WSL 2025-26 season review: our writers’ best and worst

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Best player

There is small mobility that Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is nan champion striker successful nan world correct now. The Jamaica world capped disconnected her convention run successful style pinch a double against West Ham, bringing her tally to 21. In doing so, she became nan first subordinate successful WSL history to people complete 20 goals successful 3 different seasons. Sophie Downey

Streets up of nan remainder of nan section pinch 21 goals successful 22 games, nan reply has to beryllium Khadija Shaw. Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa were besides standouts successful Manchester City’s title-winning play but Shaw has been nan difference-maker wherever it matters most: successful beforehand of goal. She has deservedly won nan Golden Boot for a phenomenal 3rd consecutive year. Tom Garry

Khadija Shaw. Can it beryllium anyone else? A 3rd successive Golden Boot, 21 goals successful nan convention unsocial this season, and now a WSL champion. It will beryllium a monumental nonaccomplishment for City if she leaves connected a free transportation this summer. Emillia Hawkins

Khadija Shaw. After breaking nan hoodoo of injury-laden seasons successful nan past 2 campaigns, which saw City’s spot successful nan title title gaffe away, Shaw yet had nan stars align for her. She was a habitual unit to beryllium reckoned with, earning a 3rd consecutive Golden Boot grant and yet nan trophy that had eluded nan nine for 10 years. Renuka Odedra

Khadija Shaw
Khadija Shaw has been nan standout subordinate successful WSL. Photograph: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Getty Images

Khadija Shaw, nan champion goalscorer successful nan league. Perhaps nan astir awesome point astir Shaw is that she ever steps up erstwhile needed, moreover connected an disconnected day. Her strength, precision, power, and expertise to triumph aerial duels are 2nd to nary and successful a play wherever she scored nan fastest hat-trick successful WSL history location is nary denying that she is nan champion striker successful nan world correct now. Réshma Rao

It tin only beryllium Khadija Shaw. A staggering 21 goals successful 22 WSL games speaks for itself, but Shaw is truthful overmuch much than conscionable a goalscorer, it’s her movement, her hold-up play and her protect activity that make her arguably nan champion centre-forward successful nan world. Suzanne Wrack

Best manager

When Denmark collapsed retired of nan 2025 Euros astatine nan group stage, location were a fewer questions swirling astir whether Andrée Jeglertz was nan champion prime to beryllium nan caller Manchester City manager. Despite an opening-day conclusion to Chelsea, he soon silenced immoderate questions arsenic his squad began to tick pinch a dynamic, breathtaking marque of football. He empowers his players to play pinch freedom. SD

Andrée Jeglertz’s calm mode has rubbed disconnected connected his Manchester City broadside during what mightiness different person been a stressful title chase. He instilled awesome assurance successful nan squad that they would ever “find a way” to win, and he has won nan title while moving pinch a smaller fund than their closest title rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea. TG

Andrée Jeglertz. Like pinch Shaw, tin it beryllium anyone else? He came to Manchester City past summertime pinch a large occupation connected his hands and he has surely delivered. The mentality displacement successful nan squad, sparked by nan Swede, delivered nan title. EH

Arriving astatine Manchester City successful nan summer, Andrée Jeglertz had a multitude of rumor to contend with, including nan broadside effects of a squad that was often astir location and successful contention but ne'er rather made it past nan decorativeness line. But, successful his debut season, he managed to cultivate a strategy and tactical tinkering that brought retired nan champion successful nan likes of Vivianne Miedema and Yui Hasegawa. RO

Manchester City head Andrée Jeglertz
Manchester City head Andrée Jeglertz Photograph: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images

Andrée Jeglertz took Manchester City to triumph their first WSL title since 2016 successful his first season. The players person praised his expertise to alteration their mentality and create unity wrong nan squad. They won each 11 of their location games and he has improved their finishing, particularly from group pieces. RR

Having transformed Manchester City, Andrée Jeglertz gets my vote. City are stacked pinch elite talent but it took a alteration and personification tin of managing nan demands of eager individuals and creating a harmonious dressing room. A first convention title successful 10 years is nan reward. Beyond Jeglertz, Martin Ho has besides done an unthinkable occupation pinch Tottenham. SW

Best goal

You will not spot galore amended finishes than Oona Siren’s long-range volley to equalise for West Ham against London City Lionesses successful March. The Finland midfielder’s onslaught connected nan dropping shot could person not been immoderate sweeter, a typical measurement to people her only extremity of nan campaign. SD

Jess Park’s swerving onslaught against London City Lionesses successful February – because I don’t deliberation location are galore different players who could prime nan shot up wherever she did connected nan left-hand broadside mid-flow, trim wrong and occurrence into nan acold area for illustration that. A typical mention besides to Olivia Smith’s debut extremity for Arsenal, which was a scorcher. TG

Olivia Smith v London City Lionesses. When you make history arsenic nan first £1m subordinate successful nan women’s game, nan expectations are going to beryllium high. Smith’s first Arsenal extremity was 1 to retrieve - nan run, nan skill, nan strike. What a measurement to present yourself to nan Emirates religious backmost successful September. EH

We each emotion a long-range onslaught and Yuka Momiki’s stunning extremity for Everton against Chelsea was a textbook instruction connected why it’s ever a bully thought to spot wherever nan goalkeeper is. The shot was laid disconnected to Momiki successful nan mediate of nan transportation and, from complete 30 yards, she chipped nan shot beautifully complete Hannah Hampton, who had strayed distant from her line. RO

Yuka Momiki celebrates scoring her extremity of nan play contender against Chelsea successful April.
Yuka Momiki celebrates scoring her extremity of nan play contender against Chelsea successful April. Photograph: Charlotte Tattersall/WSL/WSL Football/Getty Images

Spurs’ Cathinka Tandberg scored a screamer against Everton early connected successful nan season. Her speedy guidance aft her teammate Bethany England regained possession meant nan goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was caught wholly disconnected guard. A long-range, first-touch extremity of class. RR

Kirsty Hanson’s beautifully worked area pinch Lynn Wilms for Aston Villa against West Ham. Hanson took nan short corner, played a one-two pinch Wilms and deed a rising effort into nan acold corner. It’s nan movement, nan powerfulness and nan precision that make it nan season’s best. If I could prime an assistance of nan play it would beryllium Alessia Russo’s move and flick for Frida Maanum’s extremity against Aston Villa. SW

Best match

Manchester City 3-2 Arsenal. October served up a WSL classical as 2 heavyweights pinch beardown title hopes went head-to-head. It was an enthralling brushwood that saw momentum perpetually plaything betwixt nan two. This was epitomised by nan last 10 minutes erstwhile Chloe Kelly first levelled against her erstwhile broadside to put Arsenal backmost successful power earlier an 87th-minute victor from Iman Beney that was celebrated pinch gusto successful nan rain. SD

Manchester City’s 3-2 triumph astatine location to Arsenal successful October was not only a high-quality, five-goal thriller, it besides yet proved pivotal successful nan title race, arsenic nan champion 2 teams successful nan convention served up a treat. Iman Beney’s precocious extremity that time helped Mancester City judge this could yet beryllium their year, arsenic it settled a lucifer that could easy person gone either way. TG

Brighton 3-2 Manchester City. Brighton gave City rather a title scare astatine nan Broadfield Stadium past month. After weathering nan large wind successful nan early stages they wholly turned nan lucifer connected its head, handing nan eventual champions their 3rd conclusion of nan season. EH

Brighton 3 -2 Manchester City. If there’s 1 squad you tin count connected to supply late-season drama, it’s Brighton, and that’s precisely what they did erstwhile they faced Manchester City astatine nan extremity of April. A five-goal thriller produced immoderate tense moments, agonising misses and awesome strikes arsenic Brighton edged retired nan eventual champions. RO

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City. It ended City’s 13-match winning streak and blew nan title title wide open. Olivia Smith scored the only extremity of nan game successful beforehand of 39,000 group and nan consequence made nan last weeks much absorbing and showed that nan leaders really had weaknesses that could beryllium exploited. RR

I really enjoyed Brighton’s 1-1 tie pinch Arsenal that handed Manchester City nan WSL title. I loved seeing a heavy rotated Brighton, who made 7 changes up of their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool, measurement successful and present an exceptional performance. The joyousness of those connected nan chair for those who had stepped successful and stepped up was palpable. SW

Best signing

Toko Koga, Tottenham. The 19-year-old Japan world joined Martin Ho’s broadside successful July and has been almost ever coming ever since. Cementing her spot astatine centre-back, she started 19 of Spurs’ 22 convention matches. Composed and calm astatine nan bosom of Spurs’ defence, she scored her first extremity for nan nine against Liverpool and added a spectacular 2nd connected nan last day. SD

Olivia Smith, Alyssa Thompson and Toko Koga person each been awesome signings for their respective teams but I’m going to springiness this to a January signing who possibly single-handedly made nan top quality to their caller squad and that’s nan Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk. She has been inspired for Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool broadside since her indebtedness move successful January and location is an statement to opportunity they mightiness person been successful nan relegation playoff spot without her saves. TG

Jess Park. Signing Park in speech for Grace Clinton past summer was a superb move from Manchester United. She has added truthful overmuch productivity to nan United onslaught and ever seems to beryllium 1 of nan astir breathtaking players connected nan pitch. EH

Jess Park
Jess Park has flourished astatine Manchester United since moving from their cross-city rivals City Photograph: Poppy Townson/MUFC/Manchester United/Getty Images

Jess Park has been a joyousness to watch for immoderate clip now and her summertime move to Manchester United and shot nether Marc Skinner proved fruitful. She has been allowed to execute successful a much free-roaming position, which has played to her attacking strengths, resulting successful six goals and 5 assists. At 24 years old, it will beryllium fascinating to spot really she grows into this domiciled more. RO

Jess Park to Manchester United. A high-profile switch woody for Grace Clinton connected deadline day, Park has go nan astir important unit successful nan team. She has often dominated midfield pinch her aggression and accomplishment and proved to beryllium a existent threat to different teams. You tin consciousness nan excitement successful nan crushed each clip she gets nan ball. RR

We’re often drawn to nan effect of recently signed forwards, but Jade Rose’s effect successful defence for Manchester City has been hugely impressive. She has provided stableness and consistency successful a position that City person struggled pinch successful caller years. Her first City extremity successful their last WSL crippled of nan play was nan cherry connected apical of a magnificent debut season. SW

Biggest flop

Midday kick-off times person not worked. While it is understandable (if frustrating) that nan athletics has to conflict for visibility and constricted broadcast slots, nan timing connected Sundays has done it a disservice. Away recreation for fans has been made much difficult and much expensive, attendances person been affected, while wide sum of nan convention has go overmuch harder. SD

Sadly it tin only beryllium Grace Geyoro, who arrived amid truthful overmuch anticipation and excitement erstwhile she moved for a caller world grounds interest of £1.43m to London City Lionesses from Paris Saint-Germain, but unluckily it conscionable has not worked retired for her. Hopefully for WSL viewers, adjacent twelvemonth tin beryllium a twelvemonth erstwhile she is much settled into nan English game. TG

Aston Villa. They vanished nan play conscionable 1 constituent supra West Ham and 3 supra Liverpool - 2 teams that struggled importantly astatine nan commencement of nan campaign. Without Kirsty Hanson, I do wonderment if they would person vanished moreover lower. EH

Leicester City person been tiptoeing astir nan relegation area for nan past fewer years now but alternatively of opting for stableness they sacked nan manager, Amandine Miquel, 10 days earlier nan commencement of nan campaign. There were early results but they petered out, and successful 2026, they didn’t get a azygous triumph successful 11 games, cementing them astatine nan bottommost of nan table. It’s now each eyes connected Saturday erstwhile they look Charlton successful nan playoff to determine who will beryllium nan 14th squad successful nan WSL. RO

Olivia McLoughlin of Leicester City
Leicester look a playoff against Charlton connected Saturday to enactment successful nan WSL Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

WSL games took spot successful the regular Sunday 12pm slot this play for nan first clip and it has been a immense constituent of contention. Fans person not been happy, particularly distant supporters who person faced challenges trying to make it connected clip for kick-off. More importantly, scheduling each matches astatine nan aforesaid clip makes it difficult for fans (and media) to watch nan entirety of nan games each week. RR

Please tin we suffer nan noon kick-offs? I get it, we request a broadcast slot for women’s shot and nan WSL and Sky et al are each trying to find nan champion fit. I applaud those efforts and I’m each for experimentation, but women’s shot deserves a premier clip broadcast slot and we request to travel down harder connected clubs and nan Premier League, who person nan powerfulness to springiness women’s shot a clear tally astatine a apical slot. Isn’t a 50-year prohibition and chronic underfunding capable to warrant it? SW

Biggest gripe

Rescheduling of fixtures. The Arsenal-Leicester City crippled that was primitively scheduled for January was ne'er a anticipation owed to nan Gunners featuring successful nan Champions Cup. The postponement came precocious meaning that nan rescheduled fixture had to beryllium played successful betwixt their Champions League semi-final legs against Lyon, contributing to Renée Slegers’ broadside having to play 7 times successful 20 days, nan first clip that lsuch a load has been placed connected a squad successful WSL history. SD

The continued scheduling of nan Women’s Champions League semi-finals connected weekends is exasperating. It is progressively inconvenient for supporters - moreover for those who do nary support teams successful Europe - because specified a ample number of home matches person to move, aliases mightiness request to move and past extremity up staying put, pinch fans uncovering retired astatine very short notice. TG

I emotion that Sky Sports is investing truthful heavy successful nan women’s crippled and showing 90% of unrecorded matches, but I’m still not judge astir having four-plus games (usually) kicking disconnected astatine 12pm connected a Sunday is nan champion measurement to maximise viewing figures and nan number of match-going fans. EH

A congested fixture list is not only a situation for players but for fans, too. It’s rather a task and immoderate committedness to get to games week successful week out, often astatine noon connected a Sunday. But adhd aggregate games successful a week into nan operation and it tin go a upland to climb. Arsenal’s engaged schedule has been a bully illustration of that this season, pinch their engagement successful nan Champions League, resulting successful rescheduled WSL games. RO

It comes up each play but nan misogyny and sexism ne'er seems to stop. The worst 1 for maine was seeing nan remark sections of posts by clubs announcing new, young signings objectifying nan players and taking nan attraction distant from what should person been a celebratory infinitesimal for them. Fans connected societal media often stock their stories of facing harassment and maltreatment by different spectators, causing them to fearfulness for their safety. It yet ruins nan acquisition for everyone. RR

Is it cliche to opportunity refereeing? Probably. However, location person been immoderate large mistakes successful cardinal games, again. I don’t blasted nan referees for these errors, I blasted nan truth that refereeing is playing drawback up, pinch players and clubs professionalising astatine a faster rate. We request greater finance successful refereeing and, if nan refereeing isn’t bully capable successful nan WSL, possibly VAR tin thief nan officials make nan correct decisions. Those could beryllium celebrated past words, however, fixed nan changeless VAR controversies successful nan Premier League. SW

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Source theguardian.com
theguardian.com