WK League News

Just as in 2024, the WK League table is decidedly unsettled as teams head into the final three rounds of the regular season. Last year the rankings, not to mention the championship final and playoff spots, all came down to the final matchday, with players and fans unable to celebrate at the final whistle as they waited for results elsewhere to be confirmed. The 2025 season could be heading the same way, with four teams still mathematically able to progress to the championship final and fight for a chance to lift the WK League trophy.

Championship challengers: Hwacheon and Seoul at the top

Hwacheon KSPO have been sitting pretty at the top of the league table since Round 13, maintaining a healthy lead for most of that time that made them look like sure favourites to progress directly to the Championship Final. However, a run of poor form from Hwacheon in recent weeks means Seoul City Amazones have the opportunity to reclaim the top spot, which they held onto from the first day of the season until Hwacheon overtook them in Round 13.

At this point, Hwacheon are guaranteed progression to at least the playoff. They can still be knocked down to third place if they lose all their remaining matches and either Gyeongju or Incheon win all of theirs, with a huge swing in goal difference to boot, but after winning the regular league in 2024 and staying at the top of the table for much of this season, even progressing in second place would be slightly disappointing for KSPO and their fans.

Seoul are not yet mathematically guaranteed to progress, but they would need a very specific set of results (and number of goals) from Gyeongju and Incheon to see them knocked out of the playoff spots. After a run of draws in the summer planted the seeds of doubt, Seoul are back on form and can realistically aim to bypass the playoff and earn the right to host the second leg of the Championship Final at home by finishing as regular season league champions.

The two teams go head-to-head in Round 26, with all three of their previous 2025 WK League meetings having resulted in a draw. In recent years, Hwacheon’s home advantage has proven almost impenetrable, but Gyeongju’s recent win away at Hwacheon has shown that it can be done, and Seoul will be eager to follow suit. With KSPO faltering and the Amazones on good form, the visitors will surely fancy their chances.

Even if Seoul go top today, there are still two further rounds to play, so Hwacheon could bounce back. However, whether as regular league champions or playoff victors, the next time these two teams meet may well be in the 2025 WK League Championship Final. A win tonight for either team could give them a psychological edge in November — then again, a loss now could make players all the more determined for revenge when a trophy is on the line.

Deja vu all over again: Gyeongju and Incheon fight for third place

Currently level on 41 points in third and fourth place respectively are Gyeongju KHNP and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. At the moment, Gyeongju have the advantage on goal difference, but not by a comfortable margin. If the situation sounds familiar, it’s because it is: the two teams’ battle for a playoff position came down to the final day of the season last year. The pair will meet in Round 27 but they each have another chance to rack up some points before then.

Gyeongju manager Song Juhee has been collecting past and present (and future?) Korea internationals like Pokemon but has struggled to find a formula that consistently gets the best out of her squad in recent league appearances. KHNP have become a rather unpredictable side, delivering Hwacheon their first home defeat of the season before underwhelming results against teams they really ought to beat comfortably. Tonight they host old rivals Suwon FC, who have had an atrocious season. Gyeongju should take the three points, but after last week’s 1-1 draw at Changnyeong, KHNP fans are probably feeling nervous. Suwon’s summer signings have had time to settle into the squad and they won’t make things easy for the home team, who are not only looking to win but to do so by as many goals as possible to improve their buffer in case they end the season on the same points total as Incheon.

Incheon had a slow start to their season under new manager Hur Jeongjae, but their quality in defence has been enough to keep them in contention even as they struggled to create goals in the first half of the season. Their attacking play has improved since the summer, and their 3-0 win over Gyeongju last time the two sides met bodes well for the Red Angels in the fight for third place. Tonight, Incheon host Changnyeong WFC, whom they have beaten three times already this season. Changnyeong are currently on a three game unbeaten run, their best form of the season so far. With their fate at the bottom of the table sealed and the looming possibility that their club won’t exist come next season, Changnyeong have nothing to lose, and will put up a good fight, but Incheon should be able to handle them, especially on home turf.

Best of the rest: the battle for fifth place

Sejong Sportstoto could still mathematically climb to fourth place, although that is very unlikely. They could also drop to sixth, with Mungyeong Sangmu just two points behind them. Both teams have managed to cause some upsets in recent weeks, catching higher ranking teams off guard and nicking enough points off them to spice up the title race from afar. They are both mathematically out of playoff contention, leaving them to scrap for the dubious honour of fifth place. They go head to head in Mungyeong this afternoon. In previous meetings this season, Sejong have won twice and Mungyeong once, so the home team will be looking to even the record.

In seventh and eighth are Suwon FC and Changnyeong WFC. In terms of this year’s WK League, the best these teams can hope for is to spoil their rivals’ fun in the title race. In the final three rounds, Suwon go up against Gyeongju, Hwacheon and Incheon, so they could certainly have an impact. After playing Incheon tonight, Changnyeong have home fixtures against Mungyeong and Seoul. If they can pick up two more points they will equal their 2024 points total. The lower ranking sides may see their support grow in the final few rounds as other teams’ supporters root for them in key fixtures where every point and every goal could make a big difference in the title race.