The Women's League Cup will be rebranded as the Players Cup and adopt a new league format with regionalised fixtures for the 2026-27 season. This change, approved by Women's Super League (WSL) and WSL 2 clubs, aims to alleviate scheduling pressures and enhance player welfare.

Teams qualifying for the Women's Champions League, including holders Chelsea, champions Manchester City, and runners-up Arsenal, will not participate. The remaining 23 teams from the top two divisions will be divided into Northern and Southern sections, competing from September to December. Matches will occur on Champions League nights, with each team playing six games within their region. Draws after 90 minutes will be settled by penalty shootouts, awarding two points for a shootout win and one for a shootout loss.

The top eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals in January, followed by a one-legged semi-final and a final at a neutral venue on March 13-14. This revamp ensures a new winner for the Players Cup, as the competition has historically been won only by Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City.