UEFA Women's Champions League: Who’s in it, what’s the format and who are the players to watch?

Robin Bairner

• 6 Oct 2025 05:16 CDT
• 5 min read

Analysis

The UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage begins on Tuesday, with Europe’s biggest clubs vying to follow in the footsteps of defending champions Arsenal.

Just as the men’s competition was subject to a revamp last season, the women’s tournament has followed suit for 2025/26, so how does it work and who are the teams and players to keep an eye out for?

What teams are in the Women’s Champions League?

• Arsenal
• Atletico Madrid
• Barcelona
• Bayern Munich
• Benfica
• Chelsea
• Twente
• Juventus
• OH Leuven
• Lyon
• Paris FC
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Real Madrid
• Roma
• St Polten
• Valerenga
• Wolfsburg

There are 18 teams competing in the Women’s Champions League, with three each from England, Spain and France, which are the leading nations in terms of female football.

Germany and Italy have two clubs each, with representatives from Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Norway.

What is the format of the competition?

The Women’s Champions League has adopted a Swiss model for the tournament this season, just as the men’s tournament did the same last year.

The 18 teams will playoff over six matchdays, with the top four advancing to the quarter-finals, where they will be seeded. The next eight clubs will fight it out in an intermediary stage for the right to reach the last eight.

Once the tournament reaches the quarter-finals, it will be played out over the familiar two-legged format.

The final is a one-off match at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on 24 May, 2026.

UEFA Women’s Champions League: Key dates

October 7-8: Group stage, matchday 1

October 15-16: Group stage, matchday 2

November 11-12: Group stage, matchday 3

November 19-20: Group stage, matchday 4

December 9-10: Group stage, matchday 5

December 17: Group stage, matchday 6

February 11-12: Knockout phase play-offs, 1st leg

February 18-19: Knockout phase play-offs, 2nd leg

March 24-25: Quarter-finals, 1st leg

April 1-2: Quarter-finals, 2nd leg

April 25-26: Semi-finals, 1st leg

May 2-3: Semi-finals, 2nd leg

May 24: Final

Who are the favourites?

Last season’s beaten finalists Barcelona are expected to be a powerful force in the competition, despite losing to Arsenal in last season’s final.

The Gunners, meanwhile, have made a slow start to the Women’s Super League but their experience last season should stand them in good stead for another run at the title this time around. Fellow WSL side Chelsea are once again looking good and invested significantly in their squad over the summer.

The other big favourite is Lyon, who recently crushed PSG 6-1 in a domestic league encounter to underline their pedigree as one of Europe’s outstanding women’s football clubs.

Who are the best players?

The recent Ballon d’Or Feminin was dominated by Barcelona and Arsenal players, with these two clubs monopolising the top seven spots in the prestigious award.

Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona was voted as the best female player in the world, so naturally the Barca midfielder will be one to watch along with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

Arsenal’s best players are attacker Mariona Caldentey, prolific striker Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and vice-captain Leah Williamson.

The Gunners will also look to record signing Olivia Smith to provide them with goals, while Emily Fox is a rising star at right-back.

Chelsea have spent lavishly in 2025, adding Alyssa Thompson (attack), Naomi Girma (defence) and Keira Walsh (midfield) to their side for a combined €2m, strengthening each line of their team. The Blues will expect a strong return from these players, who join the likes of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and Lucy Bronze at the London club.

At Manchester United, meanwhile, the key players are typically in defence. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, centre-back Maya Le Tissier and Jade Riviere were all named in the WSL Team of the Season. Ella Toone is the big name in the midfield.

Elsewhere, keep an eye out for prolific Lyon pair Lindsey Heaps and Melchie Dumornay, Bayern Munich winger Klara Buhl and Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir.