We’re back again after another spicy WSL weekend. Another historic and record-breaking weekend for the players and the leagues!

Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!


Perfection from Parris

Take a look at this header.

You’d be forgiven for missing Parris’ part first time round, but take a look at the slow-motion replay. Watch the specific moment as Parris times her diving leap perfectly to catch a rapid strike from outside the box, redirecting the shot past Tullis-Joyce.

https://twitter.com/BarclaysWSL/status/1847620311849611281

Parris, who was United’s top goalscorer last season (8) and currently sits fifth in the WSL goalscoring chart, has the highest goals per 90 minutes (0.56) out of any player in the top 5.


Roord Really Returns

Manchester City’s Jill Roord scored in the 70th minute against Aston Villa yesterday to secure the Citizens all three points (2-1).

It was Roord’s first goal after returning two weeks ago for the first time since suffering an ACL injury last season.

https://twitter.com/ManCityWomen/status/1848002434221666622

Lauren Hemp, who scored 12 minutes before, got the assist, delivering from the left wing for Roord who slotted home past Sabrina D’Angelo. Hemp picked up the Barclay’s Player of the Month.

City have now won their last seven games in all competitions.


Little’s BIG Achievement

Arsenal captain Kim Little recorded her 350th appearance for Arsenal this weekend against West Ham.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who retired from the Scottish Women’s National Team in 2021, marked the occasion with a fresh pair of special-edition adidas F50 boots which were printed with ‘Congratulations Kim’ and ‘350’.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1847994931345854517

Little is the fourth-most capped player ever, just seven games behind Jayne Ludlow. Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant lead the way with 459 and 403 appearances respectively.

Arsenal teammate Lia Walti also hit a milestone, making her 100th appearance for the Gunners. Walti becomes the 8th Arsenal player to achieve this.


Le Tissier is feeling 22…

Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier became the youngest player ever to make 100 starts in the WSL.

22-year-old Le Tissier lead her side out on Saturday to a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. United currently sit 3rd in the table with 10 points, behind Chelsea on 12 and City on 13.

Only United have conceded just one goal this season – Le Tissier runs a tight ship.


JRK’s GOAL of the season?

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur delivered some incredible late Sunday night drama with seven goals between them both.

We initially thought the biggest talking point was going to be the re-ignition of the goal line technology debate, after Spurs’ Amanda Nilden scored a controversial long-range effort against Hannah Hampton.

But then…up stepped Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a VERY early contender for goal of the season. The commentators described the goal as “utterly exceptional” and that it was. Watch this…

https://twitter.com/SkySportsWSL/status/1848081350928036138

The 27-year-old set Kingsmeadow alight with the most perfect volley, but her entire night was pretty much flawless, bagging a further goal in the 90+1 minute too.

Needless to say, she picked up the Barclay’s Player of the Match.


Un-Bag-lievable

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley put in a performance of a lifetime to keep her side in the game against a fierce United side on Saturday.

The Seagulls helpfully put together a montage of the 27-year-old’s best bits…

https://twitter.com/BHAFCWomen/status/1848014308757622940

United registered seven shots on target with Baggaley putting in a shift to keep six good chances out.

Baggaley is one of the most experienced keepers in the WSL, having had spells at Birmingham City, Bristol City, Manchester United and Brighton since 2014. Baggaley was also a part of the England U23 set-up until 2019.

We’re back again after another spicy WSL weekend. It was a pretty historic and record-breaking weekend for the players so we simply had to an extra moment!

Here’s some of our favourite, so you can stay to up to date with the action!


The Eagles have landed

WSL debutants Crystal Palace made club history, securing their first ever WSL points. Palace beat Leicester 2-0 with both goals coming from forward Annabel Blanchard.

Take a look at the first goal here in the 55th minute…

https://twitter.com/cpfc_w/status/1842974797346787687

Blanchard didn’t stop there. She converted from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to seal the deal.

Following the game, manager Laura Kaminski addressed the group stating that she was proud of them for coming together, especially off the back of three previous defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa (in the League Cup).

Kaminski reminded the team: “Not too high with the highs and not too low with the lows”.


Nobbs hits the WSL history books

WSL legend, 31-year-old Jordan Nobbs created history on Saturday as she became the new all-time Barclays appearance record-holder with 193 appearances. Nobbs overtakes Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle, who is currently sidelined for the foreseeable future with an ACL injury.

https://twitter.com/AVWFCOfficial/status/1842576095985733920

The midfielder started her career at Arsenal back in 2010, playing 12 out of the 14 games of the first WSL season. Nobbs is the only player to play in all 15 seasons of the WSL.

Fast forward to this weekend – Nobbs made her record-breaking appearance against Brighton. Unfortunately, the appearance itself didn’t go exactly to plan, with Aston Villa losing 4-2 to Brighton.

The Villains go again next weekend against 10th placed Leicester City.


Hobinger’s free-kick humdinger

Hot off the heels of Barclays announcing the September goal of the month nominees last week, Liverpool’s Marie Hobinger has given the bank something to think about for this month.

The 23-year-old Austria international scored this absolute worldie in the 75th minute. Take a look…

https://twitter.com/BarclaysWSL/status/1842942314089422970

The goal would prove to be a huge one at the final whistle, with Liverpool securing three points against Spurs in a 3-2 win.

Feel free to watch that goal again. It’s a work of art.


Two Seagulls soar

Brighton secured their second win of the season with both 18-year-old Michelle Agyemang and 30-year-old Nikita Parris getting their debut goals with the club.

Both Parris and Agyemang signed in summer hoping to get more game time at very different stages in their careers.

The goals would prove invaluable in securing the 4-2 win against Aston Villa, with Agyemang picking up her first Player of the Match award. Agyemang secured 38.4% of the fans vote, beating Fran Kirby, Nikita Parris and Pauline Bremmer.

Agyemang reflected on the team’s win here:

https://twitter.com/BHAFCWomen/status/1842614981289705649

Three out of Three for Daly

The 32-year-old Rachel Daly won the WSL Golden Boot in 2022-23 and she seems intent on winning another this year with a ridiculously strong start to the season.

Despite Villa’s defeat to Brighton, Daly scored both goals which were also significant in that she reached her 100 club goal milestone.

https://twitter.com/AVWFCOfficial/status/1842927793581224328

Daly recently stepped away from the international stage to focus on club football and that she definitely has!

We went out to our audience to see who thought Daly would be picking up the Golden Boot this year. 22% said yes. 60% said maybe…


City’s young-gun

Lauren Hemp made history this weekend by becoming the youngest player to score 50 goals.

Hemp, who is 24-years-old and 60 days, reached the new milestone with her opening goal against West Ham yesterday.

Hemp scored in the 10th minute and her goal was followed by Mary Fowler’s in the 71st, helping City take home three points, propelling them to the WSL table top-spot (in front of Chelsea who have a game in hand).

The WSL kicked off last weekend, so we picked our top young ballers to watch this season

Choosing just seven up and coming ballers in a season which is inundated with young talent was tough, but we had to start somewhere…

In no particular order, we wanted to profile the under 25’s continuing to create magic and reassure us that the future of the game is in very safe hands.


Michelle Agyemang (Brighton (Arsenal loanee) & Eng U19’s)

Age: 18

Position: Forward

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign Agyemang joined Women’s Championship side Watford FC on a dual-signing in September 2023. This experience proved the making of her, bagging six goals for the club – with one coming against her parent club in an FA Club tie. That’s one way to show Mum & Dad.

She’s won two Championship Player of the Week and one Championship Player of the Month awards during her short time at the club. These performances earned Agyemang her first professional contract with the Gunners and they’ve just sent her on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion to gain WSL minutes.

And she found a couple…being subbed on in the 88th minute against Everton in the weekend. We have no doubt she’ll be making earlier starts shortly.

Agyemang would have had tough competition at Arsenal with so many attacking options available: Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenious, Beth Mead, Rosa Kafaji and Caitlin Foord to name a few, but manager Jonas Eidevall will be keeping a watchful eye on her from afar.

Having bossed the Championship, this Young Gun(ner) has a huge opportunity ahead to build, develop and maybe twinkle the eye of England boss Sarina Wiegman as we head towards the Euros next year…


Grace Clinton (Manchester United & Eng Seniors)

Age: 21

Position: Midfield

Last season, Clinton went on loan to WSL’s team-on-the-rise, Tottenham Hotspur, making 20 appearances, scoring four goals and bagging four assists for the North London side. She was a key figure in the club reaching their first FA Cup final at Wembley, despite not being able to play in the final (due to being conflicted)

On the international stage, Clinton made her England debut in February against Austria (and scored of course) and to top off a stellar season, this young baller just picked up the PFA’s Young Player of the Year Award.

Ahead of this season, despite Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn singing her praises (and wanting to keep her), Clinton returned to parent club Manchester United whom she is expected to play a key role for this season. Vilahamn gave Clinton more freedom to express herself on the wing but as her experience has grown, so has her presence in the No.10 or No.8 role. She admitted that she is “quite an aggressive player” and the middle of the pitch is where she can “do most harm”. Bring on the damage.

With a current transfer market value of £101k (credit: SoccerDonna) and already on the score sheet for United last weekend, she is certainly a talent on the rise, and one to keep an eye on this year.


Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa & Eng U23’s)

Age: 23

Position: Midfield

Having been with Liverpool since she was eight, this young scouser was the embodiment of a ‘Reds’ fan – so it was a surprise to see her move to Villa this summer.

But despite Missy Bo’s history with Liverpool saturated with achievements – the youngest player to ever captain the side in 2021-22, Standard Chartered Women’s Player of the Season 2021, Women’s Football Awards Young Player of the Year 2023, Club Player of the Season 2023, Northwest Football Women’s Rising Star Award 2023 AND the 2024 PFA Community Champions Award – the decision was made to move on.

After receiving her first call-up to the Lionesses in May, hoping to earn an England senior debut asap and a place at the 2025 Women’s Euros on the line, Missy Bo is looking for more game time and a chance to impress Sarina this year.

Making her first WSL start with Villa last weekend, she impressed against Chelsea, causing them problems and nearly securing an early opener against the current WSL title holders. Her link-up play with Chastity Grant is going to be an asset for The Villains.

Missy Bo has credentials both on and off the pitch and Villa have snapped up a baller with big ambitions, an eye on Switzerland and a genuine love for the game and its community. Whatever the transfer fee – it’s a bargain.


Aoba Fujino (Manchester City & Japan Seniors)

Age: 20

Position: Forward

What a summer signing for City! Fujino joins from Tokyo-side Verdy Beleza after racking up 24 goals and 17 assists during her 51 appearances for the club. That’s one way to catch manager Gareth Taylor’s eye as he looks to bolster his front line. Was having Miedema, Kelly, Hemp and Shaw not enough?

You might recognise Fujino’s name from the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Yep, she made history by becoming Japan’s youngest ever goalscorer (aged 19 and 180 days), scoring in their group game against Costa Rica.

And her presence on the international stage reigns supreme – Fujino was the talk of Paris this summer after her incredible free-kick against Spain in Japan’s opening Olympics game.

Her three-year deal with City will no doubt start with an adjustment to WSL life, but that won’t take long – she eats up high-pressure situations and has already given us a very big glimmer of things to come. She started for City this weekend and caused trouble for 74 minutes before Chloe Kelly joined the action.


Olivia Smith (Liverpool & Canada Seniors)

Age: 20

Position: Midfield

Last year Smith played for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino, recording an impressive 13 goals and nine assists in just 18 games. It’s no wonder that Smith attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.

Liverpool eventually sealed the deal for a club record fee of almost €250,000 (£210k). After finishing 4th last season, Liverpool will be aiming to secure Champions League football this season and with a few big names leaving (Melissa Lawley, Shanice van de Sanden, Emma Koivisto and Miri Taylor), Smith is expected to bring the fire power.

On the international stage, Smith is no wallflower, having made her Canada Women’s National Team debut at just 15 (in 2019). She was unfortunate not to be selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics squad but she’ll be working towards building a few excellent WSL seasons to secure her spot for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Smith started for Liverpool at the weekend and looked impressive…


Naomi Layzell (Manchester City & Eng U23’s)

Age: 20

Position: Centre-back

Layzell signed with City this summer from just-relegated side Bristol City who joined the Women’s Championship this season. Despite the club’s downfall, Layzell is on an upward trajectory, securing Young Player of the Season last year.

The transfer fee was undisclosed but the Robins swept it up, confirming that they received a club record sum for this young fledgling fleeing the nest.

The Citizens have secured Layzell on a four-year contract. City’s firepower is world-class but Layzell comes in to lay bricks for that City back-line. The club conceded the fewest WSL goals last season (15) than any other team and they will want to keep it that way.

It’s a big job for Layzell but she brings with her a wealth of experience with Bristol City – a team which came under wave after wave of attack last season. There’s a reason she’s been signed for four years and she’ll be hoping to get City that all-elusive recent WSL title (last won in 2016) and ensure a decent run in the Champions League.

Despite not getting any minutes at the weekend, we’re excited to see her first WSL minutes with the club.


Ruby Mace (Leicester City & Eng U23’s)

Age: 20

Position: Midfield

Mace has already played for a number of English giants, having previously balled with Manchester City, Birmingham City and Arsenal. 

This summer, Leicester City made her loan spell from Manchester City permanent, signing a two-year contract with the Foxes. She made 11 appearances for the club last season and was quick to be offered a return by new manager Amandine Miquel.

Speaking ahead of this season, Mace confirmed that ‘minutes were important at this stage of her career’ and that Leicester had that family-feel she needed to really elevate her career at a pivotal moment.

Mace started for Leicester at the weekend, helping secure a very vital point for the club’s campaign this season.

It’s been a BIG summer of global football – Euro’s qualification, some incredible WSL x Aus x NWSL collabs and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now we’re moments away from the first stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League first stages and the start of the WSL on 20th September…

It’s set to be the most well-attended WSL campaign in history with big ambitions to beat the 717,721 people who turned up for clubs last season.

So, whilst we have a brief moment, let’s get organised and figure out where we need to be and when to catch a bit of the main stadium action…


Arsenal: The Emirates

Credit: Getty Images/Clive Rose

It’s always a vibe at the Emirates and it’s pretty much always a sell-out. Last season, Arsenal secured back-to-back sellouts and made history by encouraging 60,160 fans to their 1-0 win against Manchester United (Feb 2024). The Gunners average league attendance was an 31,428.

If that wasn’t incredible enough, Arsenal now hold the top three highest attended WSL games in history: 59,042 (Arsenal v Chelsea in Dec 2023) and 54,115 (Arsenal v Liverpool in October 2023).

This season, they’ve promised us 11 games at the Emirates; eight WSL and three more depending on UEFA Women’s Champions League progression. Meadow Park (4,500 capacity) will only host three home games against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and West Ham.


Aston Villa: Villa Park

In a historic move for the women’s side, Villa announced this summer that Villa Park will now host all of their WSL home games; a significant increase compared to the five played there during the last campaign.

The remaining home fixtures, including the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup ties, will be played at Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium.


Brighton: American Express Stadium

Credit: Brighton & Hove Albion

No main stadium fixtures announced yet. All the women’s games will take place at the Broadfield Stadium.


Chelsea: Stamford Bridge

Credit: Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea will play three home games at Stamford Bridge. The rest of their fixtures will be hosted at the much-loved Kingsmeadow. Despite having a capacity of only 4,850, it’s the perfect place to still get that up close and personal feel, sitting meters away from Lauren James and new manager Sonia Bompastor.

Last season, the UWCL semi-final second-leg against Barcelona was played in front of a sellout crowd (39,398) at the Bridge. The Blues will be looking to beat that this year and we expect more UWCL fixtures to be announced depending on how the club get on in Europe.


Crystal Palace: Selhurst Park

Credit: Crystal Palace FC

The Eagles have landed in the WSL for the first time in the club’s history and they have quite the list of top tier fixtures to show case at Selhurst Park.

Last season, they made club history by selling over 5,566 tickets to watch them lift the Women’s Championship trophy. This year, with fixtures like this, we have no doubt another record will be smashed.


Everton: Goodison Park

Credit: Liverpool FC

Only one fixture has been announced at Goodison Park and what a fixture it is – just the Mersyside Derby – one of the most fiercely competitive red and blue fixtures in the WSL.


Leicester: King Power Stadium

Credit: Leicester City FC

These guys are main stadium OG’s. The women’s side have used the King Power Stadium as their home ground since 2021. This season is no different – all 11 WSL home games will feature here. We love to see it.


Liverpool: Anfield

Credit: This is Anfield

Three fixtures will be played at Anfield this season. But fans will have double the fun this year as the club confirmed they’d signed a ten-year lease to relocate from Prenton Park to the 18,000-capacity Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.


Manchester City

Credit: Manchester City FC

City will host three WSL games at the Etihad Stadium. Their remaining fixtures will be played at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium across the road which sits within City’s elite training ground facility.


Manchester United

Credit: Manchester United FC

Yaaanited have three fixtures in the diary for Old Trafford with the remaining games being played at Leigh Sports Village. There have been rumours recently of the women’s side moving permanently to a re-developed OT in the future, with their men’s team re-homing to a new nearby stadium but we’ll wait to see if there’s any legs in this…

In the meantime, United have sensibly chosen two mid/low-table fixtures against the Hammers and Palace, where they’ll be expecting to secure wins but they couldn’t miss the Manchester derby now and with City burned by a near-miss with the title, that last fixture will be spicy as hell.


Spurs: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Credit: Getty Images/Paul Harding

It’s an important season for the club. A million miles away from once being seen as the WSL newbies (entering the league in 2020), they’re strong mid-table warriors with an eye on top four and a love for disruption.

They finished last year strong with a history-making FA Cup run which took them to Wembley in May (defeated 4-0 by Manchester United).

They’re not messing around with the main stadium fixtures this year – just the three biggest and the best opposition to showcase how far they’ve come, with all their remaining games to played at Brisbane Road (capacity of 9,721).


West Ham: London Stadium

Credit: West Ham United

No main stadium fixtures have been announced yet. All the women’s games will take place at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Amid increasing concerns over the safety and sustainability of crowd interactions at women’s football, Chelsea announced their players will no longer engage in post-match selfies and autographs at their home ground (Kingsmeadow).

While women’s football has traditionally offered a strong connection between fans and players, the growth of crowds has led to concerns over the practicality of such close interaction – with reports of some fans being injured by others as they attempt to interact with players at the end of games.

The problem has already reared its head in pre-season as swathes of Arsenal fans were seen filling the walkway before the end of their friendly match with Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.

(Credit: Arsenal FC)

It is a sight that has become increasingly familiar in stadiums hosting women’s football across the UK and beyond in recent years.

Chelsea cited safety issues stating: “There were occasions last season that led to concerns about the safety and security of both supporters and players, largely due to the rising numbers who are seeking signatures and selfies before and after games.”

The club have instead said they will hold events specifically organised for fan meet and greets with players.

It is a problem the whole of the WSL is grappling with as Manchester City have opted to introduce an ‘Autograph Alley’ post-match where ‘randomly selected fans’ are granted access to player selfies and autographs.

It might not have been what Women’s Professional Leagues’ CEO Nikki Doucet envisaged when referencing a drive towards engaging a ‘Taylor Swift demographic of fans’, but perhaps a selfie with City strikers Lauren Hemp or Bunny Shaw will become the new ‘22 hat’.

Meanwhile, fellow WSL big-hitters Arsenal and Manchester United have opted not to introduce restrictions. However, both will predominantly play at better-equipped stadiums for fan-distancing in the Emirates and Leigh Sports Village next season.

Neither club will deter fans from rushing to the front, blocking exit routes and the views of spectators behind them, with ‘Can I have your shirt signs?’ and Sharpies at the ready.

It is a trend bringing accusations of entitlement, as the Lionesses experienced after their match against Scotland at the Stadium of Light in September last year. Fans were seen chanting “get off the bus” as the team coach departed the ground.

https://twitter.com/cwilkins_8/status/1705335726336844057

Cardboard signs expectant of shirts, boots and autographs have become an all too familiar sight in the stands, with players such as former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps known to have spent up to an hour answering requests.

Earps, in fact, has responded to criticism online labelling her “too busy and important” to stop to greet the poster’s daughter. The reality is, with crowd sizes pushing 60,000 in the WSL players do not have the capacity to greet each individual, nor should fans expect it.

Not only does this put an unreasonable expectation on the players, but it also means they cannot proceed with post-match media obligations or the recovery plans required of elite athletes – recovery which feels even more important now given the increasingly demanding match schedules the players contend with.

Criticism can also often be found tinged with misogyny as players are expected to show their gratitude to the fans for supporting them, as though they have not just exerted themselves for 90 minutes for the crowd’s entertainment.

Of course, for many years, smaller attendances did enable personal interactions and fan relationships with players. Such accessibility became a key attraction of the women’s game with new fans pulled in just as much by personality as well as play.

The boom in crowds since the 2022 European Championship means the days of a gaggle of six or seven people standing by the tunnel after a match are long gone.

Now, women’s football must confront the uncomfortable reality that with a change in attendance, there must also be a change in behaviour.

As Chelsea and Manchester City lead the way on restrictions, it could well spark more teams into similar action across the league and abroad.

While no fan should believe in their own preordained right to ‘meet and greet’ their idol, women’s football also prides itself on inclusivity and must be careful not to alienate those fans drawn in by personality.

Change always takes time to adjust to, and clubs will have to balance pleasing fans, new and old, while most importantly protecting the safety of their players.

On Sunday, Premièr Ligue side Paris St. Germain (PSG) were crowned winners of the inaugural Perth International Football Cup after defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at HBF Park. 

The tournament represented a celebration of women’s football on the international stage as European teams demonstrated their marketability worldwide during this pre-season. 

Three Women’s Super League (WSL) teams, Leicester City, West Ham United and Manchester City, travelled to Australia’s west coast, but it was the French side who clinched the title with an 88th minute penalty – taken by 23-year-old midfielder Jennifer Echegini after Kerstin Casparij tripped Tara Elimibi-Gilbert in the box. 

Manchester City, however, can take heart from their performance against last season’s Champions League semi-finalists and were perhaps unlucky not to get more from the game after Bunny Shaw was denied a strong penalty shout in the first-half.  

The Citizens came up against 33-year-old goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek whose heroic performance was everything you might expect from a No.1 defending their starting shirt from Mary Earps. No mean feat given Earps’ recent credentials – 2023 World Cup runner up, 2022 European Championship winner and FIFA Best Goalkeeper 2022 & 2023 to name a few.

Credit: Mary Earps X

Though PSG were victorious, they failed to over-awe in either of their games, only beating West Ham 1-0 through 23-year-old striker Romee Leuchter’s goal in the 23rd minute. 

The oft-repeated line that pre-season is about little more than fitness must be a caveat in all cases but, for West Ham fans, the tournament will certainly have caused some concern. 

The East London club fell to a 5-2 defeat to WSL rivals Leicester City in the third/fourth play-off match and, as a result, finished bottom of the pack. It could have looked far worse had 30-year-old striker Viviane Asseyi’s late brace not salvaged what was a 5-0 scoreline until the 90th minute.  

For Leicester, and new manager Amandine Miquel, the tournament gave plenty to be hopeful about. The Foxes held Man City to a 0-0 draw, only losing on penalties, before triumphing over West Ham. 

It was an opportunity for all clubs to show off new faces with the tournament rife with debutants. City’s new keeper Japan international Ayaka Yamashita impressed in their penalty shootout victory over Leicester, while marquee signing Vivianne Miedema scored the winning spot-kick. 

Credit: Manchester City

Among a number of other summer signings, Earps made her debut for PSG, and midfielder Chantelle Swaby and goalkeeper Kinga Szemik made their first starts for Leicester and West Ham, respectively.  

In many ways, the pre-season tour was not just an exercise in football preparation but in showcasing European football on a different continent – and it succeeded.  

The added draw of Matildas in each of the WSL sides (midfielder Katrina Gorry, striker Mary Fowler, defenders Alanna Kennedy and Courtney Nevin) attracted sizeable crowds for pre-season friendlies with over 15,000 in attendance for Sunday’s final between City and PSG. 

As Australia continues to see domestic women’s football grow after the success of last summer’s World Cup, undoubtedly it will become a familiar trip for European teams looking for a more global pre-season in future. 

Astutely, amid mandatory zoo trips to hug koalas, the clubs also took the opportunity to spread the buzz around the Perth Cup with local sides. Most prominently, Man City visited A-League side Perth Glory while Kristie Mewis fittingly visited her fiancee’s eponymous sports centre, the Sam Kerr Football Centre. 

Leicester City took part in a bracelet exchange with local Sorrento FC U12’s and U13’s, while there was also a fan event on Friday arranged for the tournament itself.  

In taking advantage of the growing international interest, the European sides can grow their global brand image as a women’s club and attract fans willing to invest around the globe.  

It is another sign of the steps being taken in the women’s game with Arsenal and Chelsea also having successful trips stateside to face NWSL teams in the USA.  

While ending a perennial debate over whether the NWSL or WSL is the better league might have been a useful byproduct of Arsenal and Chelsea’s respective victories over Washington Spirit and Gotham FC, more importantly, it is indicative of the increasing global attraction of the WSL. 

Owing to the success of this summer’s international forays, we can expect to see the international pre-season tour become a firm fixture of the women’s calendar as the WSL realises its true global market value. And maybe even see the Australian and NWSL teams venture over here…