Khadija Shaw starred for Manchester City, scoring twice in the second half as they began their Women’s Super League (WSL) title defense with a 3-1 victory over promoted Birmingham on October 1, 2023.

City opened the scoring just four minutes after the break when Mary Fowler found the bottom-right corner, setting the stage for Shaw's impressive performance. The last season’s Golden Boot winner then headed in two corners, solidifying the champions' dominance. Oceane Hurtre netted a late consolation for Birmingham, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

In other matches:

• Lisa Baum made an immediate impact in her Arsenal debut, scoring a stunning solo goal in the 10th minute to lead her team to a 1-0 victory at Brighton.
• Grace Fisk scored twice as Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 victory against newly-promoted Charlton, with Vivien Endemann and Cornelia Kapocs adding to the scoreline.
• New Tottenham signing Kirsty Hanson made her mark by scoring twice in a 3-1 win over West Ham, where Signe Gaupset initially put the hosts ahead.
• Crystal Palace celebrated a winning return to the top flight, defeating Everton 1-0 thanks to Lexi Lloyd-Smith’s first-half goal.

The opening weekend of the WSL showcased thrilling performances and set the tone for an exciting season ahead.