Five players to watch in the WSL this season

The new Women’s Super League season kicks off on Friday evening when Arsenal host Brighton.

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea will be looking to win a fourth consecutive league title but their London rivals will be hot on their heels once again.

Ahead of the opener at Meadow Park, we have taken a look at five stars to keep an eye on this season.

Hanna Bennison (Everton)

At just 19 years old, Hanna Bennison is an exciting young prospect and could continue to make her mark with Everton this year.

She signed for the Toffees in 2021 and made 22 appearances last season as the club’s record signing.

The midfielder caught the eye at Euro 2022 with Sweden this summer as an impact player largely utilised from the bench.

Having scored the winner against Switzerland in the group stage, she is certainly one to keep an eye on this year.

Eve Perisset (Chelsea)

Chelsea have recruited well in the transfer window, adding France defender Eve Perisset to their already imperious squad.

Perisset spent two years with Bordeaux and has also played for Lyon, so she is not short of experience at the top level.

She represented her country at Euro 2022 this summer and scored the decisive extra-time penalty against the Netherlands to send Les Bleues to the semi-finals.

Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United)

Maya Le Tissier is an exciting prospect with a bright future ahead of her.

The defender signed for Manchester United this summer on a three-year deal that saw her leave Brighton.

Having caught the eye on the South Coast and for England Under-23s, Le Tissier will be hoping to drag her new club up the table to improve on three consecutive fourth-placed finishes.

The 20-year-old won Brighton’s Young Player of the Season two years running and her talent is something to be monitored over the coming campaign.

Carrie Jones (Leicester)

A Manchester United youth prospect, Carrie Jones will spend this season on loan at Leicester and is already starting to make her mark.

The midfielder came up through United’s academy and has made 10 appearances for the first team, but the Red Devils feel she can develop away from the club this year.

She represents Wales on the international stage and bagged her first goal for Cymru at the start of September against Greece in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Leicester arrived in the WSL in 2021 and retained their status for the upcoming campaign. The addition of Jones should be a huge boost to their survival hopes this season.

Lauren James (Chelsea)

Lauren James signed a four-year contract with Chelsea last year and will be raring to show what she can do in her second campaign with the West Londoners.

Having made 12 appearances for the Blues last season, James scored her first goal in the 9-0 thrashing of Leicester in March.

The forward, sister of Chelsea and England men’s star Reece James, is also on her country’s radar having earned a call-up for the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifiers this month.