{"id":617654,"date":"2022-09-08T17:32:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T21:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=617654"},"modified":"2026-01-30T15:38:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T20:38:36","slug":"wsl-players-to-watch-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/09\/08\/wsl-players-to-watch-this-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Players to Watch in the New WSL Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fresh off a historic summer for the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/07\/03\/lionesses-goalkeeper-manchester-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lionesses<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the Women\u2019s Super League is just days away from returning. It is all set to be bigger and better than ever as there are several new signings as well as an\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2022\/aug\/03\/wsl-clubs-see-ticket-demand-surge-after-lionesses-euro-22-win\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">increase in season ticket sales<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for most clubs. Here is a list of players to watch for the new WSL season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>WSL Players to Keep an Eye on This Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: Arsenal are set to break the Barclays Women&#39;s Super League attendance record when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Saturday 24 September \ud83e\udd29 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/opmzv8MvUy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/opmzv8MvUy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SkySportsNews\/status\/1566808647073763328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 5, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Lauren James<\/h3>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/laurenjamess22\/status\/1566136783162802176<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Starting with the defending WSL champions\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/08\/05\/chelsea-women-sign-johanna-rytting-kaneryd\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chelsea<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, several players are worth keeping an eye on for the blues.\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/07\/23\/lauren-james-chelsea-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lauren James<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is the pick of the bunch having finally made her England debut just a few days ago. She has impressed in pre-season under\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/05\/09\/chelsea-2022-womens-super-league-title\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Emma Hayes<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and if her injuries stay away, she may well be a regular feature this season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Esme Morgan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alex Greenwood and Alanna Kennedy were the starting centre-backs in the latter stages of last season for Manchester City. Not only was the experienced Steph Houghton waiting in the wings but Esme Morgan too. For various reasons, the former wasn\u2019t in Sarina Wiegman\u2019s plans a few months back. Morgan on the other hand is just 21 and is seemingly one for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hannah Blundell<\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Marc Skinner on Hannah Blundell: &quot;She has been very classy. In &amp; out of possession she defends well. It\u2019s a chance to see a consistent Hannah. It\u2019s good to have a full-back that I think will give Sarina Wiegman some thoughts as well going into future [England] camps.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MUFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#MUFC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/em_sandy\/status\/1441432246854959110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 24, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whereas James went from\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/07\/25\/manchester-united-women-spain-international-attacker\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Manchester United<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to Chelsea, Hannah Blundell has gone the other way. After struggling for regular minutes in the capital, she was excellent for United last term. With her on one flank and Ona Batlle on the other, Marc Skinner has a huge dual threat on his hands in the WSL.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kyah Simon<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The first foray away from English players takes us down under. Matilda\u2019s forward Kyah Simon is very well travelled and has over 100 international caps. Simon netted three times in her first season with Tottenham and in a frontline alongside Jessica Naz and Rosella Ayane, which can cause opposition players even further problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Deanne Rose<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">6 days till Sunday, otherwise known as \u1d0d\u1d00\u1d1b\u1d04\u029c\u1d05\u1d00\u028f!<\/p>\n<p>Be part of history, our largest crowd in the club&#39;s history \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReadingFCWomen\/status\/1566797296397963270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 5, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Canada are a very good side, but their gold medal win at the Olympics still came as somewhat of a surprise. One of their stars from Tokyo was Deanne Rose and she is entering her second season in the WSL. In her first, she helped Reading achieve a mid-table finish. She is still just 23 and the Royals seemingly have a huge talent on their hands for many years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Read More:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/09\/02\/chelsea-women-world-record-grace-geyoro\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chelsea Women Preparing \u2018World Record\u2019 Bid for French International Star<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Anna Patten<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Arsenal have talent by the bucketload and often this sees some fall through the cracks. Anna Patten is still on the books with the Gunners and has the chance to show off to her current employers on loan at\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/08\/09\/lionesses-star-rachel-daly-aston-villa\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Aston Villa<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. They are an ambitious outfit with Carla Ward at the helm so it seems to be an ideal fit all round.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Shanice van de Sanden<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">When I grow up, I want to be Shanice Van de Sanden. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OuuSKD65NJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/OuuSKD65NJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gaytie \ud83c\udf1e\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@KatieAnnDuffy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KatieAnnDuffy\/status\/1566761942613647362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 5, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Newly promoted Liverpool have the desire of a team that are here to stay in the WSL. A true headline signing is the arrival of Dutch legend Shanice van de Sanden. The UEFA Women&#8217;s European 2017 winner and three-time Ligue 1 Feminine champion brings so much experience on board, as well as a familiarity with the club. Prior to starring for Lyon and Wolfsburg, Van de Sanden spent a year on Merseyside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fresh off a historic summer for the\u00a0Lionesses, the Women\u2019s Super League is just days away from returning. It is all set to be bigger and better than ever as there are several new signings as well as an\u00a0increase in season ticket sales\u00a0for most clubs. Here is a list of players to watch for the new [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3891,"featured_media":617736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7008,7007],"tags":[8401,32736,3941],"class_list":["post-617654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens-super-league","category-womens-football","tag-barclays-womens-super-league","tag-england","tag-england-women"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3891"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=617654"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":663982,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617654\/revisions\/663982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/617736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=617654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=617654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=617654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}