The 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup was the thirteenth edition of the Women's Super League and Women's Championship's league cup competition. It was sponsored by Continental AG, who have sponsored the competition since its creation in 2011, and was officially known as the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons. All 24 teams from the WSL and Championship contested the competition. Arsenal were the defending champions.[2]
The competition kept the same format as the previous season, starting with a group stage split regionally. Teams competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage are exempt from the League Cup group stage, earning a provisional bye to the quarter-finals. As a result, the initial group stage draw made on 1 August 2023 featured 21 of the 24 teams: one Northern group had five teams drawn into it with the remaining Northern group and all three Southern groups initially featuring four teams each. The three teams excluded from the draw were Chelsea, who automatically entered the Champions League group stage and therefore joined the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, and Manchester United and Arsenal who took part in the Champions League qualifying rounds. If either team were eliminated during qualification, they would enter the League Cup group stage and be drawn into an existing group of four in their geographical region.[3] Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League in the first qualifying round and were drawn into Group D.[4] Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League in the second qualifying round and were automatically drawn into Group B.
The first place team in each of the five groups qualified for the knock-out stage. As Arsenal and Manchester United both failed to progress in the Champions League, the two best-placed runners-up also progressed to make eight teams in the quarter-finals.
Source: FA Women's League Cup Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Source: FA Women's League Cup Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Updated to match(es) played on 24 January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Updated to match(es) played on 24th January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Source: FA Women's League Cup Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Due to Arsenal's and Manchester United's failure to progress from Champions League qualifying, they entered the League Cup group stage. With only one team receiving a bye to the League Cup quarter-finals, two best-placed runner-up teams progressed with the five group winners to make up the final eight. The ranking to determine which two second-placed teams progressed was calculated on a points-per-game basis.
Chelsea entered the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, having been exempt from the group stage due to their participation in the Champions League group stage. The quarter-finals took place on 7 February 2024.[7] The draw took place on 29 January 2024.[8]
On 15 December 2023, it was announced that the 2024 FA Women's League Cup final would be held at Molineux Stadium, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, for the first time. The final took place on 31 March 2024.[11]
Aston Villa were docked three points in their group table after finding an illegible player in their game against Sunderland. This altered the standings with Aston Villa, originally first in the group, dropping down to second and Sunderland replacing them at the top. Before the points deduction, Sunderland's performance wasn't sufficient to qualify for the quarter finals as one of the best second place teams; however Aston Villa, now in second place, did qualify as one of the best second place teams. This came at the expense of Manchester United who took the FA's decision to an independent tribunal arguing they should not be dismissed from the quarter finals because a different club broke the competition rules however the tribunal ruled in favour of the FA.[13]
After the final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was seen to have shoved Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall as they shook hands. Hayes claimed it was due to Eidevall's "unacceptable male aggression" on the touchline after an altercation with Erin Cuthbert during the match.[14] The FA later confirmed that Hayes will not face any action over the incident.[15]
^Aston Villa won the match 7–0 but Sunderland were awarded a scoreless victory via independent tribunal and the record was expunged on 29 January after Aston Villa were found guilty of fielding an inelligible cup-tied player. As a result, Sunderland were promoted to group winners while Aston Villa still qualified from the group but as a best-placed runner-up instead of a group winner at the expense of Group B runners-up Manchester United.[5]
^Watford v Lewes was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on 24 January 2024.[6]
^London City Lionesses v Arsenal was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on 7 February 2024.[9]
Stina Blackstenius
Rachel Daly
Frida Maanum
Elise Hughes
Saoirse Noonan