Ipswich captain Maria Boswell sees WSL promotion as ‘inevitable’

In a report published on 21 October, BBC Sport quoted Ipswich Town Women captain Maria Boswell as saying she sees promotion to the Women’s Super League as ‘inevitable’. Ipswich are third in WSL2 after five matches of the 2026–27 season, but Boswell told BBC Radio Suffolk the step up could come this year or take five years.

Boswell linked her confidence to the direction of the club, its owners’ intent and the investment it has received. ‘I don’t think there’s any ceiling to what we can go on and achieve,’ she told BBC Radio Suffolk. She said she hopes to be part of the team if Ipswich reach the top division.

How Ipswich reached third place in WSL2

That position follows a rapid climb through the divisions. Ipswich were in the fourth tier as recently as 2021 and reached the second tier in 2025. They finished ninth in WSL2 last season, making their current place in the table an improvement on their first campaign at that level.

Boswell’s view of the promotion challenge

Boswell said the squad’s additions helped convince players by the end of pre-season that they should strive for promotion. She also warned against letting that ambition cloud their work: a good start does not mean results will continue automatically, and the team must keep producing performances that earn points.

The captain has been part of Ipswich’s rise for several years. The club’s player profile says she arrived from Essex RTC in the summer of 2019 and initially joined its WSL Academy squad. She made her senior debut in September 2020 and became captain in December 2023.

Ipswich’s next test is against second-placed Sunderland at Colchester Community Stadium on Sunday, according to BBC Sport. The fixture will bring together two of the division’s early front-runners as Boswell’s side tries to extend its run of three league wins.