The Women's Super League 2 season kicks off on Friday with Watford hosting Burnley, and this preview runs through each of the 12 clubs' prospects under a revised promotion format. This year only the WSL2 champions gain automatic promotion, while the sides finishing second and third face a new pre-qualifying match to decide who meets the WSL's second-bottom club in the promotion/relegation playoff decider.

The piece assesses clubs including Bristol City, Burnley, Durham, Ipswich and Leicester, weighing last season's finishes against summer transfer activity and predicted final positions. Bristol City, last season's top scorers, are tipped for second after strengthening their defence, while newly promoted Burnley have recruited experienced top-flight players despite an 11th-place prediction. Durham survived a summer funding crisis to remain in the league under new manager Willie Kirk, Ipswich are billed as potential dark horses after raiding Scottish champions Hearts, and relegated Leicester face a rebuild after losing several senior internationals.

– WSL2 season starts Friday with new promotion play-off format introduced
– Bristol City tipped for second, Ipswich seen as dark horses
– Durham avoided folding after funding crisis before Kirk's appointment
– Leicester rebuilding after relegation and exodus of senior players