WSL: Chelsea hit West Ham for five but Man City maintain gap at the top

Chelsea marked their return to Women's Super League action with an emphatic 5-0 victory over struggling West Ham.

The Blues beat Brighton in their last league outing of 2025, and the reigning champions picked up where they left off before the winter break by cruising to victory at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

Chelsea were ahead after just 49 seconds, with Yu Endo turning into her own net.

Lauren James made it 2-0 in the 28th minute, before quickfire goals from Alyssa Thompson and Sandy Baltimore before half-time had Chelsea well on their way to a rout.

Baltimore doubled up from the penalty spot midway through the second half, though Chelsea's victory was not enough to close the gap on WSL leaders Manchester City, who beat Everton 2-0.

Everton contentiously had a goal disallowed at Joie Stadium, where Kerolin and Vivianne Miedema were on target.

Ashleigh Neville's own goal handed Tottenham a 1-0 win over Leicester City, as Spurs moved above Manchester United and level on points with third-place Arsenal.

Rachel Daly and Kirsty Hanson netted in a second-half comeback for Aston Villa, as they beat Brighton 2-1.

Data Debrief: Blues back on track at home

Chelsea had lost their last WSL home game, going down 1-0 to Everton, which snapped their record-setting 34-game unbeaten run.

But Sonia Bompastor's team ensured they did not fail to win successive home games in the top tier for the first time since 2018, and they did so in style.

They posted a whopping 26 shots, with 10 of those on target, while West Ham only got one on target at the other end, with Chelsea putting up 4.11 expected goals (xG) to the Hammers' 0.25 xG.