It has been a month since the 2024/25 WSL season got underway, and it’s already promising to be an exciting one. With top club battles, 45 different goal scorers and managerial changes already underway, it feels like the fight for the top three spots will be closer than ever.
It's been a lot. So, to give you an overview of all the drama – including what it all means for Fantasy Managers – we've put together this summary of all the big things that have happened in the WSL so far this season.
1. WSL legends have made their mark at new clubs
The transfer window this summer was full of movement, with many WSL big names switching allegiances. Vivianne Miedema and Fran Kirby were just two key players who made a switch to a new club. But the gamble seems to have paid off, with both strikers netting goals and assists in their first four games. And Fantasy Managers have been relishing in their success, with both boasting an ownership rate of above 20%.
2. Jonas Eidevall has left Arsenal
After his team had a disappointing start to the season (with two draws, one loss and just one win), Arsenal's Jonas Eidevall resigned from his position as head coach earlier this week, leaving the first-team's assistant coach Renée Slegers as interim head coach for the time being. While the team came back to claim a 4-1 win in their mid-week UWCL group stage match against the Norwegian side Vålerenga, only time will tell whether the Gunners' fortunes will change post #Jexit. However, a new manager may well bring a new preferred starting XI, adding another selection headache for Fantasy Managers with Gunners in their squad.
3. Phallon Tullis-Joyce has cemented her spot
Mary Earps' departure may have left a hole in the WSL, but it certainly hasn't affected Manchester United's defensive record. In her first three games as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce has managed to keep three clean sheets – giving her an 100% success record.
While Manchester United have played one less game than most other WSL teams due to their fixture against Chelsea being postponed, she's still taken an early lead in the race for this season's Golden Glove award. And Fantasy Managers looking for those all-important goalkeeper points have cottoned on to her success, with one in 10 players now having her on their squad.
4. ACL injuries have continued to wreak havoc
A sad but nevertheless significant trend in the WSL has continued this season, with names including Liverpool's Sofie Lundgaard, Everton's Inma Gabarro and Aurora Galli, Chelsea's Sophie Ingle and Jorja Fox and West Ham's Jess Ziu all falling victim to ACL injuries which will rule them out for the majority of the season. With players including Sam Kerr and Jill Roord being affected last season (and the former yet to make her return), ACL injuries are currently having a significant impact on the line-ups we see on the pitch.
On the flipside, the season has seen some ACL comebacks already - most notably Roord's goal against Aston Villa that won City the game. As the season progresses, we can only hope for more moments of pure joy like this one.
5. A key fixture postponement caused chaos for Fantasy Managers
A failure to fit in adequate recovery time between WSL and Champions League games caused the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, who run the WSL, to postpone the Chelsea United fixture in GW3, much to the dismay of Fantasy Managers. There was chaos as squads were getting turned upside down to accommodate the loss of half their team that week. But the good news is this makes for a juicy Double Gameweek in the near future, where both teams have the potential of double points.
6. Crystal Palace have clinched a win early on in the season
While Crystal Palace seemed to be struggling after conceding two big losses early on in the season, they bounced back in their third week to claim a 2-0 victory over Leicester City. They further cemented this in their game against Liverpool, where they scored first and came away with a draw.
Last season, it took newly-promoted side Bristol City five weeks to claim their first win of the season. Could this be a sign of good things to come for Palace?
7. New names have shone bright
From Manchester United's Dominique Janssen and Brighton's Kiko Seike and Marisa Olislagers to Liverpool's Olivia Smith, there have been a number of new names making up the top scoring players in the game so far this season. Both Seike and Smith currently sit within the top 10 scoring players over the last four gameweeks, with the latter scoring an absolutely brilliant goal against Manchester City last week to give Liverpool an early lead. Swedish international Rosa Kafaji also made her long-awaited mark on the WSL against West Ham, scoring the Gunners' second goal and making her case for the starting XI.
8. A new team joined the top flight...
Yes, we're talking about the iconic pigeons who took centre stage on the wings of the Arsenal vs Chelsea fixture at the Emirates. For those who were less impressed with the Gunners' performance in front of goal, this flock of birds offered a much more amusing watch, as they appeared to indulge in some 5-a-side on one of the most iconic grass carpets in England.
Bonus Points for the pigeons or nah? 🪶#FWSL
When both teams have been defending so poorly but them pigeons have held a tight line all game. I'm ready for next week @playfantasywsl
9. Managers make their mark
It's not just the players who are grappling with a new season and new faces. There are five new head coaches in the WSL this season (six if you count Arsenal's leadership switch), and some of them are making themselves known. Brighton, who finished 9th last season, are going into the international break in 4th place under new leader Dario Vidošić. Chelsea's highly-anticipated new manager Sonia Bompastor has also put a new regime in place, and it although it may be different to the Hayes side of yesteryear, it's certainly working. She's the first coach to start the season with four wins since, well, Jonas Eidevall. Watch this space.
Images: Getty