After a summer of England bringing football home, the 22/23 WSL season is finally upon us, and the excitement for the new campaign has never been higher.
The off-season saw the Lionesses with England’s first major footballing honour since 1966, and many of the stars from the tournament will this weekend return to club action, with England captain Lean Williamson and Euros Player of the Tournament Beth Mead set to star for Arsenal whilst Ella Toone and Alessia Russo will look to impress for Manchester United.
The stars of England will no doubt be some of the biggest names to follow this season in the WSL, yet ahead of the 22/23 campaign, we want to look at the five players who might be the under the radar now to the English footballing audience but who could explode onto the scene in the months to come.
With the season kicking off this weekend, HITC Sport presents five players to keep an eye on for the new WSL campaign, with this term set to be the biggest in the sport’s history in England.
Maya Le Tissier – Manchester United
Let’s clear the air first. No, Maya Le Tissier is not related to Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier even with the pair both born on the island of Guernsey, with the now Manchester United defender considered by many as one of England’s top prospects and a fullback who will soon be representing the Lionesses.
A star for Brighton & Hove Albion last season, United splashed out to sign the 20-year-old this summer, and Le Tissier has the potential to become another English star for the Red Devils this season alongside the likes of Toone and Russo, with the Manchester side aiming for a UEFA Women’s Champions League spot.
Eve Perisset – Chelsea
Chelsea head into the new season looking to make it four-in-a-row of WSL titles, and new signing Eve Perisset is a massive boost to Emma Hayes’ defensive ranks, with the Blues only clinching the championship last campaign on the final day.
A 41-cap France international who has been one of the best right-backs in Europe for the past six years, Perisset is a major coup for Chelsea heading into the new season where the west London side will not only be looking to retain the title but to finally win the Women’s Champions League, the last piece of silverware that Hayes has to win as manager.
Lina Hurtig – Arsenal
Arsenal stunned the women’s footballing world in January with the signing of Swedish international Stina Blackstenius, and for the 22/23 WSL season, the Gunners have once again dipped into the market to sign a superstar from the Scandivancian giants to sign attacker Lina Hurtig.
One of the most established Swedish players in recent years, the 27-year-old joins Jonas Eidevall’s side at the peak of her powers and off the back of a fantastic season with Juventus, and with Arsenal looking to bring the WSL title back to north London, adding Hurtig to the likes of Blackstenius, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema is quite a frightening prospect.
Mary Fowler – Manchester City
To say Manchester City have been gutted this summer would be something of an understatement, with the 2016 WSL champions this summer losing England heroes Georgia Stanway, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh, the latter of which for a world-record women’s transfer fee to FC Barcelona. However, Mary Fowler is an exciting new addition.
The 19-year-old forward made her Australia debut at just 15-years-old, and with Ellen White retiring from the game, Folwer will likely lead the line for City in what is to be a massive season for the teenage attacker, who up until now has spent her career only in her homeland and in France with Montpellier.
Leanne Kiernan – Liverpool
After years of mismanagement and a season in the Women’s Championship, Liverpool are back and looking to make their mark in the WSL, and star striker Leanne Kiernan will likely cause some major damage to defences she comes up against this season in the top flight.
A regular with the Republic of Ireland, the 23-year-old bagged 12 goals in 15 league appearances for Liverpool last season, and Kiernan will no doubt be hungry to improve on this tally for the new campaign in the WSL, where the forward could easily become one of the breakout stars of the historic year.
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