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Welcome to the Conversation
The Women’s Super League season kicks off tonight with London City Lionesses versus Manchester United. Suzanne Wrack has been reporting on women’s football for the Guardian since 2017, appears on our Women’s Football Weekly podcast and is the author of the award winning A Woman’s Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women’s Football.
She is answering your questions live now.
Key events
Forzasmudge asks: Who do you see as being the main challengers from WSL2 this season?
Suzanne: It’s hard to look past the side relegated from the WSL, Leicester City, and Bristol City and Newcastle, particularly with Bristol City now owned by Mercury 13 and Newcastle’s investment in the women’s team following the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Other teams will likely struggle to keep pace with Leicester, who know what it takes to compete in the WSL and Bristol and Newcastle financially, as they invest season on season. Southampton, who finished fifth before Bristol City last season, with the top three teams all being promoted as the WSL expanded to 14 teams, will also fancy they can mount an outside challenge.
I’m very curious to see how newcomers Watford and Wolves do and whether Durham, as an independent women’s team, which almost folded towards the end of last year before a new investor was found, can hang in there in the fully professional era of the WSL2.
Bobzzz asks: What is the minimum Arsenal expect from this season? With the heavily refreshed squad, investment, and the largest fan base in the women’s game, surely anything short of a trophy would feel a failure?
Suzanne: I agree, anything less than a trophy will feel like a failure. There is always the possibility for mitigating factors, a colossal injury crisis such as the one they faced a few years ago, would change expectations. However, as you say, the top-level new recruits, the investment in the team and wider set up around them, the lack of League Cup games stretching them thin, having secured automatic qualification the Champions League league phase, a proper summer off for international players and a full pre-season, are all the ingredients needed for the club to challenge on all fronts.
They desperately want to win the league, having not lifted the WSL trophy since 2019, and they cannot afford the slow starts they had in the last two seasons that ruled them out before the campaign really got going.
Any update on female players and ACL injuries?
dfic1999 asks: What’s the latest evidence re female players and ACL injuries?
Suzanne: I’m not totally up to date on the latest research, though it’s on my to-do list to revisit some time soon in detail, but Fifpro (the global players’ union) have just published the first findings of their Project ACL study, which was conducted with 12 WSL sides and looked at the modifiable factors that may contribute to ACL injuries for professional women football players, such as facilities, pitch conditions etc.
Is it a worry that certain clubs seem to have unlimited funds?
Noahfence asks: Is it a worry that certain clubs have what looks like unlimited funds? I wouldn’t want the league to resemble other two team leagues.
Suzanne: Anything that would lead to an uncompetitive league is a worry. I personally think we’ve not learned enough from the men’s game and the WSL aren’t regulating strongly enough on club finances, but I know there’s a balance to be struck between wanting to allow investment of those committed to women’s football and setting up the long-term success, sustainability and competitiveness of clubs and the leagues that doesn’t negatively impact on the pyramid. I’d like to see a completely different financial structuring of women’s football with those things at the very centre of the discussion and decisions but I think we’re a world away from the type of radical plans that I would like to see.
The good thing is that while Arsenal and Chelsea, and maybe now London City Lionesses, are spending most heavily, other teams are upping their expenditure too and there is a level of competitiveness that will be maintained if they continue to do so, but that’s not guaranteed or a long-term strategy that can be relied on.
Favourite player: Carpenter or Fowler?
Weekender73 asks: Daughter’s favourite player: Ellie Carpenter. Mine: Mary Fowler. Who is right?
Suzanne: Both. Who am I to say who an individual’s favourite player should be? It’s personal, and mine would probably be different - no I’m not saying who, probably because I’m not totally sure! They’re both top players, Ellie Carpenter has looked rampant in Chelsea’s two games against Real Sociedad in the last two weeks and both looked excellent last season when they featured. Hopefully Mary Fowler has an injury-free season back at her best following her recovery from her ACL injury.
Do the top three City, Chelsea and Arsenal face a challenge this season?
Challengingviews asks: Would the real test of competitiveness this season be if the clubs from fourth to ninth can get results against the top three? For too many years City and Chelsea and Arsenal have only really had to worry about each other.
Suzanne: This is what I think is really exciting this season. Each year, while you haven’t necessarily been able to predict exactly which of Arsenal, City or Chelsea will win the title, you could predict that the only points they would drop would be against each other, at least 99% of the time. This season, I think the likelihood of those teams dropping points to some of those in the chasing pack on a more frequent basis is much higher.
We saw Brighton, Tottenham, London City Lionesses, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United all take points off the top three across the course of last season and I think that trend will continue. How the top three handle that and how those challenging for the ‘best of the rest’ mantle capitalise is going to be super interesting.
Can Man City retain their WSL title and win the Champions League?
Paula2026 asks: After finally winning the WSL again last season, do you think City have built a squad capable of not only retaining the title but seriously challenging the Champions League – and where do you think they’re still vulnerable?
Amoody51 asks: Why are Man City in Pot 3 for the Champions League? Feel bad for Bayern...
Suzanne: I’ve predicted City to retain their title, though don’t get too excited as my predictions are notoriously bad. A lot think having Champions League football will stretch the squad but I think City have the depth to cope. The change to the League Cup, meaning UWCL teams will not take part, also alleviates the issue a little, while obviously the UWCL matches are few levels up from the League Cup intensity wise. Where are City vulnerable? I think an injury to any more key players beyond Miedema could cause problems, particularly to Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood or Lauren Hemp. For me, the centre-back options are a little lacking, particularly with Jade Rose out.
City are in Pot 3 of the Champions League draw because their Uefa coefficient isn’t high enough. They weren’t in European competition last season and while they reached the quarter-final stage the preceding year, they failed to qualify for the 2023-24 edition and failed to escape the qualifying rounds in the two years prior to that. The good news is that despite being in Pot 3, the draw has been pretty kind to them. Arsenal arguably have a tougher draw from Pot 1.
Is Brighton's new manager a quick fix?
Yorlow asks: Do you think the Brighton hierarchy see their new manager as the right coach for long term success or more of a quick fix to Dario’s departure?
Suzanne: I think both. Dario Vidosic’s exit was a shock to everyone but the speed of the announcement of Arturo Ruiz’s appointment showed the club clearly had a little bit of advance notice. A big problem will have been the availability of top-rated managers with the WSL season on the eve of kicking off and many other European leagues having already gotten underway.
Ruiz’s decision to switch to the WSL in between Real Sociedad’s two-legged UWCL qualifier against Chelsea and just before their domestic season got underway, shows what WSL sides can offer and the draw of the English league. Would he have been first choice if Vidosic had gone sooner? Hard to say. However, on the basis of his first press conference Ruiz has impressed and Real Sociedad looked very well organised against Chelsea despite their 6-2 aggregate defeat, so they may be landing on their feet with his appointment. Time will tell.
Is coverage going backwards?
FrankfurtView asks: The BBC have removed their Women’s football show from linear television. Already it was being shown in a broom cupboard, later than Match of the Day … Have BBC gone backwards in women’s football coverage?
Suzanne: Their approach to coverage is changing across sport more widely. There seems to be a drive towards social platforms, as shown by the launch of their women’s football Youtube channel and expansion of their content on their TikTok account. Whether that strategy will drive audiences will show over time.
The loss of the Women’s Football Show is a big one, in my view. It needed a better slot and greater investment but it provided fans with the most accessible week-by-week analysis with clips and highlights and it will be interesting to see whether the new 15-minute Women’s Football Fallout will be able to deliver enough depth for fans wanting game-by-game analysis.
Can Manchester United surprise ?
Laughable asks: Do you think Manchester United can surprise people? How far can good tactics, high motivation and an attacking strategy take them? I think there will be new signings that fit Eva Olid’s style of play in the January window and that they will they do quite well this season and perhaps break into the top three within three years. Am I wrong?
Suzanne: Interestingly, I did a profile of new manager Eva Olid when Hearts, the team she left in the summer after leading the Scottish side to the SWPL title, had five games of the season remaining. Having known nothing about her I got an incredible impression from the various interviews I read with her about her coaching philosophy and her time coaching boys in Spain and managing in the women’s game. My fear is that United won’t give her the resources required to punch as high above their financial weight as they will need to be doing to be competitive in the WSL. Yes, she worked wonders at Hearts, having arrived with the team having finished at the bottom of the league (only avoiding relegation thanks to the expansion of the SWPL), but Hearts did increase their support for the women’s team alongside her shrewd coaching and player development during her five years.
Arguably, their transfer window was one of the most disappointing of all the WSL teams this season. Their four signings are promising, but they see some high-level WSL experience leave in their seven outgoing players. They will benefit from no Champions League football, but I don’t think they have the squad to be able to ‘do a Man City’ and take advantage of that significantly in the league, not when so many mid-table teams have looked to have strengthened really well. I hope I’m wrong, I would love to see United do well and Olid be really successful there, but without a greater commitment from the club from the top down, not just financially, I struggle to see much to be excited about. The League Cup is a great opportunity for silverware though, with no City, Arsenal or Chelsea involved, but others will be sensing that opportunity too.
Will failing to cover Miedama come back to bite Man City?
trinder19 asks: How much will City’s failure to sign an attacking midfielder to cover for Miedama cost them? Benítez would have been quite the coup and they should try again for her next time. My view is that just about any side would miss Miedema’s intelligence and ability but if there’s one thing City have an abundance of, it’s attackers. Her absence will give Beney and Fowler a chance to shine in that central role, and of course Mead can play there too.
Suzanne: Losing Vivianne Miedema is of course a huge blow for any length of time and I think her absence towards the end of last season coinciding with City’s slight faltering and lack of rhythm wasn’t a coincidence. As you say, you could view City’s lack of action in that area in the transfer window, bar the late attempt to Fiamma Benítez as costly, or you can view it as an opportunity for the likes of Mary Fowler or Iman Beney to step up and really make that position their own. Is that a risk or not getting Benítez a blow? Maybe, but I think I personally prefer players being given a chance rather than cautious clubs recruiting and blocking the route to starting games for those younger talents.
However, if City didn’t think Fowler or Beney or anything else is ready for that role and they really wanted Benítez then they should have gone harder for her much much sooner, because Miedema’s injuries issues haven’t been a secret in recent years.
Is Arsenal weaker after letting Mead and McCabe go?
FuzzyDunlop1982 asks: Arsenal: weaker or stronger after their big free-transfer spree but having released Beth Mead and Katie McCabe?
Suzanne: Beth Mead and Katie McCabe are huge players and personalities to lose, particularly after the excellent seasons they both had last year. Arsenal’s handling of the McCabe situation showed they must feel they may be making a mistake in letting her go. That said, Arsenal’s recruitment has been very strong, Georgia Stanway in particular brings the battling spirit they lose with McCabe’s exit.
Are Arsenal stronger? In my view, yes, given the players coming in and a refresh of the group. The biggest regret will be less about letting those two players go, but about where they let them go to (not that they had a huge amount of control over that with the players being free agents and able to join whoever they wanted) because, while Arsenal are stronger, Mead and McCabe strengthen their two main rivals.
How will London City Lionesses grow attendance?
Dfic1999 asks: You said in one of your club previews ‘with no men’s club supporter pool to draw from, London City Lionesses will have to be inventive.’ How can they do that, especially given all the other London clubs in the WSL? Is their ‘galactico’ strategy sustainable without the matchday attendance to go with it?
Suzanne: Great question. Every club, even those with a men’s club supporter base to draw from, is trying to find that golden goose of a formula to build a large, vibrant, consistent and active audience. In the case of those that do have a parent club with a large men’s fanbase, I think a part of the problem is that club marketing teams have not had to work very hard to fill their stadia. In fact, many men’s teams could fill their stadia two, three… 10 times over with zero effort from their marketing teams. Those marketing teams play different roles for their men’s teams. When they are tasked with having to connect with people and get them to make the decision to physically step into a stadium and do so on a regular basis, I’m not sure they know what to do. With no blueprint for how to do this, that’s where they need to be inventive.
For London City, who don’t even have that big men’s fanbase the club can ping an email to and instantly reach tens of thousands, they have to really lead the way in being inventive. In terms of what that means? For me, it’s about having an activist mindset and getting physically out into communities, schools, local clubs, pubs and community centres. It’s about finding ways to support transport for those that might struggle to get to grounds, it’s about reaching parents, it’s about speaking with people directly on the values team sports, women’s sports and engaging with it. Then, it’s about working towards a vibrant supporters’ club and working with it collaboratively to help them create the environment they want and that will attract others. It’s lots of things, I don’t think there is a magic bullet of an answer.
Welcome to the Conversation
The Women’s Super League season kicks off tonight with London City Lionesses versus Manchester United. Suzanne Wrack has been reporting on women’s football for the Guardian since 2017, appears on our Women’s Football Weekly podcast and is the author of the award winning A Woman’s Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women’s Football.
She is answering your questions live now.
