributions. The combined earnings for directors and the senior management team totalled £1.37 million.
Sources familiar with the discussions surrounding minimum salaries noted that a careful balancing act was necessary to ensure long-term financial sustainability while improving player compensation. The implementation of these salary floors represents a significant step in professionalising women's football, though comparisons with national living wage standards highlight ongoing challenges in achieving full financial parity for athletes in the developing women's game.
