The Women’s Super League (WSL) is set for another captivating season, with new managers, star signings, and a fierce battle for the coveted title. After Chelsea clinched the championship last season on goal difference, runner-up Manchester City is hungry to dethrone the reigning champions. The new campaign kicks off on Friday with Chelsea facing Aston Villa in their first match without their celebrated manager, Emma Hayes, who has taken the helm of the United States national team.
The upcoming season is brimming with intriguing storylines. Will anyone be able to wrest the title from Chelsea, who dominated under Hayes, winning seven of the last eight seasons? Chelsea embarks on its quest for a sixth consecutive crown under former Lyon coach, Sonia Bompastor, a Frenchwoman with an impressive track record who is expected to seamlessly transition into the post-Hayes era with similar high expectations. “I’m not really that different from Emma,” Bompastor shared during the WSL media day earlier this month. “Maybe I have a different vision, a different philosophy, but when you coach at a big club like Lyon or Chelsea, your management has to be the same. The expectations you have from your players, the expectations the players have from you, that’s the same.”
Bompastor, known for her resolute leadership, brings an impeccable record to Chelsea’s Cobham Training Ground. She guided Lyon to seven trophies in three seasons, including three league titles, and led them to a Champions League victory in 2022—the one trophy that eluded Hayes.
Meanwhile, Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City has made a significant move to bolster their squad, signing Vivianne Miedema, the WSL’s all-time leading goalscorer. Miedema joins a forward line that already features last season’s Golden Boot winner, Khadija Shaw. “There were a few who were maybe surprised that a player of that ilk, with what she’s done in the game, was available,” Taylor said about the former Arsenal and Bayern Munich player, who boasts a trophy cabinet filled with domestic league titles and the Euros. “Really happy to have Viv, she’s a box of frogs at times, and she can be a challenge, but what you do have is a highly, highly talented player who, with everything she’s done in the past, still I feel has the best years in front of her.” City kicks off its WSL campaign with a high-stakes match against Arsenal on Sunday.
The transfer window was a flurry of activity, with Chelsea, City, and Arsenal making significant moves. Even clubs that traditionally shied away from paying transfer fees have embraced the transfer market, adding a new dynamic to the competition. FA Cup holder Manchester United revamped its squad, bringing in Norwegian strikers Elisabeth Terland and Celine Bizet, along with Swedish defender Anna Sandberg. French forward Melvine Malard joined from Lyon after spending last season on loan. Brighton & Hove Albion remained active until the deadline on September 13th, signing winger Nikita Parris from United as the final addition to their intriguing crop of new arrivals, including England’s former Chelsea forward Fran Kirby.
Liverpool, after a solid performance last season, might be cause for concern for some fans as seven players departed and only three joined. Newcomer Crystal Palace will be aiming to avoid the fate of Bristol City, who were relegated after just one season in the top flight. Their recruitment of nine new players might make them unrecognizable from the Championship-winning team.
However, one of the most captivating stories to follow this season will unfold outside the top flight. London City Lionesses have assembled a star-studded squad brimming with international talent, setting their sights on promotion from the Championship to the top division. Owned by Michele Kang, who also owns NWSL side Washington Spirit and French giants Lyon, the Lionesses’ list of high-profile arrivals is led by Sweden’s Kosovare Aslanni. Anything less than promotion would undoubtedly be considered a major disappointment. This season promises to be an exciting and unpredictable ride with plenty of drama, surprises, and, of course, exceptional football on display.
