Manchester City were crowned FA Cup champions following their 4-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday to see the Women’s Super League champions culminate the season with a domestic double.The triumph at Wembley Stadium sees City win their fourth FA Cup in the club’s history. City have only ever lost once in the competition’s final, doing so in 2021-22 in a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea in extra-time.City comfortably managed to beat Brighton in normal time on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema.The first half-hour belied this inevitable comfort, with Brighton, who defeated City 3-2 in the WSL earlier this month, being by far the better in the opening exchanges. Their high press and physicality, led from the front by Madison Haley, Fran Kirby and Manuela Vanegas, put the league champions under palpable stress. City turned the ball over cheaply, granting Brighton access to dangerous territory in the City box and forcing two clearances off the line.Yet, Brighton failed to make the most of their chances, a profligacy they came to rue as City won the ball in Brighton’s final third in the 38th minute and Shaw, fresh off signing a new record-breaking four-year deal with the club, jumped highest to meet Greenwood’s looping cross, heading beyond Brighton keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.In the final minute of injury time, Greenwood doubled City’s advantage with a free-kick from the edge of the area, won by Shaw. It was the latest flex of City’s dominance in set-pieces this season, having scored 18 in the WSL, more than double any other team.Four minutes after coming on from the bench in the 62nd minute, Fujino added a third with a composed left-footed finish after good work from Shaw down the left wing and a clever dummy from fellow substitute Miedema.Miedema made it four with just five minutes of regular time remaining as she headed home a cross from full-back Kerstin Casparij.Heartbreak for Brighton but vindication for CityHaving not lifted silverware since the 2021-22 League Cup final, City have done it twice this season under new manager Andree Jeglertz.For City Women’s sporting director Therese Sjogran, this should be a point of vindication. Sjogran sacked former head coach Gareth Taylor just three months after officially starting her role in December 2024, citing a need for changes to bring home more silverware. A year on, that decision looks all the more prescient.Sunday’s victory also lends further credence to their title charge. City’s lack of European football was held up as a key advantage to in their title victory, but a second domestic trophy, and their clear and comfortable dominance throughout the second-half, quells many of those criticisms.It also sets City up nicely for the summer and the new season. Having just secured the three-time WSL Golden Boot winner Shaw on a new deal until 2030, winning the FA Cup final adds more momentum in City’s ambitions to “build a dynasty”. Whether they can in an increasingly hyper-competitive domestic landscape remains to be seen, but more silverware and another solid performance to go with it will no doubt help in convincing potential signings that the talk has plenty of substance to it.For Brighton, Sunday was pure heartbreak in the club’s first major final. The first-half hour belonged to them, but the fine margins at the top end of the WSL is a matter of chance taking. City took theirs when it counted, despite struggling to register much of a threat in the first-half. After 30 minutes, Brighton had registered 11 touches in City’s box, while City had mustered only one.While Brighton had managed to muster a stunning 3-2 comeback win against Liverpool in the semi-finals to reach Wembley, such a display looked beyond them as City grew into the match and found their stride.It’s a cruel but crucial learning curve for Brighton ahead of a summer that will no doubt be crucial if they are too really challenge the established top end of the WSL. Brighton have in recent years become a club synonymous with ambition, but the application and execution has been staggered. This season, Brighton have demonstrated with the squad they have under the aegis of Vidosic they are more than capable of competing at the top. But it’s sustaining that competitive edge and seeing it over the line that will require a few more signings capable of turning the dial when necessary.