It took Emma Hayes just three months to remind Chelsea of what they lost this summer, describing an Olympic gold medal won with the USA – perhaps a little pointedly – as “the greatest moment” of her career.
If there is one coach equipped to replace her, it is Sonia Bompastor, albeit she arrives in the Women’s Super League an outsider as Chelsea bid for a sixth successive title.
Had nothing changed, number seven might have felt inevitable. Instead, with a squad overhaul and a new face in the dugout, the slightest chink of light has opened up between the best and the rest.
That will be just one narrative to keep an eye on as the new WSL season begins. Here are i‘s predictions.
Pressure on Eidevall
If anything, the scrutiny on Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has already begun following a 1-0 defeat to Hacken in a Champions League qualifier. In isolation, it may have been less of a concern, but the big question surrounds whether Arsenal have learned from their familiar struggles against low blocks, which effectively derailed their last title bid. The 41-year-old is now into his fourth season in north London with only a couple of Conti Cups to show for it.
A serious relegation battle
It’s one thing the WSL has missed, largely because the cavern between the top flight and the Championship too often looks insurmountable. It has got worse in recent years too, with Bristol City nine points adrift in 2023-24 and Reading five points behind 11th place in 2022-23.
That could be about to change; while Crystal Palace have a mammoth task ahead of them following their promotion, West Ham’s summer will give them hope.
Rehanne Skinner’s side survived last year largely courtesy of Bristol City’s woes. They have only become weaker by losing Mackenzie Arnold, Hawa Cissoko, Honoka Hayashi and Risa Shimizu and have not done nearly enough to replace them.
Palace impress – but go down
Understandably, Crystal Palace boss Laura Kaminski is placing plenty of emphasis on style of play as opposed to just surviving. The Eagles finished last season with 55 goals scored and a goal difference of +35 and she has vowed never to “lose that flair”, albeit she realises the need for Palace to become a little more compact if they want to avoid becoming the WSL’s latest newly-promoted punchbag.
Finally… stability at Brighton?
Had Brighton fans only been hoping for big name arrivals this summer, they would have been satisfied. Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby have joined from Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, and the latter is a particularly astute bit of business.
Kirby wanted to stay near London and if she can stay fit, she will be a monumental signing. Parris, meanwhile, has something to prove after 12 league goals across her last two seasons. Where Brighton’s season will really stand or fall is on the appointment of Dario Vidosic – and he is already making big claims of targeting a top-four finish.
More tensions at Man Utd
The headline news from Carrington this summer – apart from the players being moved into portable cabins – was the exits of Mary Earps, Katie Zelem and others who had evidently given up on the prospect of a shift in attitude under Ineos.
All that has really happened is the can has been kicked down the road, with Marc Skinner signing on for another year (with the option of a further 12 months). Skinner has to deliver Champions League football, at the very least, to build on last season’s FA Cup triumph.
And even more ACL tears
Sophie Ingle is set to miss much of Chelsea’s season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the pre-season win over Feyenoord. These injuries are barely registering as news anymore, such is their prevalence in the women’s game, but there is some hope on the horizon with research into the issue being accelerated.
Liverpool can be kingmakers again
Matt Beard’s side had a remarkable impact on last season’s title race without actually being directly involved. Of the big three, only Manchester City seemed to have worked them out, and a late victory over Chelsea in May very nearly sent the WSL trophy elsewhere. Beard is adamant that Liverpool overachieved by finishing fourth and a Champions League push may be beyond them, but they remain one of the greatest threats to the top order.
Hampton to replace Earps?
This is the biggest season of Hannah Hampton’s career. It was a huge gamble joining Chelsea knowing she would have to battle for the No 1 shirt, but it has paid off for club and country. She has started four of the last five England games in goal; Sarina Wiegman’s hand was partly forced due to Earps’ hip injury, but Hampton subsequently kept her place and is now in with a genuine chance of usurping her rival in time for Euro 2025.
All eyes on Tullis-Joyce
One goalkeeper who is definitely replacing Earps is Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who takes the reins at United. The American had been limited to Conti Cup appearances but will now get an opportunity to silence critics who urged Skinner to sign another option in goal. He was insistent United already had the answer on the books, hailing Tullis-Joyce as “the best shot-stopper I have ever worked with in my life”.
Teething issues for NewCo
The top two tiers of English women’s football will now be run by NewCo – an independent for-profit company – for the first time this season. That means there will be more investment but expect plenty of scrutiny over which clubs benefit.
Miedema’s new role
Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw combining at City is going to mean big trouble for WSL defenders. The question is exactly how Gareth Taylor uses Miedema if Shaw operates as the central striker. The Netherlands international looks likely to play on the left of the midfield three, behind Lauren Hemp, though she can also play as a false nine or replace Hemp in the front line.
Daly back among the goals
Rachel Daly made the shock decision to end her England career while the team were still travelling back from Dublin from a Euro 2025 qualifier earlier this year. The Lionesses’ loss should be Aston Villa’s gain. Daly won the Golden Boot two seasons ago but saw her tally drop from 22 league goals to eight last season.
The Bronze age
Another Lioness to pay close attention to will be Lucy Bronze, who has joined Chelsea from Barcelona. There has been plenty of discussion of her form over the past 18 months or so, but Bompastor is well-placed to help her recover. Bronze was at Lyon when Bompastor was coach of the club’s academy and will immediately become one of the most senior figures at Kingsmeadow following an exodus of high-profile players.
Arsenal will regret botched Walsh deal
Mariona Caldentey and Rosa Kafaji were both huge coups for Arsenal’s attack but Victoria Pelova’s injury will heighten concerns that the midfield is still not strong enough. Those fears were very nearly blown away by a deadline day move for Keira Walsh, who was keen to return to England, but the deal fell through and she remains at Barcelona.
England to regain Lionesses spot
Wiegman has clearly settled on Alessia Russo as her regular No 9 but Daly’s retirement has once again opened the door for Beth England. The striker’s 2023-24 season was disrupted by injury but along with Spurs teammate Jess Naz, she could make a fresh breakthrough this term. Tottenham will be all the more reliant on her goals following Kit Graham’s ACL rupture and Celin Bizet’s move to Manchester United.
Spurs kick on without Clinton
There were times last season when it looked as though Grace Clinton’s imminent return to parent club Manchester United would be catastrophic for Robert Vilahamn’s side, who made huge progress last term following a relegation battle the previous season. However, the signings have been just as impressive: Hayley Raso will add goals, Amanda Nilden makes her switch from Juventus permanent and long-term defensive target Clare Hunt joins from PSG.
Signing of the season: Gabi Nunes?
Nunes is exactly the type of forward Robert de Pauw needed, the Olympic silver medallist becoming Villa’s record signing at £250,000. Villa could have been badly hampered by the exits of Daphne van Domselaar and Alisha Lehmann but Nunes goes some way towards replacing the latter. Missy Bo Kearns can also elevate her chances of an England breakthrough after moving to the Midlands from Liverpool.
Player to watch: Katie Reid
Eidevall has hinted at a greater role for the 17-year-old midfielder this season, not least because the centre-back could fill in at full-back or in midfield. In fact, she is already drawing comparisons with a certain Leah Williamson.
Everton takeover brings new hope
The fortunes of WSL clubs are not always linked to their Premier League counterparts – Manchester City, for example, are unaffected by the 115 charges looming over the men’s club, although any potential punishments would be likely to have some sort of financial impact.
As for Everton, they are awaiting a takeover that could breathe new life into the club from top to bottom and finally shift a sense that the women’s side have been stagnating for some time.
Emirates a game-changer
Arsenal will play all of their WSL matches at the Emirates for the first time, having shown they can consistently draw big enough crowds. That will inevitably have a knock-on effect for other clubs, who are being encouraged to use main stadiums when possible – but it is particularly important that it influences those, like West Ham, who are yet to stray from their smaller grounds.
A new era at Leicester
Leicester did remarkably well not to let the Willie Kirk scandal disrupt their season too much – they came agonisingly close to an FA Cup final and finished 12 points above the relegation zone – but their loftier ambitions were also shown to be unrealistic. New boss Amandine Miquel is more about the process, and bold talk of disrupting the top six has died down as Leicester look to consolidate. Keeping hold of Jutta Rantala this summer was crucial.
Roord’s long road back
On paper, Jill Roord’s comeback will be huge for City after her ACL injury, but last summer’s headline signing will only be eased back in even as Taylor teases her return. City can afford a little more leeway, at least, because they have had such a productive transfer window this time around, Japanese duo Aoba Fujino and Shimizu joining Miedema among their most important new additions.
Bompastor wins it
And at the end of it all, we could well have the same result. Chelsea may have lost Kirby, Hayes, Maren Mjelde, Jess Carter – and the list goes on – but they are looking to the future with Maelys Mpome, Oriane Jean-Francois and Sandy Baltimore. Bompastor will hope to make history if she can lift an elusive Champions League – she is already the only woman to win it as player and manager – but maintaining the Blues’ domestic dominance has to be the priority.