England's World Cup heroes set for new WSL season as Lioness duo go head-to-head
After a stunning and unprecedented Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Super League returns on Sunday in what promises to be a blockbuster season.
Emma Hayes ’ Chelsea are hunting down a fifth successive league title but Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United are hoping to disrupt the dominance. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, newly armed with England international Ebony Salmon alongside Rachel Daly, have every intention of upending the status quo.
Further down the table, a fierce fight for safety promises to be relentless and eventful. A majority of the Lionesses who made history upon reaching a first-ever Women’s World Cup final will be in action come Sunday, and Mirror Football will take you through exactly where some of those World Cup heroes are and how they hope to fare this season.
Mary Earps
The England No 1 has been a major talking point all summer, from her feud with Nike to her super-human exploits between the sticks for England to a transfer saga that gripped women’s football. Despite fevered rumours surrounding a potential departure from Manchester United this summer, Earps will likely start for Marc Skinner’s side on Sunday as they travel to Aston Villa.
England No.1 Earps versus England No.9 Rachel Daly will be the main headline, but the subtext will revolve around Earps’ still uncertain future. The 30-year-old has yet to agree a new deal. Her contract expires next summer.
Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd
How United fare in their upcoming Women’s Champions League qualifiers against Paris Saint-Germain will be critical to any possibility of keeping the reigning world No.1 and WSL Golden Glove winner at the club.
Mary Earps is still at Man Utd despite rumours linking her with an exit in the summer (Colin Poultney/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)Millie Bright
After much anxious mooting around the defender’s return from injury, Bright was hugely instrumental in England’s run to the World Cup final. That’s good news for Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who saw her team falter ever so slightly when Bright was forced to the touchline through injury before the end of last season.
Bright has been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s defence since 2014, racking up over 130 appearances as she’s cut herself an inimitable marshal. With the departure of Magdelena Eriksson, Chelsea’s defence could (if you’re hopeful) look vulnerable. The addition of Ashley Lawrence from PSG should help, as should Bright returning to full fitness.
Bright’s first test in the WSL arrives against Tottenham, though her duties won’t involve having to keep tabs on her England team-mate Bethany England, who will miss the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Jess Carter
Another Chelsea defender, more good news for Hayes. Carter cut herself an impressive figure this summer in the England shirt, slotting in comfortably into Wiegman’s ingenious back three formation.
Very rarely did the 25-year-old look out of place and her partnership with Bright was significant for the upcoming season for the Blues. Last season, Carter made 17 WSL appearances for Chelsea, nine of which were starts.
This season in the absence of Eriksson, her responsibilities in the backline will only increase. Hayes will have watched the World Cup closely and taken stock of Carter.
Millie Bright and Jessica Carter formed a solid understanding for England (Cameron Spencer)Alex Greenwood
Was there a better England player at the Women’s World Cup than Alex Greenwood? Answer: no. Put aside the fact the 30-year-old incurred a nasty head wound in the final against Spain (and then played on with a bandage-wrapped head because those are the levels at play). Greenwood was a consistent player of the match in almost every England fixture, as much a fulcrum in defence as a catalyst in attack.
It goes someway to explaining why Man City manager Gareth Taylor felt his ranks didn’t need too much tinkering for the upcoming season. Greenwood’s versatility, experience and skill will come in handy as City attempt to break back into the top three and rival Chelsea for the title.
City face a relatively kind start to the season as they travel to West Ham. We expect Greenwood to pick up where she left off.
Man Utd boss Skinner sends firm message to Arsenal over Russo contract saga
Katie Zelem
The 27-year-old has become an increasingly viable central midfield option for England, and after the injury sustained by Keira Walsh, the Man Utd player has slotted into the position with aplomb.
Those at United are familiar with Zelem’s game, the composure she can offer on the ball and the leadership qualities that naturally come with that. Zelem’s talent as rarely, if ever, come under scrutiny, and while she has struggled to break into Wiegman’s first team, her performances in Skinner’s side have provided ample evidence of her skills.
United will need Zelem to be on form this season as they look to firmly and consistently establish themselves in the table’s European places. An opening day match against Villa will not be easy, but it’ll provide a heady marker for Zelem and co.
Rachel Daly
The excitement was inevitable and inescapable when Daly’s name was listed among England’s forward line ahead of this summer’s tournament. But almost predictably, Daly was slotted into a wing-back role as Wiegman was forced to tinker and change her line-up to navigate injuries and suspensions.
Daly showed, routinely, that anywhere on the pitch she is a relentless threat. Still, it’s difficult to argue that last season’s Golden Boot winner is most dangerous when playing as a No.9.
Rachel Daly has been a key spark for England at the Women's World Cup (Getty Images)At Villa, that role is firmly Daly’s, much to manager Carla Ward’s delight. With the recruitment of Ebony Salmon, Villa’s attack in general looks lethal.
Hosting Man Utd at home provides the perfect opportunity not only for Daly to stake her claim for her Golden Boot defence, but to do so against her England team-mate Mary Earps.
England No.9 v England No.1? Mouth-watering.
Chloe Kelly
When in doubt, step up Chloe Kelly. Was there any doubt that Kelly would smack in the game-winning penalty against Nigeria and set a world record while she was at it?
Of course not. It’s typical Kelly. And for Man City and their manager Taylor, that’s very good news.
Kelly’s 2022-23 WSL season was bright but not lethal, with only five goals and nine assists in 22 appearances. Her performances at the Women’s World Cup – alongside Greenwood, Kelly was a consistent POTM contender – cut her a candidate for this season’s player of the year.
A clash with West Ham will provide a solid springboard. If Kelly and Bunny Shaw can get a good vibe cooking, City could be laughing their way into Europe next season.
England's Chloe Kelly and Alex Greenwood celebrate victory following a penalty shoot-out (PA)Lauren Hemp
Another City Lioness, more good news for Taylor. Hemp relished her role under Wiegman when used alongside Russo up top, swiftly becoming the Lionesses greatest threat through her harrying of opposition defences, insatiable appetite in front of goal and deft footwork to underpin it all.
This new version of Hemp could provide City with the edge that was missing last season as they struggled to get into an early rhythm. Once again, West Ham provide an opportunity to tease out a groove within this side, which is chalk full of elite talent.
But City know the danger of opening day matches, having fallen to a dramatic 4-3 loss to Aston Villa last season. If Hemp is on song, another similar upset looks highly unlikely.
Lauren James
Is there any other player that has grabbed the world by a stronger storm? At 21 years old, the ceiling for James is stratospheric, and at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, her performances suggested even that was a conservative prediction.
The controversial stamp will stain her World Cup debut, but Chelsea manager Hayes has insisted that the outburst was so atypical of James, that she holds no doubt that James will return to the WSL in impeccable style.
Chelsea fans can only hope. James’ impact last season was tempered by Hayes’ insistence not to thrust too much responsibility on the starlet’s shoulders, but this season feels like James’ to make in her image, if Hayes allows.
The Blues host Spurs for their opening match, and the Stamford Bridge crowd will be ravenous for a James-led show.
Lauren James looks ready to take the WSL by storm (Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Alessia Russo
The Golden Boot conversation is in full flow and Russo’s name has been bandied about plenty. The expectations are high for the new Arsenal striker, but the 24-year-old is familiar with lofty expectations.
Heading into this summer’s Women’s World Cup, the burden of replacing Ellen White up top was heavy and, while plenty of scrutiny was fired Russo’s way in the beginning of the tournament, the former United player proved her worth with some solid performances.
Already with the Gunners, Russo has shown why she is one of the highest paid female footballers in the world, even if her heroics could not save Arsenal from crashing out of Europe prematurely.
With focus firmly on the league, Russo will be hoping to achieve WSL triumph with her new club, with the season’s Golden Boot to tag onto it.
Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening. What better way to open her WSL account with Arsenal than on that grand stage?
Ella Toone
Toone is United through and through, and while Russo’s departure and Earps’ uncertain future has cast serious questions in the way of the club’s inner workings, Toone’s contract extension until 2026 is a serious source of optimism for Red Devils fans.
The midfielder was not in the greatest of form at the summer’s Women’s World Cup and her performances came under plenty of scrutiny, though she seemed to send a pointed message to her haters with her sensational strike against Australia in the semi-final.
The 24-year-old will need to channel and manifest that same energy this season as she looks to help United progress in Europe and challenge Chelsea to the title once more. A difficult test in Villa awaits to kick things off.
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