With the new Women’s Super League season now just a matter of days away, excitement is building for the new campaign. Arsenal have got a new manager and look like they could be contenders once again, reigning champions Chelsea are looking to win their third title in a row, while both Manchester clubs will be looking to wrestle their way back to the top.
But what about the individual players we should be watching out for this season? We’ve run you through seven of the best.
Vivianne Miedema - Arsenal
The biggest name in the WSL is still Vivianne Miedema. With 60 league goals to her name in England she is the all-time top scorer in the division and given Chelsea’s Sam Kerr pipped her to the Golden Boot last season, she will be desperate to prove she is still the top dog. At 25, there were rumours she could leave this summer, but it is to the benefit of the division that she has decided to stick around for another year, after breaking the Olympic record for goals this summer.
Nikita Parris - Arsenal
We told you Arsenal mean business this term. Partnering Miedama will be none other than former Lyon striker and England international Nikita Parris, who will bring not only huge experience but goals to an Arsenal side that have underperformed in recent years. A Champions League winner with Lyon, a former WSL and FA Cup winner with Manchester City, Parris is a serial winner.
Toni Duggan - Everton
Toni Duggan’s move to Spain was a major one in her career as she joined first Barcelona and then Atletico Madrid after leaving Manchester City in 2017. She is another England international with a vast amount of experience having played in the latter stages of the Champions League, but this is her homecoming.
Having started her career with the Merseyside club she now returns to her home city, and should strengthen an Everton side desperate to break into that top three this term.
Ann-Katrin Berger - Chelsea
Goalkeepers simply never get the credit they deserve, so it is time we shone the spotlight on Chelsea’s number one, and the best goalkeeper in the world. Ann-Katrin Berger conceded a frankly ridiculous ten goals as Chelsea won the league last term and she was heroic as the Blues made the Champions League final.
Her penalty saves against Atletico were nothing short of incredible while she also won WSL’s Golden Glove award and was named in the UCL Team of the Season. Nobody comes close.
Fran Kirby & Sam Kerr - Chelsea
Forgive us for putting these two together but last season their relationship blossomed on the pitch even drawing comparisons from their manager Emma Hayes to Manchester United’s famous duo, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Kirby is a livewire of a forward, pacey and direct who perfectly complemented her distinguished Australian teammate.
Kerr must love playing with Kirby as the Englishman bagged 16 goals and 11 assists, while Kerr took home the Golden Boot with 21 goals and seven assists. When Chelsea are playing, these two are guaranteed to provide the goals.
Ellen White - Manchester City
The celebration is iconic. But Ellen White, having scored ten goals last season for Manchester City is likely to have to double that total if her side is to win the league this term. There are a whole host of brilliant forwards on this list, and White has proved time and time again that she is one of the elite, but it is also fair to say that the experienced 32-year-old has experienced her best moments for her country, rather than her club. With Lucy Bronze supplying great quality, White will be hoping to show that she is the woman he can drag this side past their rivals.
