Chelsea Women's record 34-match unbeaten run in the Women's Super League came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday. Everton, who had not won a league game since their 4-1 season-opening victory against Liverpool in September, opened the scoring through Honoka Hayashi in the opening 15 minutes. Brian Sorensen's side frustrated the eight-time, reigning league champions for the match's remainder, issuing Sonia Bompastor her first WSL defeat since being appointed Chelsea head coach before the start of last season. Despite registering nearly 80 per cent possession and 27 shots at Courtney Brosnan's goal, Chelsea could not carve an opening through Everton's dogged and diligent defending. The defeat leaves Chelsea six points adrift of WSL leaders Manchester City, who won 3-0 against Leicester City earlier in the day. The result represented Everton's first clean sheet of the season and their first points won away from home. It also ended Chelsea's scintillating unbeaten league run, which stretched into the final three matches of the 2024-25 season under former manager Emma Hayes. Sonia Bompastor said after the match, 'It's a really frustrating result, it's tough, but I think if we analyse the performance and look at the statistics, I don't think the players could have done a lot more.' The scenes at full time were the perfect visual: Everton celebrating three points as if it were everything, because in many ways it was. This defeat will hurt Chelsea for some time, and it's still too early to claim the title race is over, but this is effectively Chelsea handing Manchester City the keys and giving them pole position. Chelsea's streak would always, eventually, end, as does every dynasty. The defeat was reminiscent of the one that ended Chelsea's 33-match unbeaten run under Hayes in February 2021 when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to a struggling Brighton & Hove Albion. The competitive level at which the WSL has improved this season is evident, and for Chelsea, this loss will be a tough pill to swallow. The team's inability to create quality chances and their lack of clinical finishing were the main reasons for their defeat. Chelsea struck the bar twice and saw two chances spectacularly cleared off the line in the final minutes of injury time, but it was too little, too late. The team will have to regroup and refocus if they want to catch up with Manchester City and regain their position at the top of the league.