The reigning champions took just eight minutes to take the lead through Jess Carter, but Bethany England - who left Chelsea for Tottenham in a record-breaking £250,000 move last month - returned to haunt her old club.
However, Lauren James and Guro Reiten would both make the net ripple before Nikola Karczewska's late consolation, as Chelsea quickly returned to winning ways in the top flight.
Emma Hayes's side now hold a two-point lead at the summit after challengers Manchester United Women and Arsenal Women were both held to goalless draws, with the Red Devils and Everton Ladies shaking hands on a point.
Only four of Man United's 25 shots found the target, as they failed to convert 68% possession into anything meaningful, but Arsenal did not fare much better in their London derby against West Ham United Women.
The Gunners fired nine efforts on target but could not break down an impenetrable Mackenzie Arnold, as Arsenal played out a second successive stalemate in the top flight.
Manchester City Women remain level on points with Arsenal after beating Leicester City Women 2-0 on Saturday thanks to Khadija Shaw and Chloe Kelly's efforts, while Aston Villa Women and Brighton & Hove Albion Women drew 1-1 yesterday, and Liverpool Women handed Reading Women their fourth successive loss with a 2-0 victory.
WSL RESULTS IN FULL:
Leicester 0-2 Man City
Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton
Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea
Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
Man United 0-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-0 Reading