How will Tottenham build on successful WSL season?

Tottenham have had their most successful season in the Women's Super League and will finish as the 'best of the rest' - but how do they ensure it's not a one-off?

Martin Ho's side sit fifth in the table with one game left to play, having already notched a club record points tally (33).

The team who finishes fifth in the WSL, outside the traditional top-four clubs, tend to drop off the following campaign.

But Ho does not want his side to follow suit, insisting Spurs have huge ambitions for the future and are already building for next season.

"We want this club to be recognised as not just one of the best in the UK, but in Europe," said Ho.

Tottenham were a bruised team last summer having finished second bottom in the WSL, with only relegated Crystal Palace conceding more goals in a poor campaign that led to the sacking of manager Robert Vilahamn.

Ho was appointed as Vilahamn's successor, joining from Norwegian side SK Brann, who he led to the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Women's Champions League.

His impact was instant as Spurs won four of their opening five matches - the only defeat coming against champions Manchester City.

Impressive draws with Arsenal and Manchester United followed, meaning Spurs sat level on points with the Gunners in third at the start of 2026.

An aggressive pressing style, more creativity in possession and a structured defence were signs of improvement under Ho, as well as smart recruitment.

He was rewarded with a new long-term contract in March and - despite falling away from the top four in recent months - Spurs will go into the summer feeling positive.

Reflecting on the campaign, Ho said: "It's been positive in numerous aspects, on and off the pitch. There has been a lot of learnings and development.

"It's given us really strong foundations to build on in the future. I'm really pleased with how it's gone.

"However, finishing fifth doesn't win you anything. We want to win, compete and lift trophies.

"There is a lot of pride for the players and the staff for what they have done but there's still a lot of work to do."

Tottenham could finish within four points of Manchester United - where Ho worked as an assistant for three years - if they beat Brighton on Saturday (13:00 BST).

It would be a boost having suffered three successive WSL defeats in March and an FA Cup quarter-final exit to Chelsea last month.

"We had a really good start then a bit of a bumpy road in the second half of the season," added Ho.

"How we faced the adversity and the reaction to that, means we have still performed well.

"Away from the pitch, [what has pleased me is] probably the infrastructure and processes we have put in place to allow this team to be successful in the long-term and to build momentum going into the summer."

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Martin Ho joined Tottenham as manager in the summer

Tottenham finished fifth in the WSL in 2022 but ended up in ninth the season after.

They reached the FA Cup final for the first time under Vilahamn in 2024 - alongside a sixth-placed finish in the WSL - but were second bottom the following campaign.

It has been similar for other clubs. Liverpool went from fourth to seventh last year and Aston Villa dropped from fifth to seventh in 2024.