⚽ WSL Title Decided. England Squad Named. Arsenal Kit Drop.

May 20, 2024

In this week's round-up...

• WSL Final Day Decider

• ICYMI: Top Headlines Around the World

• WSL Top Stats

• Kit Drop: Arsenal & Man City Home Shirts Released

• Watchlist: Champions League Final

• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

🏆 WSL CHAMPIONS

Chelsea lift the trophy in dream send-off for Emma Hayes

Chelsea have won the WSL for the fifth time in a row after a slightly less dramatic end to the season than was anticipated. Manchester United's FA Cup win last week felt like a distant memory as Hayes went out in style, Chelsea demolishing United 6-0 to seal the title.

After weeks of classic Emma Hayes mind games, it all came down to the final day with Manchester City and Chelsea equal on points. The seven-goal difference Chelsea racked up over the last three games proved too much for City to overcome, leaving Chelsea top and league winners for the eighth and final time under Emma Hayes. Check out our Picks from the Pitch below for some of the best goals from the match.

Kerr says her thank-yousManchester City title hopes took a huge hit when they lost 2-1 to Arsenal after two injury-time Blackstenius goals gave Chelsea a way back into the title race. Sam Kerr made sure to thank her after lifting the WSL trophy this weekend.

 🚨 NEWS | HOME & AWAY

Top Headlines This Week

🏟️ Arsenal have made Emirates their home ground from the 2024/25 season after their average attendance hit 52,029 this year. They plan to host eight home games and three Champions League group games there (depending on their progression in the competition), the move is a clear sign of the club's ambition. 

🚨 Emma Hayes will not face disciplinary action from UEFA after criticising key refereeing decisions during Chelsea’s semi-final against Barcelona in the Champions League. She had called the decision to send Buchanan off “the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions League history”.

💷 Chelsea is considering selling a minority stake in their women’s team. Bloomberg reported that two investors are in talks with the club, with Chelsea targeting a $200 million (£150 million) valuation.

🇺🇸 Arsenal and Chelsea will head to the US for a pre-season mini-tour in August, taking on the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and NJ/NY Gotham FC respectively. It’s the first time that WSL and NWSL clubs have gone head-to-head.

🦘 Australia will host the AFC Women's Asian Cup™ in 2026 and hope to use it as a platform to boost participation in football beyond the 20% increase already seen in 2024 following a successful Women’s World Cup in 2023. 

🏆 The first Women’s Club World Cup will take place in 2026. FIFA confirmed that the 16-club tournament will happen every four years and will finally allow top European teams to compete against the best clubs in the USA and beyond. The format and structure is still to be defined. As part of the announcement FIFA also launched a new 2026-29 calendar which addresses calls for more rest for players and coaches.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 First-time finalists England lost 4-0 to Spain in the U17s Euros. Spain have now won the competition five times at U17 level. Poland won their play-off to beat France into third place and will join England and Spain in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Dominican Republic later this year.

🇫🇷 Lyon has won the French title for the 17th time in 18 years after beating PSG 2-1 in the deciding game of the season.

⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

WSL: TOP STRIKES AND SAVES

The final day of the season was an absolute goal-fest and with 26 to choose from, here’s our top five…

  1. Vivianne Miedema signed off at Arsenal in style after coming on for Russo in the 62nd minute. By the 64th minute, she’d scored with her first touch, Beth Mead got the assist.  

  2. Fran Kirbyscored the final goal of her Chelsea career as the club legend rounded off nine years in blue.

  3. Leanne Kiernan started with the ball deep inside the Liverpool half before a driving run and powerful finish secured her hat-trick, topping off a fantastic season and fourth place finish for the Merseysiders.

  4. Mayra Ramírez was on fire, after scoring in the second minute, she drove past two defenders to slot in Chelsea’s fourth of the day.

  5. Drew Spencepulled this rocket out of her pocket as Spurs beat West Ham 3-1.

 📈 STATS

This Season's Golden Performances

🏆 EURO QUALIFIERS

England Squad Named

Sarina Wiegman has named her England squad ahead of this summer's Euro 2025 qualifiers. Millie Bright returns alongside a few new faces who make up the standby list. Balancing time off and player well-being has been a key consideration for Wiegman as she looks to her team to perform at the highest level while recovering from a busy domestic season.

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Kayla Rendell (Southampton)*

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United)*, Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United), Missy-Bo Kearns (Liverpool)*, Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur)*, Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

*On standby

Next games:

England v FranceFriday 31 May, 20:00, St James Park

France v EnglandTuesday 4 June, 20:00, Stade Geoffroy Guichard

England v Republic of IrelandFriday 12 July, 20:00, Carrow Road

Sweden v EnglandTuesday 16 July, 18:00, [Gamla Ullevi TBC]

🖋️ INSIDE TRACK

Transfer News

It’s that time of the year when the rumours and transfers kick into gear. We'll be keeping track of all the comings and goings during the summer transfer window.

Arsenal is having a goalkeeper clear out. Kaylan Marckese and Sabrina D’Angelo will both leave the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire. 

Manchester City have said goodbye to Filippa Angeldahl, Ruby Mace, Ellie Roebuck and Demi Stokes as they all leave the club this summer. Roebuck and Stokes both joined the club in 2015, Roebuck making 136 appearances and Stokes one of a handful of players to have played over 200 games for the club.

Lineth Beerensteyn has parted company with Juventus after two years. There has been unconfirmed speculation that the Dutch International could head to VfL Wolfsburg.

 🤤 KIT DROP

The 2024/25 kit drops continue...

Arsenal have gone retro with a return to the 1989/90 canon badge. Now available to buy

Man City have leant on the 0161 dial code 📞🤨 in their new home kit, threading the numbers into a distinctive pattern on the cuffs and trim. Available to buy now

📺 WATCHLIST

Women's Champions League Final

Barcelona v Lyon

17:00 - Saturday 25th May 2024TNT Sports 2, DAZN

All times in BST

 📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

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