🔎 All you need to know about the new WSL season | OneFootball

A new FA Women’s Super League season is upon us!

So what do you need to know before it gets underway? Don’t worry, we have you covered …

Who are the title contenders?

Holders Chelsea go into the season as the team to beat. Emma Hayes led a star-studded Blues side to the WSL title and the Champions League final last season.

Attention goes to Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder up front but there is quality throughout, with Ji So-yun always a player to watch and Melanie Leupolz crucial at the base of the midfield.

Chelsea won’t have it easy, though.

Manchester City took them to the final day last season and have added treble-winning Barcelona captain Vicky Losada in midfield, Australian winger Hayley Raso from Everton and hugely talented ex-Arsenal teenager Ruby Mace.

Speaking of Arsenal, they are the third side with title ambitions.

Jonas Eidevaal is now in charge in north London and immediately highlighted the team’s struggles against teams that press well as an area to improve.

Arsenal have lost Dutch pair Danielle van de Donk and Jill Roord to Lyon and Wolfsburg but  have signed the superb Mana Iwabuchi, England star Nikita Parris and USWNT winger Tobin Heath. Simone Boye Sørensen and Frida Maanum add strength further back as the Gunners look to improve on a disappointing 2020/21 campaign.

So what else has changed since last season?

Leicester have arrived in the top flight having won the Championship title last time out.

There has been significant investment in the Foxes, who are looking at their first top flight season with ambition.

There could be teething problems for Manchester United, who have replaced Casey Stoney with Marc Skinner and lose the likes of Lauren James, Christen Press and Tobin Heath.

If United end up standing still, Everton could be the biggest challengers to the top three.  They’ve made significant signings, including the arrival of England’s Toni Duggan and completing a club-record deal to sign 18-year-old Hanna Bennison in midfield.

Do you have any other teams or players to look out for?

Ella Toone was already good for Manchester United last season but will have to step up  even more following the high-profile exits there.

Across Manchester, plenty of people aware of City’s Ellen White thanks to her England exploits but young trio Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway are all incredibly exciting talents in attack.

In terms of teams, Brighton pulled off some impressive victories last season and will be looking to finish in the top six again.

Anything else?

Yes — the WSL will be broadcast by the BBC and Sky in the UK this season. Starting this weekend.

The league is only improving and now looks like the biggest and most competitive in Europe, if not the world.

Women’s football is here to stay and there’s no better time to get into it.