UEFA Women’s Champions League: Schedule, New Format, and Title Contenders

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Preview UEFA Women’s Champions League: Schedule, New Format, and Title Contenders

The new season of the UEFA Women`s Champions League is set to begin, promising to be one of the most thrilling and competitive editions in its history. With an updated format, the arrival of new players, and a broad spectrum of teams vying for victory, Europe`s premier club competition is expected to deliver real excitement.

London`s Arsenal returns to the European stage after their inaugural Champions League triumph last spring, but they are far from the only team aiming for repeat success. Barcelona, winners of three of the last five titles, remains one of Europe`s strongest teams. Eight-time champions OL Lyonnes will showcase a new look under manager Jonatan Giraldez, having bolstered their squad this summer with promising players, including US national team midfielder Lily Yohannes.

Many of the world`s leading female footballers will compete for the title, notably Barcelona`s three-time Ballon d`Or winner and Arsenal`s Mariona Caldentey, who was runner-up for the individual accolade in 2025. Several USWNT players will also participate: Yohannes will play alongside Lindsey Heaps for both club and country, while Emily Fox played a crucial role in the Gunners` victory last season. Alyssa Thompson, having joined Chelsea this summer, will make her Champions League debut, joined by fellow USWNT players Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma, as the Blues chase their first-ever title in the competition.

All teams will be striving to reach the final on May 24 at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. For the first time, all matches of the tournament will be broadcast across CBS Sports platforms.

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How to Watch Every Match

Paramount+ will be the primary destination for all UEFA Women`s Champions League coverage. CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will also feature selected matches and additional content. Daily broadcasts will kick off with “UEFA Women`s Champions League Today” on both Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network before the early games. An hour-long pre-match show will air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network before later matches. Post-match analysis will be available on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, while CBS Sports Golazo Network will present a new edition of “Scoreline” to wrap up the day`s action.

CBS Sports` new “UEFA Women`s Champions League Today” studio show will be anchored by Hannah Cash, with Jen Beattie, Janelly Farias, Darian Jenkins, Kelley O’Hara, and Ali Riley serving as analysts. Chris Wittyngham will handle play-by-play duties, paired with Beattie and Jenkins. Anita Jones will provide pitchside reports, and Christina Unkel will serve as the rules analyst.

The New League Phase Format Unveiled

This season introduces a league phase to the Women`s Champions League, expanding the number of participating teams from 16 to 18. Each team will play six matches during this phase, with the top four teams directly securing their spots in the quarterfinals. An additional eight teams will qualify for the knockout phase playoffs, where teams ranked fifth through eighth will face those ranked ninth through twelfth for a place in the quarterfinals. From there, the tournament reverts to a familiar knockout format, with all eyes on the May 24 final at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway.