Influx of talent boosts enthusiasm
English league features some new stars as it kicks off new season
After a pandemic-induced end to last season, women’s soccer in England seems reborn with the arrival of World Cup-winning Americans, a slew of Australians and robust enthusiasm about the league’s potential.
Women’s teams could only watch as the Premier League restarted and finished its season following a coronavirus stoppage. Their six-month wait is nearly over, and optimism abounds in the Women’s Super League.
“We’re pushing to try and make it the best league in the world,” Manchester City forward Georgia Stanway said.
Defending champion Chelsea takes on Man City — the team it leapfrogged for the 2019-20 title when standings were determined on a points-per-game ratio — in the new season’s curtain-raiser: the Community Shield scheduled for Saturday at an empty Wembley Stadium.
It’s the first women’s Community Shield match since 2008 and is part of a doubleheader with the men, which features Liverpool against Arsenal. The Football Association, which runs the WSL, says the twin bill is designed to boost visibility of the women’s game.
The 12-team WSL begins its 2020-21 season the first weekend of September.
Man City made a splash with the signings of United States midfielders Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis.
“They’re unbelievably experienced players, both club and internationally,” Stanway said of her new teammates. “They’ve won World Cup medals, Olympic medals. It’s so good to see how competitive the league is getting. It’s exciting to be a part of.”
Manchester United is reportedly pursuing American teammates Tobin Heath and Christen Press.
This follows the January debut of Australia striker Sam Kerr at Chelsea. Many other Aussies have followed. “The WSL right now has an unbelievable opportunity, just because of the way that 2020 has panned out,” said Wales international Jess Fishlock, who joined Reading this year on loan from OL Reign in the United States. “This year is going to be pretty special.”
With the NWSL’s schedule thrown into disarray because of the pandemic, players have looked to Europe and especially England, Fishlock said.
“These teams are getting players that they arguably might not have gotten if we were still playing the NWSL right now,” she said, referring to the U.S. league’s normal April-to-October schedule.
Even before the pandemic, the WSL was attracting top talent. Kerr waved goodbye to the NWSL and Australia’s November-to-February W-League when she signed with Chelsea for reportedly more than $400,000 per season.
Before the pandemic, attendance was also rising, likely boosted by England reaching back-to-back Women’s World Cup semifinals. A WSL record crowd of 38,262 saw Tottenham play Arsenal in November.