Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp miss out on WSL honour as Mary Earps recognised
Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp proved a formidable forward duo at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, but the Lionesses stars were conspicuously left out of the PFA’s WSL Team of the Season, along with penalty-shootout hero Chloe Kelly and the inimitable Lauren James.
Indeed, only three England stars from this summer’s Women’s World Cup were named in the Women’s Super League Team of the Year at the 50th PFA Awards, with goalkeeper Mary Earps, defender Alex Greenwood and striker Rachel Daly taking the honours, the latter also crowned the Player of the Year.
Manchester provided a hotbed for team selection, with three Manchester United players and three Manchester City players named in the final XI.
Spanish full-back Ona Batlle, now at Barcelona, and England centre-back Maya Le Tissier joined Earps in the final XI.
Le Tissier, who formed a solid defence with Batlle on United’s right, was omitted from Sarina Wiegman ’s final 23-player Women’s World Cup squad despite a standout season with the Red Devils that cut her viable replacement of the injured Leah Williamson.
Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd
United pushed reigning champions Chelsea to the brink for the WSL title last season and were largely buoyed by the unflappable Earps between the sticks. The 30-year-old, who is appearing in the Team of the Year for her first time, conceded just 12 goals in 22 matches while claiming 14 clean sheets and the WSL’s Golden Glove.
Striker Russo, who was the subject of a world-record bid from Arsenal in January before eventually moving to north London on a free transfer in the summer, did not join her former United teammates in the final cut.
The 24-year-old scored 10 goals for Marc Skinner’s side to see them push reigning champions Chelsea to a dramatic final day of the season decider.
City also touted its share of players, with Greenwood – a convincing candidate for the Lionesses’ MVP at this summer’s tournament – finding herself in the mix for a third consecutive season, along with team-mate Yui Hasegawa and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
Shaw’s incredible 27 goal involvements, including 20 goals, was matched only by England and Aston Villa striker Daly (27 involvements, 22 goals).
Nevertheless, City stars Hemp and Kelly were left out of the Team of the Year. Hemp supplied seven goals and six assists to salvage a potentially dismal season for City, while Kelly’s five goals and nine assists (joint second-most in the league) saw her pose a constant threat on the wing.
Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp were instrumental to Man City's recovery in the second-half of the 2022/23 season (Getty Images/2022 Manchester City FC)Arsenal were also well represented in the 2022-23 Team of the Year, with defender Rafaelle, now playing for NWSL side Orlando Pride, and midfielder Frida Maanum earning places during a season punctuated by relentless injury.
Despite claiming the league for an unprecedented four successive seasons, Chelsea boasted only two players in the line-up: Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr, though James did scoop the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The full PFA WSL Team of the Year for 2022-23 is as follows: Mary Earps, Ona Batlle, Maya Le Tissier, Alex Greenwood, Rafaelle Souza, Guro Reiten, Frida Maanum, Yui Hasegawa, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, Rachel Daly, Sam Kerr.
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