MY ACCOUNT
The 12th season of the Women’s Super League kicks off at the weekend on the back of England’s Euro 2022 success — and interest in the game has never been greater.
Women’s football has grown considerably in recent years but was taken to a whole new level when the Lionesses captured their first major trophy on home soil earlier this summer.
Attendance records were shattered throughout the tournament and a crowd of 87,192 — the biggest ever for any men’s or women’s Euros game — packed Wembley to see Sarina Wiegman’s side beat Germany in the final in July.
That match also had a peak BBC One audience of 17.4 million and an average of 11 million, with more watching online.
Just six weeks later, the WSL is back with clubs enjoying surges in ticket sales and a number of fixtures scheduled to take place at Premier League grounds.
As the second season of a three-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports and the BBC kicks in, it is safe to say the top tier of English women’s football is in rude health.
The team to beat
Defending champions Chelsea, who open their campaign against West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, are bidding for a fourth successive title and sixth in total under boss Emma Hayes.
England stars Millie Bright and Fran Kirby are set to be key players for Hayes once again, while Sam Kerr will be looking to become the WSL’s top scorer for the third successive season.
A memorable brace from Kerr in a 4-2 final-day win over Manchester United last term helped the Blues finish one point ahead of Arsenal, whose Lionesses include skipper Leah Williamson and Euros Golden Boot winner Beth Mead.
Record-breaking North London derby
One game fans will not want to miss this month is the North London derby on September 24.
Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners face Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in a match that could have a record WSL crowd in attendance, with over 40,000 tickets already sold.
Arsenal begin their campaign with Sunday’s sold-out Academy Stadium clash against Manchester City, who bounced back after a poor start last season to finish third.
All change at City
City have seen a host of changes this summer, including the departures of some England stars from Gareth Taylor’s squad.
While Lauren Hemp and Euros final match-winner Chloe Kelly remain, Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanway have moved to Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively.
Keira Walsh appears set to depart in a record-breaking move to Barcelona and both Ellen White and Jill Scott have retired.
There has also been a host of new arrivals, with Spain duo Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri among them, and it will be interesting to see how new-look City fare this time around.
United ready for action
Manchester United also have notable England representation with Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Mary Earps joined by new arrival Nikita Parris, a summer signing from Arsenal.
Marc Skinner’s team, who claimed fourth last term, feature in the season curtain-raiser against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Another opening-weekend contest taking place at a Premier League ground sees Hope Powell’s Brighton face Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
Elsewhere, Everton begin life under new boss Brian Sorensen by hosting a Leicester outfit embarking upon their second WSL campaign after being guided to survival last term by Lydia Bedford.
Liverpool are this season’s WSL newcomers having been led back to the top flight by Matt Beard.
Beard, who guided the Reds to the title in 2013 and 2014, takes his side to Reading to kick off their campaign.
WSL Matchday 1 fixtures
Tottenham vs Manchester United (Saturday, 12.30pm)
Chelsea vs West Ham (Sunday, 12.30pm)
Everton vs Leicester (Sunday, 1pm)
Reading vs Liverpool (Sunday, 2pm)
Brighton vs Asotn Villa (Sunday, 2pm)
Manchester City vs Arsenal (Sunday, 7pm)
