Bristol City Women are undergoing a significant rebuild after being taken over last year by investment group Mercury13, splitting from the Bristol Sport group that oversees the men's team and the city's rugby and basketball sides. New chief executive Hannah Buckley, appointed in May and starting in June, is leading the transition to an independently run club, arguing that standalone women's teams avoid risks such as relegation or ownership changes affecting a parent men's club. The move is seen as a test case for whether women's football clubs can thrive without ties to a men's side.

Buckley says staff headcount has doubled as the club builds back-office functions previously handled by Bristol Sport, alongside upgrades to the training ground and pitch, describing the current stage as a "marginal gain phase". Mercury13, backed by investors including former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, also owns FC Como Women in Italy and FC Badalona Women in Spain. Head coach Charlotte Healy, who joined in June 2025 after roles at clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool, says the club's dedicated focus on the women's team has allowed new hires such as a performance wellbeing manager, with the Women's Super League 2 side eyeing promotion to the WSL.