WSL Matchday 1 Preview

The long-awaited start to the WSL 2024/24 season is finally here! Read our WSL Matchday 1 preview of all this weekend’s WSL fixtures.

Teams in the Women’s Super League have been busy strengthening their squads this summer. Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze and Mariona Caldentey have joined Chelsea and Arsenal respectively. Meanwhile, Aston Villa have made some notable signings, including Brazilian Gabi Nunes.

Perhaps the shock of the summer was Vivianne Miedema switching North London for Manchester. With no contract offer on the table, Miedema has joined Arsenal’s WSL rivals Manchester City. As fate would have it, City’s first game of the WSL season will be away to Arsenal. After scoring a fantastic goal midweek in the Champions League, letting Miedema go for free could come back to haunt Jonas Eidevall.

The great news for WSL fans is that more matches will be available to watch on the newly launched Women’s Super League YouTube channel.

WSL Matchday 1 Fixtures

Friday 20 September

Chelsea v Aston Villa KO 19:00 Live on BBC 2

Saturday 21 September

Manchester United v West Ham United KO 12:00 Live on Women’s Super League YouTube and MUTV

Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton KO 12:30 Live on Women’s Super League YouTube

Sunday 22 September

Arsenal v Manchester City KO 12:30 Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Liverpool v Leicester City KO 14:00 Live on Women’s Super League YouTube

Tottenham v Crystal Palace KO 14:00 Live on Women’s Super League YouTube

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WSL Matchday 1 Preview

Chelsea Women v Aston Villa Women

Chelsea host Aston Villa in the opening WSL match of the season, with new manager Sonia Bompaster taking charge of Chelsea. Robert de Pauw will also oversee his first game in the opposing dugout for Aston Villa. Last season’s WSL champions Chelsea have brought in Sandy Baltimore, Julia Bartel, Lucy Bronze, Oriane Jean-Francois, Louna Ribadeira and Maelys Mpome.

Aston Villa have also been busy in the transfer market. Having lost Daphne van Domselaar to Arsenal, they added Canadion international Sabrina D’Angelo to the goalkeeper ranks. Other signings include a club record signing of Gabi Nunes, and Paula Tomas, Katie Robinson, Miri Taylor, Missy Bo Kearns, Chastity Grant and Jill Baijings (loan) have significantly strengthened the squad.

Villa had a disappointing 2023/24 season and will be looking to finish higher than last season’s 7th position in the table. However, with so many new players coming into the squad and a new manager’s style to adapt to, it could take time for the team to gel. A tricky away fixture to the WSL champions Chelsea will be a huge test for this new look Aston Villa team.

Chelsea players will be looking to impress their new manager and it will be interesting to see how Emma Hayes’ departure affects the team. They also lost dependable defender Jess Carter, and Niamh Charles recently dislocated her shoulder, so the defence could struggle to match the consistency of previous seasons.

Manchester United Women v West Ham United Women

Manchester United kick off their WSL season at Old Trafford, welcoming West Ham United. Manchester United’s transfer exits have been a concern for United fans, with experienced players such as Mary Earps, club captain Katie Zelem, Lucia Garci, Nikita Parris and Irene Guerrero all departing the club. Grace Clinton has returned from a successful loan season at Spurs, with Celin Bizet joining her at United. Melvine Malard has joined. on a permanent basis, while Dominique Janssen, Elisabeth Terland and Anna Sandberg are summer incomings.

West Ham United will look significantly different the season, with Mackenzie Arnold, Risa Shimizu, Hawa Cissoko amongst the long list of summer departures. Many pundits are expecting West Ham United to be involved in a relegation battle this season. Manchester United won’t have the distraction of the Women’s Champions League but will have to improve the compete with last season’s top 3 teams in the WSL. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have stronger squads, so it is going to be difficult for United to get back into the top 3.

Brighton & Hove Albion Women v Everton Women

Brighton have made some shrewd transfer moves over the summer, with Fran Kirby and Jelena Cankovic switching from Chelsea. Nikita Parris adds further WSL experience to the squad, while there are high expectation for highly rated Arsenal youngster Michelle Agyemang who has joined on loan.

Everton have lost Hannah Bennison and Toni Duggan has retired, so the arrivals from Sevilla Toni Payne and Inma Gabarro will need to make a quick impact if Everton are going to finish in the top half of the table. Brighton fans will be excited to see how their new signings fair.

Arsenal Women v Manchester City Women

What a fixture to start the season with! This fixture is always one of the most important in the season and City and Arsenal know a win against their title challenging rivals will give them the perfect start to the season. With the added storyline of Miedema facing her former team mates, it doesn’t get much bigger an occasion. Arsenal will play all their home WSL matches at the Emirates this season and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing midweek loss in the Champions League.

Arsenal have added Daphne van Domselaar, Mariona Caldentey and Rosa Kafaji to their squad list. City narrowly missed out on the WSL trophy last season and will be hoping Miedema can hit her pre-injury form to help bolster their challenge this season.

Liverpool Women v Leicester City Women

Liverpool’s first match at their new St Helens Stadium home sees them take on Leicester City. Having been last season’s surprise outfit, Liverpool may struggle to match their impressive 4th place finish. New signing Olivia Smith is an exciting prospect for the Reds but they have lost Emma Koivisto, Shanice van de Sanded, Missy Bo Kearns, Mel Lawley, Natasha Flint and Miri Taylor so squad depth could be an issue.

Leicester City’s acquisition of Ruby Mace could prove to be a masterstroke, if she can live up to her early potential. However, Leicester City could be one of the teams involved in the relegation dogfight, come the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur Women v Crystal Palace Women

Newly promoted Crystal Palace don’t have to travel far for their first game of the WSL season, heading across London to play Tottenham Hostpur. Spurs are likely to miss last season’s United loanee Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet but the addition of Matildas Haley Raso and Clare Hunt, along with Amanda Nilden and Maite Oroz rounded off a productive transfer window for Spurs.

Tottenham finished 6th last season and will be aiming for a higher finish, meanwhile Crystal Palace will be looking to avoid the dreaded immediate return to the Championship.