With the WSL kicking off another campaign, it’s all eyes on the champions as Chelsea look to win their fifth title in a row. But will Arsenal crush their dreams?

Chelsea’s hunger for Champions League glory may hinder their WSL campaign as Arsenal attempt to break the Blues‘ streak of wins and secure their first title in four years.

Manchester City will hope to prove they are still ruthless after a challenging season and loss of Champions League football, while Manchester United enter uncharted territory with a high player turnover.

Read on as 90min predicts the champions, runners-up and relegated teams of the 2023/24 WSL season.

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With a big disparity between the Championship and the WSL, the jump Bristol City are making is a hefty one. Lauren Smith’s squad is still fairly juvenile, with lots of young players with plenty of potential.

Smith is in uncharted territory, having never led a team in the top flight before, but starting their campaign well and settling into the league will give them the optimal chance of keeping a foothold in the WSL.

Ultimately, the intensity of the top tier may be too much for Bristol City and finding wins in cup games may be the Robins‘ best chance of measuring their success.

Last Season: Promoted to the WSL
Opening Fixtures: Leicester City (H), Tottenham (A), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (H)

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West Ham were incredibly luck to finish as high as they did last season but a positive early start gave the Hammers a cushion when things started to go sour towards the end of the campaign.

Now under the new management, the late arrival of Rehanne Skinner in August meant West Ham failed to do much in the transfer window, leaving their squad dangerously thin.

Losing Grace Fisk and Lucy Parker on free transfers to rival WSL clubs was possibly West Ham’s poorest piece of business in the summer. The Hammers will need to recruit well in January to plug the gaps but it might not be enough if their campaign suffers a slow start.

Last Season: 8th
Opening Fixtures: Manchester City (H), Brighton (A), Chelsea (A), Liverpool (H)

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Possibly one of the biggest drops in WSL history, Everton boasted high hopes at the start of last season and delivered on occasion, finishing in sixth.

But the inconsistencies under Brian Sorenson left the campaign feeling lacklustre. The loss of defenders Gabby George and Rikke Sevecke will dampen the backline, while Jess Park’s return to home club Manchester City removes one of their major goalscoring threats.

Everton failed to add significant depth during the transfer window and could face a tough season, inching closer to the danger zone.

Last Season: 6th
Opening Fixtures: Brighton (H), Leicester City (A), Liverpool (A), Manchester United (H)

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Willie Kirk did a superb job last season to defy the odds and keep Leicester City in the WSL despite being favourites to be relegated at Christmas.

However, with a large turnover in players, Kirk faces the challenge of keeping his side afloat once again. The Foxes can take comfort in retaining the signature of goalkeeper Janina Leitzig on a permanent deal, keeping their defence nice and solid.

Kirk will need to find form quickly having made some good signings, but their lack of consistency will be a key factor which could pull them closer to the relegation zone.

Last Season: 10th
Opening Fixtures: Bristol City (A), Everton (H), Manchester United (A), Manchester City (H)

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Every Spurs fan will want to forget the calamities of last season when they fell into a battle to avoid relegation, suffering a string of nine losses.

There are still plenty of experienced players in this Tottenham side, however, along with new manager Robert Vilahamn who had success in Sweden.

The Swede plans to build on the positives Spurs showed towards the latter part of the former campaign. However, with star striker Bethany England ruled out for an undefined period of time, Tottenham will have to conjure new ways to find the back of the net to avoid flirting with relegation.

Last Season: 9th
Opening Fixtures: Chelsea (A), Bristol City (H), Brighton (A), Aston Villa (A)

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Liverpool did well last season despite their on-paper statistics looking less desirable. Finishing seventh on their return to the WSL with countless injuries, the Reds proved they can hang in the top flight and will be looking to go one better.

However, the gap left by Katie Stengel is a big hole to fill and manager Matt Beard focused his summer business on moving his side into Melwood, Liverpool men’s former training ground, rather than stacking an array of signatures.

Liverpool should still have enough to remain consistent and consolidate a mid-table finish but the gap between the top five and the remainder of the table is too big for them to fill this campaign.

Last Season: 7th
Opening Fixtures: Arsenal (A), Aston Villa (H), Everton (H), West Ham (A)

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Under the careful eye of American Melissa Phillips who was appointed in April, Brighton began to demonstrate promise at the backend of last season.

After a turbulent campaign last time around in which they finished a disappointing 11th, Phillips has begun to rebuild her side with a clear vision for progression. Making some impressive signings in the summer in the form of Pauline Bremer, Tatiana Pinto and more, Phillips has started to generate an identity for the Seagulls.

While it may seem optimistic for Brighton to jump five places in the table, it has been done before and with the solid foundations they have already laid this summer, the Seagulls are the dark horses for success

Last Season: 11th
Opening Fixtures: Everton (A), West Ham (H), Tottenham (H), Chelsea (A)

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Aston Villa had a brilliant 2022/23 season, climbing up the ranks from ninth place to fifth. The past three transfer periods have attracted top class stars to Carla Ward’s team, with the recent window being no different.

Securing the signature of young Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar while retaining the core of last campaign’s successful squad, Ward is engineering a team hoping to challenge for top spot. Bridging the gap to the top four is a tough ask and a progressing Villa may have to wait another season to do so.

However, their talent and consistency will keep them in contention for a top-table finish as they continue to bang on the door of the top four.

Last Season: 5th
Opening Fixtures: Manchester United (H), Liverpool (A), Arsenal (A), Tottenham (A)

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Manchester United finished runners-up last season and secured Champions League qualification for the first time. Having brought in a number of players with vast international experience, Marc Skinner has proven he has the capability to lead a challenge for the number one spot.

But in bidding farewell to 24 players, his squad depth is still a little thin to be simultaneously competing for the WSL and Champions League. The loss of world-class full-back Ona Batlle will not help, but new signings Geyse and Melvine Malard are raring to go.

They still have a chance to pip rivals Man City to third place, but if they overcome Paris Saint-Germain to seal a group stage spot in the Champions League, they may fall out of the WSL title race.

Last Season: 2nd
Opening Fixtures: Aston VIlla (A), Arsenal (H), Leicester City (H), Everton (A)

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Manchester City were in transition last season as Gareth Taylor introduced new players after the exits of Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, who all set up new homes across the continent.

Having had time to settle his own new signings and rebuild after a challenging season and the loss of Champions League football, Taylor will be on a mission to prove they are still ruthless. Lacking form last season and slipping up in big games, City cannot afford to make the same mistakes this time around.

A run for the title may be out of reach for Taylor as the teams around him enjoyed more productive windows in the transfer window, with only Jill Roord arriving. They may not secure any silverware, but City could finish one place better than last year.

Last Season: 4th
Opening Fixtures: West Ham (A), Chelsea (H), Bristol City (H), Leicester City (A)

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It’s hard to see any other club lifting the WSL trophy than Chelsea, having done so in the past four seasons. Winning a fifth consecutive title would be a special achievement for Emma Hayes‘ Blues, yet their hunger for the Champions League may cost them the crown.

The Blues have been the team to beat for years and their summer transfer window only added depth to an already stacked side.

Chelsea were rarely phased in the face of a string of injuries last season, but in gunning for European glory, Hayes‘ side may drop points in the WSL and slip from the top spot.

Last season: 1st
Opening Fixtures: Tottenham (H), Manchester City (A), West Ham (H), Brighton (A)

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This could be Arsenal’s best chance to break Chelsea’s streak of wins, given their reduced workload without any Champions League football after failing to progress in the qualifying rounds.

Key players Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are due to return from long-term injuries, though the comeback of England skipper Leah Williamson will have to wait for a little while longer.

The Gunners recruited well in the transfer window, plugging critical gaps in their squad, though the loss of centre-back Rafaelle offers some defensive woe to manager Jonas Eidevall.

Arsenal are expected to finish ahead of both Manchester giants and will give Chelsea a real run for their money, potentially overtaking the reigning champions to secure their first title in four years.

Last Season: 3rd
Opening Fixtures: Liverpool (H), Manchester United (A), Aston VIlla (H), Bristol City (A)

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