Women’s Super League returns! Five things to look out for in the second half of the season | OneFootball

The Women’s Super League is back, with all 12 teams in action this weekend including a Manchester derby to kickstart 2025.

From record-breaking winning runs to shock manager departures, the first half of the season had it all.

With 12 matches left for each team, here’s a roundup of the big storylines before the winter break, and what we can expect from the second half of the season.

Can Chelsea make it six?

Sonia Bompastor was breaking every record in the book last year, taking over from Emma Hayes and making an immaculate start. With a record-breaking nine wins from her first nine WSL games, an ‘invincible’ season is still on the cards – a feat that Chelsea achieved in the 2017/18 season and the 2019/20 season (although this was cut short due to Covid). Chelsea’s dominance will take some beating, but Man City, Arsenal and Man United will hope to push them all the way.

How will Renee Slegers fare as Arsenal’s permanent manager?

After a disastrous start for Arsenal which saw them win just one of their first four WSL games and lose 5-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Jonas Eidevall left his position at the club. Assistant manager Slegers became interim manager but her incredible unbeaten run has made replacing her a tough ask. Under Slegers, Arsenal have recorded 10 wins and one draw across all competitions resulting in them topping their Champions League group and sitting third in the WSL table, just one point behind Man City.

The relegation battle

Crystal Palace will be determined to stay in the top flight after being promoted to the league for the first time last year, but they sit bottom of the table on five points. Leicester City are just one point ahead, while Rehanne Skinner’s West Ham are two points clear. Palace will be desperate to avoid the same fate as Bristol City who went straight back down to the Championship after just one season in the WSL. With 12 more games to play, it will be a nail-biting finish at the  bottom of the table.

Big names return

Chelsea’s Lauren James is back after a knee injury which saw her out of action from mid-October. Man City’s big summer signing was Vivianne Miedema, brought over from Arsenal much to Gunners fans dismay. A knee surgery in October kept her sidelined, but she is back and preparing to play in this weekend’s Manchester derby. Another returning player for the derby on the red side of Manchester is Ella Toone. After a two-month absence due a calf injury, she is raring to go for Marc Skinner’s side, who will be battling for those all-important top three spots. Chelsea fans will also be hoping they might see super striker Sam Kerr back in action soon, after she sustained an ACL injury last January, but Bompastor is yet to put a timeline on the Matilda’s return.

Champions League success?

Could this finally be the year an English team wins the Champions League? Arsenal won it in 2007, when it was known as the UEFA Women’s Cup, but since then, English teams have struggled in the competition. With three English teams in the quarter-finals for the first time ever, there is every chance this could be the year the drought ends. The draw is on February 7.