Tottenham Hotspur go into the new Women’s Super League season with a very different feel about them, and Martin Ho has made it clear why. After finishing fifth last season and closing the gap on fourth from 10 points to four, Spurs believe they are now in a position to challenge higher up the table.
That belief has been backed by recruitment. Tottenham added Alice Sombath, Selma Panengstuen, Shekiera Martinez and Kirsty Hanson in the summer, while Ho had already strengthened the squad last summer with Toko Koga and Cathinka Tandberg and brought Signe Gaupset back in January. It is a clear sign that the club are trying to turn last season’s progress into something more lasting.
Ho’s own assessment was straightforward. “As I’ve said to the players, we have a good enough squad with depth in it that we can really compete,” he said. That is the key question for Tottenham now: can they translate greater depth and a more settled structure into a genuine top-four push?
Why Tottenham feel different this season
The improvement under Ho has been obvious. Tottenham finished 11th the season before last, then matched their best Women’s Super League finish by coming fifth last season. In a league where the margins at the top are tight, cutting the gap to fourth by six points matters.
It also matters that the backing has increased around the team. Tottenham’s women’s team turnover rose from £3.39m in 2023-24 to £4.41m in the year ending June 2025, underlining the growth in support. With Vinai Venkatesham arriving as chief executive in April 2025, the club’s direction around the women’s side has been more ambitious.
That said, the summer has not been entirely straightforward. A high-court decision in July 2026 blocked plans for a new women’s and girls’ football academy in Whitewebbs Park, which is a setback to longer-term development. Even so, the immediate squad picture suggests Spurs are aiming high.
The pre-season signs are encouraging
Results in pre-season have also offered encouragement. Tottenham beat Granada and Birmingham, lost 2-1 to Real Madrid and then finished with a 5-0 win over Bristol City. That is not proof of anything on its own, but it does suggest a team that is handling its preparations with purpose.
Shekiera Martinez summed up the mood after those early weeks in training: “The intensity is really high, the training has been really tough, so I can’t wait until the league starts.”
That kind of comment matters because it points to a squad that is being pushed properly rather than simply getting through pre-season. For a team trying to break into the next tier, standards have to rise every day, not just on matchdays.
Can Spurs turn backing into a challenge?
Tottenham will not be expected to overtake Arsenal overnight, but they can absolutely position themselves as dark horses in the chase behind the leading pack and London City Lionesses. The combination of recruitment, improved results and a more confident message from the manager gives them a platform.
The challenge now is consistency. Spurs have already shown they can improve quickly under Ho. The next step is proving that a stronger squad can deliver over the full season and not just in bursts.
For Tottenham, the season feels like a test of whether investment, depth and belief can add up to real momentum. Against West Ham, it is another chance to show that last year’s fifth place was not the peak, but the start of something bigger.
