To top off what has been a depressing campaign for Reading supporters, the women- who usually fly the flag for the town in the Super League- were relegated.
That's not the end of the disappointment, as news broke on Tuesday that the club have decided to downgrade the set-up to a part-time level.
Met with much anger and upset from current players, former stars and many supporters alike, it greatly diminishes the chances of an immediate return to the top-flight.
Now in the Championship for the first time since 2015, the landscape of the women's game has changed greatly.
Let's take a look below at who Kelly Chambers' side will come up against from the summer.
READ MORE: Reading FC Women to become part-time after WSL relegation
Birmingham City
The 2012 FA Cup winners were founder members of the Women's Super League, finishing runners-up twice over a decade ago.
Finishing second to Bristol City last season, Darren Carter's Blues will be among the favourites for a top-flight return next season.
Blackburn Rovers
In the second tier since 2018, Rovers finished 10th last season and 16 points clear of Coventry United.
Never having played in the Super League, Blackburn are one of biggest sides in the league never to have been promoted.
Charlton Athletic
Originally Croydon, one of the most successful women's teams of it's time, Charlton took over in 2000.
Disbanded, and resurrected, in 2007 it has been a real rollercoaster for Addicks supporters as the men plummeted from Premier League regulars to a League One outfit.
Crystal Palace
One of two Premier League club's to have a women's side in the Championship, they have steadily risen the ranks since 2003.
Following the boom of the game in recent years, the Eagles were one of the first clubs to drop 'Women' from their name.
Durham
In the Championship since 2018, Durham are one of three club's to have male sides outside of the Football League.
Finishing as high as second in 2021, the Wildcats will provide tough competition.
An outstanding pass from @GracePalmer85 and the coolest of finishes 🧊@Elliemason16's goal against Sheffield United is the #BarclaysWC Goal of the Season!@LewesFCWomen pic.twitter.com/3yRn8xTcTj
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) May 31, 2023
Lewes
A proud community club, they are best-known for playing their matches at the historic Dripping Pan and becoming the first professional or semi-professional football club to pay its women's team the same as its men's team.
They finished ninth last season, despite losing their final three matches.
London City Lionesses
Only four years old, the Lionesses were founded after breaking away from Millwall Lionesses.
Finishing third last season, they were only three points behind the title-winners.
Sheffield United
Mirroring Reading and playing all of their matches at the home of the Blades, Bramall Lane, United finished eighth.
Still part-time, manager Jonathan Morgan has experience of promotion- taking Leicester City up to the WSL in 2021.
Southampton
Winning promotion to the Championship in 2022, England legend Marianne Spacey-Cale earned a respectable sixth-place finish last year.
Revived as recently as 2016, the Saints went full-time in 2022.
Sunderland
Experiencing a brief spell in WSL 1 in 2015, the Black Cats were FA Women's National League North as recently as 2019.
Finishing second-bottom last season, they remain part-time.
The match-winner. 💫 pic.twitter.com/Yjr88UqX6Y
— Watford FC Women (@WatfordFCWomen) May 24, 2023
Watford
Promoted last season after winning FA Women's National League South, they play their regular fixtures at the home Wealdstone FC.
Currently employing a 'hybrid' model, their players are not full-time professionals.
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