Women’s Super League review: How all 12 teams fared in the 2023/24 season | OneFootball

The 2024/25 Women’s Super League season is almost upon us. The highly anticipated return of England’s top flight will land this weekend, with reigning champions Chelsea opening the campaign in their clash with Aston Villa.

The Blues extended their reign on the throne as they lifted their fifth consecutive WSL title. Their triumph marked the end of Emma Hayes’ iconic tenure at the club, opening the door for new manager Sonia Bompastor to start a new chapter. Manchester City were snubbed of their first title since 2016 as they fell agonisingly short to Chelsea on goal difference.

Arsenal made up the final Champions League qualifying spots while Liverpool finished fourth. The Reds earned their highest WSL finish since they won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.

After struggling in relegation battles for the previous two seasons, Leicester City finished 10th on 18 points, 12 clear of the drop. This time round, it was Bristol City who were relegated to the Championship, following their promotion the year prior. Tier two champions Crystal Palace will take their place as they prepare for their first ever season in the WSL.

As the start of the season descends, we have looked back at all 12 Women’s Super League teams, plus newly promoted Palace, and how they fared throughout the term.

1st — Chelsea

By Maisie McNulty (@Maisie_a_m1)

Although it was a rollercoaster of a season for the Blues, they were able to end the season on a high with their fifth consecutive WSL title.

Chelsea’s push for as much silverware in Hayes’ swan song looked to end in disaster as they crashed out of the Conti Cup, FA Cup and Champions League. Less than a week after their UWCL semi-final defeat, it just got worse. With the title race for the WSL as tight as ever, the heat was on for Chelsea to stay above Man City. However, a tight, goal-fest game against Liverpool, including a 92nd minute winner from Gemma Bonner, shattered Chelsea’s hopes of ending the season with any trophies.

Emma Hayes admitted that the race was over after feeling defeated and hopeless, but little did they know they were given a second chance. An Arsenal win over Man City meant that it was all to play for as Chelsea went up against Bristol City. A unbelievable 8-0 win at Chelsea’s final home game of the season, not only made them level with points with City, but go above them in goal difference.

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It all came down to the final day of the WSL. From the motivation of Hayes’ goodbye speech, Chelsea put on a showstopping performance at Old Trafford. A major 6-0 victory meant that the Blues were crowned the Women’s Super League champions once again.

2nd — Manchester City

By Bethany Fisher (@bethanyfisher23)

The 2023/24 season was largely positive for Gareth Taylor’s side. Following on from a difficult campaign the year prior, the Man City made just one signing over the summer transfer window. Jill Roord’s move to Manchester initially made a huge impact on her new side with six goals in her first 11 league games. The Netherlands international suffered a season-ending ACL injury in January, leaving the Sky Blues light in the midfield.

A disappointing FA Cup exit in the quarter-final came just days after a defeat to Chelsea in the semi-final of the League Cup. The retirement of City legend Steph Houghton marked the end of the era for the club as she called time on her decade of service. Despite failing to win any silverware, City fell just short of the Women’s Super League title finishing second to Chelsea only on goal difference. Taylor’s side will hope to go one step further next season, lifting their first league title since 2016.

City made a huge statement on the summer transfer window with the signing of Vivianne Miedema. They also added the likes of Risa Shimizu and Ayaka Yamashita to the ranks as the prepare for another title race.

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3rd — Arsenal

By Rick Pytlik (@RickPytlik)

Arsenal’s season was rather a rollercoaster. The season started on a mixed note, with the team selling out the Emirates for the opener, but then suffering defeat to a wonderful Liverpool side.

Following the opening day loss and subsequent draw against Manchester United, the Gunners went on a tear. Ten straight wins across all competitions were highlighted by a win over Chelsea. This streak was broken by a lacklustre loss to Spurs that knocked Arsenal out of the top spot.

Arsenal started back on their winning ways, only to be derailed with a shocking loss to West Ham, one of only three wins the whole season for the Irons. The next few weeks saw the Gunners knocked out of the FA Cup by Man City, then a league loss to Chelsea. However, two weeks later, a goal late in extra time saw the Gunners capture the Conti Cup.

The Gunners finished their league slate with four wins and one draw to finish the table comfortably in third spot, securing Champions League yet again. Of course, when looking at this Arsenal season, one must address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the GOAT that left the room.

What all Arsenal fans feared finally came to fruition at the end of this season. Vivianne Miedema announced that she would not be re-signing for the club. The most prolific scorer in WSL history — at just 27 years old, she has a lot of great football left in her. Arsenal will be hard-pressed to replace her.

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4th — Liverpool

By Chloe McReynolds (@ChloeM7777)

The 2023/24 Women’s Super League season was one of transformation for Liverpool. From start to finish, they picked up impressive results, boasted an excellent away record and showed real signs of progress.

The Reds started the campaign with a bang, beating Arsenal in a packed Emirates. They went through a run of bad form, including a disappointing loss to Everton, and a hammering by a Lauren James-inspired Chelsea.

However, they ended 2023 on a strong note, defeating Manchester United in their own backyard just before Christmas. A real sign of the quality of which they were capable. After a tough run of games in January, Liverpool started to pick up form. They achieved big wins away to Brighton and Villa, making it three victories out of three on the road.

The season culminated in a few more excellent results, which placed the Reds in a strong position in the table. They took all three points from Chelsea in a 4-3 thriller at Prenton Park. This was followed by another win over Man United, completing the double over their arch-rivals. Their final game then saw a comfortable victory at Leicester, securing an unexpected yet impressive fourth-place finish.

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It was a campaign that surpassed all expectations for Liverpudlians, seeing them finish with almost double their points of the previous season. A major part of this was their away record. A side that didn’t win a league match on the road in 2022/23, went on to make their away form their strength.

So we ask, what is the next step in the Liverpool rebuild? From promotion to secured mid-table status to finishing just outside the Women’s Super League top three, surely the Reds will look to cement this position and over the coming years push towards European football.

5th — Manchester United

By Bethany Fisher (@bethanyfisher23)

The 2023/24 campaign was one of extreme highs and lows for Manchester United. Getting the season off to a strong start with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa, the Reds were undefeated in their opening four games. A defeat to PSG in October spelt the end of Marc Skinner’s side’s debut Champions League campaign. A battering from local rivals Manchester City in front of a packed-out Old Trafford was one of a series of defeats from fellow top sides.

A 4-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley handed the Reds their first piece of silverware in the top flight as they lifted the FA Cup for the first time. A crushing 6-0 defeat to Chelsea at the Theatre of Dreams was a difficult end to a tumultuous season. The Reds will hope to regain their spot in the top four next season as they continue their bid to lift the WSL title.

United had a rather busy transfer window, bringing in marquee signings like Dominique Janssen and Elisabeth Terland. However, they also saw the departures of Mary Earps and Katie Zelem following the expiration of their contracts.

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6th — Tottenham Hotspur

By Charlotte Davey (@charfootie)

The 2023/24 season was arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s best yet, with the club reaching the FA Cup final and beating Arsenal in the North London Derby for the first time.

Spurs had a successful summer transfer window. Several promising players made the move to North London and the club signed Robert Vilahamn as the new head coach. In the WSL, they achieved a top-half finish, securing sixth place with 31 points. However, the club certainly faced several ups and downs throughout the campaign.

At the start of December, Tottenham suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat away to Manchester City. Yet, just weeks later, Spurs made history by beating Arsenal for the first time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Thus, the Lilywhites proved themselves a challenging opposition in both the Continental and FA Cup. With a narrow 1-0 defeat at home, Spurs were knocked out of the League Cup to Manchester City in the quarter-final. However, a month later, Gareth Taylor’s side had a shock exit from the FA Cup, losing to Spurs on penalties.

One talking point of the season is young superstar Grace Clinton. Winning all three Player of the Season awards, she played a pivotal role in Spurs’ successes this year. Tottenham showcased their potential during this rollercoaster of a season. After a year of growth, achievement and disappointment, Vilahamn knows that there is an exciting future ahead of this history-making club.

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8th — Everton

By Stephen Conroy (@SJConroy17)

After a respectable sixth-placed finish in 2022/23, the Toffees looked to improve upon that feat. Making a number of high-profile signings such as Kathrine Kühl and Martina Piemonte, Everton valiantly fought through a remarkable injury crisis to finish eighth.

Everton’s best win of the season was undoubtedly their 1-0 victory over rivals Liverpool at Anfield. That result, secured through a Megan Finnigan header, made it three consecutive away wins at the home of their Merseyside rivals.

Everton’s biggest disappointment of last season was their home form. The Blues won a very admirable eight away games in all competitions this past season. However, at Walton Hall Park, they only secured one win from 14. A 2-0 victory over West Ham in February was the only time Everton fans left their home stadium after a win. A disappointing record that the Blues will surely look to rectify this season.

Courtney Brosnan, Megan Finnigan and Justine Vanhaevermaet all impressed but the standout player would have to go to Clare Wheeler. She featured in all 22 Women’s Super League games and was a crucial part of a midfield that saw plenty of change this season due to injury. Always composed on the ball and putting out any fires out of possession, Wheeler impressed all season long.

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9th — Brighton

By Maisie McNulty (@Maisie_a_m1)

The 2023/24 season proved difficult for the Seagulls yet again, with many ups and downs throughout the campaign. Many were looking for an impressive start after a successful summer window. Colombian defender Jorelyn Carabali was among maestros such as Pauline Bremer and Vicky Losada who relocated to the South Coast.

A strong start was made, as they took home three points after an away win to Everton. But it quickly de-escalated as their first victory was followed by three losses. With heads hanging low, so was hope as they approached a double header against two strong teams from Manchester.

A 98th minute goal from United’s Rachel Williams caused heartbreak for Brighton as they were clutching onto a 2-1 lead. However, the next week created a shock throughout the WSL as Lee Geum-min snuffled the ball into the back of the Man City net, giving Brighton a victory at Joie Stadium.

With the competition getting tight, and Brighton only having four points out of a possible 18, something was bound to change. After 10 months with the club, head coach Mel Phillips was released. In replacement, Mikey Harris took charge in leading the team. Previous to this new role, he had little experience in the women’s team but was up for the challenge. Although he started with two defeats, a shocking 7-3 victory over Bristol City arose, which was a key win at the bottom of the table.

Although it was a tough season for Brighton, Elisabeth Terland helped keep them up. With 13 goals in 22 games, it’s no wonder Man United were eager to snap her up.

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10th — Leicester City

By Lucy Jones (@LJones_Archive)

Leicester City had a squad overhaul ready for the 2023/24 season as 12 players left and new faces took their place. Ex-manager Willie Kirk was aiming high for a top six finish, and the Foxes started well with four wins before Christmas as the new signings settled in well. However, after the seasonal break, and the signing of two Japanese internationals, Kirk was sacked for off-field behaviour.

Highlights for Leicester included an historical FA Cup semi-final for the fans to cheer and the performances of top scorer Jutta Rantala. The Finnish international ended her first WSL campaign with a nomination for WSL Player of the Season, the Players’ Player of the Season, and Fans’ Player of the Season awards.

The Foxes’ season petered out with a 10th place finish, however with the club appointing new manager Amandine Miquel, and keeping hold of most of their key players, they will be monitoring a potential push towards the top six bracket this time round.

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11th — West Ham United

By Georgia Goulding (@GJGoulding)

West Ham produced some impressive performances last season but ultimately, it was a tough one to endure. The Irons finished 11th in the WSL table, with 15 points banked from three wins and six draws.

They suffered some frustrating and narrow defeats in the first half of the season, including 3-2 losses to both Bristol City and Aston Villa in November. The two five-goal spectacles sandwiched a disheartening 5-0 thumping at the hands of Manchester United.

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West Ham started the new year with an important win over relegation rivals Bristol City, after they snatched all three points in the reverse fixture. The Irons then stunned Arsenal with a 2-1 win in February. Despite Alessia Russo giving the Gunners the lead, a Viviane Asseyi penalty forced the equaliser and Hawa Cissoko came up with the winner just eight minutes later.

However, despite their statement three points over the WSL powerhouses, the Hammers saw out the rest of the season without a single win. They went the remaining nine games picking up five defeats and four draws. Avoiding another battle at the bottom of the table will be the main priority for Rehanne Skinner and her side this season.

12th — Bristol City

By Lucy Jones (@LJones_Archive)

Newly promoted Bristol City recruited WSL experienced, and well regarded players in preparation for their season back in the top flight. Megan Connolly joined the Robins from Brighton, while midfielder Carrie Jones signed on a permanent deal from Manchester United. Jones had an impressive 22/23 season on loan at WSL side Leicester City. The real star signing turned out to be Danish international forward, Amalie Thestrup, previously at Liverpool and West Ham.

She ended the season as club top goal scorer and deservedly the club’s Player of the Season, they’ll do well to hold onto her. Despite the season ending with only six points on the board and relegation from the WSL, Bristol City solidified an average home attendance of 7,000 fans per match and managed a positive fan engagement that manager Lauren Smith is hoping she can continue to build on as they head back to the Championship.

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Promoted — Crystal Palace

By Drew Diamond (@drew_diamond)

Crystal Palace made club history in the 2023/24 seasons as they clinched the Championship title at Selhurst Park. Freshly appointed manager Laura Kaminski wasted no time in arranging her squad at the start of their incredible season. Adam Jeffrey was brought in as the new assistant manager from rivals Reading alongside eight new players.

Palace set the tone early on in the campaign, a 1-1 draw against freshly relegated Reading in their opening fixture showed that Palace had enough to put serious points on the board. Perhaps the most significant victory came soon after as Durham found themselves the wrong end of an eight goal deficit as Palace took all three points as the game ended 9-1.

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It was a 0-0 draw in front of 6,796 fans at Selhurst Park against Sunderland that saw Palace lift the cup and consequently, promotion to the Women’s Super League. Elise Hughes finished with the Golden Boot with 16 goals. Anabelle Blanchard also bagged 11 for the season — an impressive duo. Kaminski also managed to bag herself two manager of the month awards in September and February respectively.

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