3 reasons why the new Women’s Super League season is more exciting than this title.

The WSL has been garnering more and more attention within the footballing world for good reason. As more resources and investments are dedicated to the players, and as audiences outgrow their limiting beliefs of the quality of the women’s game. The WSL has been breaking viewership records, signing greater talents in athletes and managers, and selling out iconic stadiums. As the Barclays-sponsored league continues to establish itself as top-tier football, here are three things to keep you hooked.

Firstly, a record number of games will be played at Premier League stadiums this season. With the Emirates, Villa Park, and King Power Stadium set to host the home games of their respective women’s sides, amongst other stadiums committing to host more matches, viewership is projected to rise. In the 2022/23 season, the Manchester City versus Manchester United derby played at the Etihad, drew 44,259 fans, starkly contrasting to the (then) record of 5,222 attendees at Joie Stadium. Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal Women’s coach, stated “We are moving away from the idea that it’s a one-off to sell out the big stadiums” thus enabling growth by providing more exposure to the WSL.

Secondly, the WSL continues to become a star-studded entity with several emerging talents keeping the competition alive and compelling. Rosa Kafaji, Arsenal’s 21-year-old attacking midfielder, inspired by Ronaldinho, has burst onto the scene boasting 28 goals in 61 appearances with her previous team, Hakken. Kafaji is “a proper baller” who is set apart by her ability to “open up small spaces and put balls in with exact precision” according to Eidevall.

Everton’s new signing, 21-year-old Inma Gabarro is the 2022 Golden Boot winner for U20’s World Cup for champions Spain. Although she is currently out with an ACL injury, her shrewd ability to make late runs into the box and evade defenders usually makes her a dangerous threat for Everton’s opposition. Everton is not the only Merseyside team to make an exciting addition to their team with Liverpool completing a club-record signing of £212,000 for Olivia Smith. Smith’s CV boasts 16 goals in 28 appearances during her first season with Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon and as per Liverpool Head Coach Matt Beard, he’s “never seen someone strike a ball like her… left foot, right foot, you stand watching her in training thinking did she just do that?” (Humphreys, 2024). These are just a few among numerous rising stars like Lauren James (Chelsea, 22), Michelle Agyemang (18, Brighton), Mary Fowler (21, Manchester City), and more.

Lastly, while many are focused on Sonia Bompastor’s reign at Emma Hayes’ former home, Chelsea, a third of WSL clubs have seen an overhaul of management, most notably Leicester, Brighton, and Aston Villa. Leicester have employed Amandine Miquel who secured promotion then peaked with a top 4 finish at former club Reims. Her key talent is spotting the next best player and developing young players, and her style of football: “We want to be as offensive as possible” is her go-to.

Brighton brought in Dorio Vidosic who is heavily influenced by City’s Guardiola, transitioning them to a heavily possession-based style, aiming to dominate and play attacking football. Aston Villa is now managed by Robert de Pauw who is the latest addition to the “Bald Dutch Coaches Union” (his own words). He previously led the U17 Netherlands to the Women’s European Championship final and won the Dutch League with Twente. His emphasis at Villa is partly on signing non-British players to gain diverse perspectives of the game (Humphreys, 2024).