Women's Super League 2023/24 season preview: How YOUR club will fare this season

When does the WSL start
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After an exciting World Cup, the domestic season is finally ready to kick off. Champions Chelsea open their campaign at Stamford Bridge in a London derby clash vs Tottenham, Arsenal face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium and Aston Villa are hosting Manchester United at Villa Park.

The World Cup final was just over a month ago, and 94 players who featured in Australia will be playing in the WSL this season. 

The likes of Everton and Aston Villa are looking to weigh into the title race and challenge the traditional top four of Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs. While the battle to remain in the elite division will be just as competitive at the other end of the table.

Four of the gameweek one games are set to be hosted at clubs main stadia, while Bristol City and Leicester have commited to playing all their home games at Ashton Gate and the King Power. With WSL attendances up 170% last season, 2023-24 promises to be the biggest and best ever for the female top flight in England.

Women's Super League 2023/24 season preview

Arsenal

Frida Maanum of Arsenal takes on Julie Soyer of Paris FC during the Women's UEFA Champions League Group 3 Round Match 2 between Paris FC and Arsenal Women at Linkoping Arena on September 09, 2023 in Linkoping, Sweden.

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The Gunners finished only third last season, but with Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema set to return from injury and some key acquisitions, there are reasons to be optimistic. Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt has arrived from PSG, while out-of-contract Alessia Russo’s exit from Manchester United prompted reports she’d head to the Emirates after the Gunners had two world-record bids rejected in January. She did at the start of July! Jonas Eidevall dragged Arsenal through last season’s injury crisis impressively, a first Champions League semi final since 2013 and a sign they’ll be back stronger. 

KEY PLAYER Frida Maanum 

FFT VERDICT 2nd

Aston Villa

Daphne van Domselaar of Aston Villa poses during the Super League Headshots 2023/24 portrait session on September 7, 2023 in Birmingham, England

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Ninth in 2021-22, Villa had a superb rise last season to finish fifth. Head coach Carla Ward was smart in her recruitment, bringing in key signings such as 22-goal Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly and the influential Kenza Dali, plus Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth in January. They’ve snapped up Dutch number one Daphne van Domselaar, to replace Hannah Hampton, and there’s no reason they can’t be ‘best of the rest’ again with more smart signings. Villa only seem to be going in one direction. KEY PLAYER Rachel Daly 

FFT VERDICT 5th

Brighton & Hove Albion

Katie Robinson of England makes a pass during an England Training Session during the the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 at Central Coast Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Gosford, Australia.

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The Seagulls need stability. Last term’s 11th-placed finish was too close for comfort for a side who had three permanent head coaches in a disrupted season. They do have quality, though, and a nice blend of youth and experience – summer signing Pauline Bremer, recruited from Champions League finalists Wolfsburg, is a proven goalscorer who has also played for Lyon and Manchester City. Head coach Melissa Phillips made a strong early impression, and will be glad to keep hold of England’s Katie Robinson. 

KEY PLAYER Katie Robinson FFT VERDICT 8th

Bristol City

Players of Bristol City celebrate as Fran Bentley ( not pictured ) lifts the Women's Championship Trophy after securing promotion to the Women's Super League after defeating Charlton Athletic during the Barclays FA Women's Championship match between Bristol City and Charlton Athletic at Ashton Gate on April 23, 2023 in Bristol, England.

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Back in the WSL after two seasons in the second tier, Bristol City bounced back by fighting off London City Lionesses for promotion. It will be tough, there’s no doubt about it - last time in the top flight, they lost 9-0 at Chelsea and 8-1 at Manchester City - and boss Lauren Smith will be under no illusions. They’ve already lost captain Aimee Palmer and will need to recruit well to give themselves a chance of survival. 

KEY PLAYER Abi Harrison FFT VERDICT 12th

Chelsea

Catarina Macario poses for a photograph as she signs for Chelsea FC Women at Stamford Bridge on June 09, 2023 in London, England

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It may be boring to predict Chelsea as champions for what would be a fifth year running, but the Blues are so hard to stop. Worryingly for their rivals, there’s a general feeling that Emma Hayes’ side were not at their best last term – Guro Reiten, who topped the WSL assist charts, apart – as they contended with injuries in attack, yet still won the title on the final day, plus a third straight FA Cup. Though Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder have departed, they’ve been swift to make acquisitions with USA superstar Catarina Macario arriving from Lyon, plus 117-cap Canadian full-back Ashley Lawrence from PSG and left-back Alejandra Bernabe from Atletico Madrid. 

KEY PLAYER Guro Reiten FFT VERDICT 1st

Everton

Emma Bissell poses for a photo with manager Brian Sorensen after signing for Everton Women on August 1st, 2023 in Halewood, England

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We said last season that Everton needed a solid, mid-table no frills campaign and that’s what they got under new head coach Brian Sorensen, finishing sixth. The Dane oversaw a new-look Toffees side that got off to a good start with a team filled with exciting young players, before dropping away towards the end of the campaign. The club hope his recruitment will continue to drive them forward, necessary after the retirement of ex-Lioness Izzy Christiansen. 

KEY PLAYER Gabby George FFT VERDICT 6th

Leicester City

ash Flint of Liverpool Women with Sophie Howard of Leicester City women during the Leicester City Women v Liverpool Women Pre-Season Friendly at Belvoir Drive Training Ground on September 17, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

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Willie Kirk was one of the stories of 2022-23, rescuing Leicester from certain relegation after replacing Lydia Bedford in November. The Foxes were winless and rock bottom of the league, but a 3-0 win over Brighton in January kicked things off and eventually led to their survival. Some smart signings such as Bayern Munich loanee goalkeeper Janina Leitzig played a huge part – keeping hold of key players such as Sophie Howard will help. 

KEY PLAYER Aileen Whelan FFT VERDICT 10th

Liverpool

Fuka Nagano of Liverpool Women during the pre-season friendly between Leicester City Women and Liverpool Women at Belvoir Drive Training Ground on September 17, 2023 in Leicester, England

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The Reds were unspectacular on their WSL return last season, finishing seventh, but at least steered clear of the four-way relegation battle at the bottom. Experienced head coach Matt Beard picked up some big results, including an opening day win over Chelsea, and January signings such as Japan international Fuka Nagano were pivotal. With Beard’s focus on younger talent, Rhiannon Roberts was among those released this summer as Liverpool look to push towards the top half, as befits a club of their size. 

KEY PLAYER Fuka Nagano FFT VERDICT 7th

Manchester City

Khadija Shaw #21 of Manchester City scores a goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Everton at the Academy Stadium, Manchester on Saturday 27th May 2023.

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City are a hard team to place. After falling out of the top three for the first time since 2014, the decision to keep head coach Gareth Taylor for another year was far from popular. Taylor said this would be a quiet summer as he looks to build on last term’s new-look side, when two early defeats cost them dearly. Avoid that and, with no European distractions, they should fare better. Lionesses Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood, plus striker Khadija Shaw, who scored 31 in all competitions last term, is some spine. 

KEY PLAYER Khadija Shaw FFT VERDICT 3rd

Manchester United

Irene Guerrero of Manchester United Women poses after signing for the club at Old Trafford on September 14, 2023 in Manchester, England

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Runners-up United finally broke into the top three last season, finishing nine points ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City, taking Chelsea to the final day of the season and reaching a first major final. Marc Skinner’s made good progress – they did the double over Arsenal – but have now lost key players in Ona Batlle and Alessia Russo. Highly rated defender Evie Rabjohn has arrived from Aston Villa, but at 18, is one for the future. Spanish midfielder Irene Guerrero's arrival from Atletico Madrid, after winning the World Cup in Australia, could be key alongside key players like Ella Toone, Hannah Blundell and captain Katie Zelem. 

KEY PLAYER Leah Galton FFT VERDICT 4th

Tottenham Hotspur

Bethany England of Tottenham Hotspur scores the team's third goal during the FA Women's Super League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Reading at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 20, 2023 in London, England.

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Spurs can’t afford another year flirting with the drop. Who knows what may have happened had they not spent a British record £250,000 to sign Beth England in January - the striker’s 12 goals in as many games proved pivotal. With plenty of internationals in their squad, including Drew Spence, it’s time for Spurs to show they’re serious. They need a solid campaign.

KEY PLAYER Beth England FFT VERDICT 9th

West Ham United

Viviane Asseyi of France in action during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Panama and France at Sydney Football Stadium on August 2, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

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Last season became a real struggle for West Ham, despite early signs that it might show promise and head coach Paul Konchesky was relieved of his duties in May. The Hammers have established international quality in attack, led France star Viviane Asseyi, but it’s hard to escape a feeling that the team have been drifting, with stalwart midfielder Kate Longhurst released this summer. Another struggle is possible. 

KEY PLAYER Dagny Brynjarsdottir FFT VERDICT 11th

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Matthew Ketchell
Deputy Editor

Ketch joined FourFourTwo as Deputy Editor in 2022 having racked up appearances at Reach PLC as a Northern Football Editor and BBC Match of the Day magazine as their Digital Editor and Senior Writer. During that time he has interviewed the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Southgate and attended World Cup and Champions League finals. He co-hosts a '90s football podcast called ‘Searching For Shineys’, is a Newcastle United season ticket holder and has an expensive passion for collecting classic football shirts.

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