The WSL is back: What to look out for on opening weekend

After 125 days, four managerial changes, and roughly 200 player transfers (including loans), the Barclays Women’s Super League is finally back this weekend. The campaign begins at Kingsmeadow on Friday night, with an Emma Hayes-less Chelsea competing in a competitive fixture for the first time in recent memory. That’s before a whole new team to the WSL take to the field on Sunday, and there’s an early chance for two top sides to set out their stall in the title race.

Here are the key things to watch out for.

Miedema returns to the Emirates in blue

Well, maybe not in blue – they might be wearing their away kit – but the point stands. Vivianne Miedema might have hoped she would have slightly more time and space before having to return to Arsenal, where she played for seven years. However, she faces a baptism of fire with Manchester City this weekend when they travel to open their campaign at the Emirates Stadium. It’s the first of 11 women’s matches to be hosted at the ground this season, making the ground the Gunners’ main home in a season where they will be pushing for a first title since 2019.

Miedema was the biggest signing of the summer for a City side who have been fairly quiet in the transfer window, perhaps instead consolidating a team that already drove Chelsea to the wire in the last title race. Only goal difference separated the two in May and Gareth Taylor will hope that as Chelsea adjust to the loss of Emma Hayes, this is the time for them to swoop in and finally return to the top.

However, Arsenal will be thinking on similar lines. They were five points behind the top two last season, but proved the gap is either closing – or closed – in quality with league victories over both. Jonas Eidevall’s side have also strengthened hugely over the summer with the arrivals of Mariona Caldentey, Daphne van Domselaar, and Rosa Kafaji to name a few.

This game promises quality: both sides have already shaken off their summer rust with their opening Champions League qualifiers (Arsenal have won two of their three, while City have won their only one so far). It’s the first taste of this season’s title race in a season where everyone is looking to knock Chelsea off their perch and is not one to miss. Kick-off is at 12:30 on Sunday, with coverage here on FromTheSpot, and the match shown live on Sky.

New faces in the dugouts

This has been a busy summer for managerial changes, with five new bosses entering the league. Only one has ever taken charge of an English side before, and the influx of new faces and new ideas promises to shake up the league.

All eyes will be on Sonia Bompastor when Chelsea open the season against Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow on Friday night. The Frenchwoman has huge shoes to fill after the departure of Emma Hayes, the most successful manager in WSL history – will she be able to lead the Blues to a sixth consecutive title?

Bompastor is certainly a proven winner with three top-flight titles under her belt with Lyon. Crucially, she also boasts the one thing Hayes doesn’t: a Champions League trophy, also with Lyon in 2022. She is known for her adaptability and flexibility, and promises attacking excitement. Her full backs often take flight up and down the pitch, her wingers aren’t afraid of a one-on-one, and her teams press hard.

Together with the quality of Chelsea’s squad, it could be a lethal combination. They are unbeaten in pre-season and any kind of slip in form with the departure of Hayes might well be wishful thinking from the rest of the league.

Bompastor’s opposite number on Friday is also a newbie: Robert de Pauw has replaced Carla Ward at the helm of Aston Villa. The Villans are an interesting prospect this season with a new face in the dugout and plenty on the pitch too. Chasity Grant, Katie Robinson, and Missy Bo Kearns are all proven talents but still very young; this Villa side could finally get away from the accusations of being an old squad, or reliant on Rachel Daly. De Pauw said he feels the squad have “the dynamic and the energy needed to progress” and they are aiming for the top six. The Dutchman clearly has high expectations and they will be tested for the first time at 19:00 on Friday at Kingsmeadow.

The other WSL rookies are in charge of two sides who want to put some breathing room between themselves and the relegation battle: Brighton and Leicester. Starting in the south, Dario Vidošić is the Seagulls’ new boss. He takes charge after a period of very high managerial turnover and will know from the sacking of predecessor Mel Phillips that his position cannot be taken for granted.

Vidošić arrives from two seasons in charge of Melbourne City, his only other head coach role after a long playing career. He’s clearly stated his aim of playing attacking and exciting football and his squad boasts experienced Lionesses in Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, who both arrived over the summer. However, the loss of Elisabeth Terland to Manchester United will be a tough one to overcome, as will Katie Robinson’s move to Aston Villa. The Australian admitted in his pre-match press conference that his ideas might take time to bed in with the squad – but will he be afforded that time? His first game comes against Everton on Saturday at 12:30.

Further north, Amandine Miquel is taking charge of Leicester City for her first WSL role. The Frenchwoman is another big proponent of exciting and attacking football and her methods seem tried and tested. She took Reims to promotion to the Première Ligue and ended last season with a fourth placed finish – not bad progression at all.

Leicester’s main problem of late has been scoring goals, so the key question is whether Miquel’s methods can unlock the attacking potential that they so clearly have. The Foxes have had a relatively quiet transfer window but the permanent arrivals of Ruby Mace and Asmita Ale are exciting for fans, as are Noémie Mouchon and Shana Chossenotte who have followed their boss from Reims. Miquel makes her WSL debut against Liverpool on Sunday at 14:00 at St Helens Stadium.

Can Palace avoid Bristol City’s fate?

Last season’s relegation battle was, frankly, not much of a battle. Bristol City, despite their best efforts, plummeted right back down to the Championship the year after they were promoted. That is what this year’s newcomers Crystal Palace will be hoping to avoid. Their boss, Laura Kaminski, is the fifth new manager in the league this season and, despite only arriving in London last year, has already made waves.

Her management and the direction of head of women’s football Grace Williams led the club to their first ever Championship title; though the points tally was extremely tight, they led the league by a country mile in goals scored. Their recruitment ahead of that campaign was excellent and they proved their ability to compete at the highest level in a tight FA Cup clash with none other than Hayes’ Chelsea. Signs certainly point to them having as good a chance as anyone at holding onto their place in the top flight.

However, it will not be easy. As mentioned, they’re far from the only side near the bottom of the table who have been revitalised by new signings or a new boss. They also begin the campaign without last season’s top scorer Elise Hughes, who is out injured, and several other players departed over summer. Their business has been very impressive overall, though. Palace have attracted experienced players like Katie Stengel and Josie Green, but most exciting are their new youngsters. Poppy Pritchard, Jorja Fox, and Brooke Aspin have all arrived on loan to develop away from Manchester City and Chelsea, and promise to excite crowds.

Palace’s first WSL test is a tough one away at Tottenham Hotspur, kicking off on Sunday at 14:00. That game will be covered here on FromTheSpot, along with Manchester United’s encounter with West Ham.

You can follow all the action, rumours, and analysis of the new season here on FromTheSpot.