This weekend marks the start of the 2024/25 Ladies’s Championship season and it is anticipated to be probably the most aggressive marketing campaign but.
Newly-promoted groups Newcastle United and Portsmouth are gearing up for a brand new journey within the second tier, however solely 11 sides will compete this season following Studying’s withdrawal from the competitors earlier this summer season.
Crystal Palace edged the promotion battle in 2023/24 in what was probably the most thrilling title race in years. Simply ten factors separated first and fifth and all 5 groups had been within the hunt till the latter levels of the marketing campaign.
This 12 months it is anticipated to be no totally different as groups throughout the division proceed to speculate each on and off the pitch with promotion to the WSL the top objective. As ever, the title race is unattainable to name with numerous sides able to make their mark on the league.
90min has previewed the upcoming season and recognized every membership’s participant to look at.
After narrowly lacking out on promotion in 2022/23, final season introduced one other big alternative for Birmingham Metropolis to regain their place within the high flight. Regardless of a troublesome begin to the marketing campaign, the Midlands membership discovered themselves high of the standings at Christmas and had been the crew to beat.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t to be and supervisor Darren Carter departed in April. They in the end completed fifth within the standings and struggled to search out the consistency required to essentially problem their rivals.
This season, they are going to be working underneath former Brighton coach Amy Merricks and she or he’s already beginning to make her mark on the squad. Hopes are excessive for this new period, however a powerful begin will likely be completely essential given the power of these round them.
Participant to look at: Ava Baker
Blackburn Rovers secured a mid-table end within the league final time period and had been unable to actually threaten these above them. It is a testomony to the standard of the league that they solely completed ten factors behind eventual winners Crystal Palace, however it can little question be a tricky season as competitors continues to develop.
Final season’s end was their highest ever within the Championship, so it is powerful to see them breaking that when once more. Not least as a result of London Metropolis Lionesses, who completed eighth final time period, have invested, whereas Saudi-backed Newcastle United are among the many newly-promoted groups.
A handful of key stars, together with participant of the 12 months Lucy Shepherd, departed over the summer season. The numerous overhaul within the squad means a interval of transition could also be required earlier than they will return to and even enhance on final season’s efficiency.
Participant to look at: Rachel Dugdale
2022/23 title winners Bristol Metropolis return to the Championship for the upcoming season following only one marketing campaign again within the WSL. They ended final season backside of the standings with simply six factors from 22 video games.
The crew gave the impression to be returning to the Championship ready of power, however the current announcement of Lauren Smith’s departure locations a cloud of uncertainty over the membership at a vital time.
Whereas their seek for a brand new everlasting supervisor will get underway, Loren Dykes has assumed the function of interim head coach. However they now have a mountain to climb earlier than the season has even begun.
Participant to look at: Lexi Lloyd-Smith
The 2024/25 season will likely be a major one for Charlton Athletic after they narrowly missed out on the title and promotion by only a single level final time period. They gained 13 of their 22 Championship fixtures and pushed the race proper till the ultimate day.
The membership have made some optimistic new additions together with Ellie Brazil, beforehand of Tottenham Hotspur. They’ve additionally signed promising West Ham starlet Princess Ademiluyi on mortgage for the upcoming season.
Participant to look at: Princess Ademiluyi
After a ninth-placed end within the Championship final season, the precedence for Durham this summer season has been retention. There’s been little motion when it comes to incomings and outgoings, however upwards of ten contract renewals have been dished out forward of the brand new marketing campaign.
It’s hoped the consistency throughout the squad will enable them to construct on final season’s end, versus discovering themselves within the thick of a relegation battle. With two groups now struggling the drop, the competitors on the backside of the desk has by no means been higher.
Durham will start their season on Sunday at house to Sheffield United earlier than an away journey to newly-promoted Portsmouth per week later.
Participant to look at: Kaila Novak
Regardless of a disappointing eighth-placed end within the Championship final time period, London Metropolis Lionesses start the brand new season as a shock favorite for the title and promotion. Following Michele Kang’s acquisition of the membership on the finish of final 12 months, important funding has been made each on and off the pitch.
In addition to an improve on services, former Paris Saint-Germain boss Jocelyn Precheur has been named because the crew’s new head coach. Sweden star Kosovare Asllani was additionally a big-name arrival this summer season, becoming a member of from Italian aspect AC Milan.
Given the funding, the brand new supervisor and the squad now in place, a powerful title cost is a good expectation of this present London Metropolis crew. They’ll hope final season’s struggles are firmly behind them as a brand new period on the membership begins.
Participant to look at: Kosovare Asllani
Regardless of their newly-promoted standing, Newcastle United make up one other of the title favourites this season. The membership have been working underneath a full-time mannequin for over a 12 months and secured back-to-back promotions of their earlier two campaigns.
Not solely that, they’ve invested closely within the taking part in squad and attracted a few of the largest names within the recreation, together with former Manchester Metropolis defender Demi Stokes. Ex-Liverpool and Bristol Metropolis midfielder Rachel Furness can be amongst their new arrivals, in addition to Shania Hayles.
There may be additionally stability on the membership as supervisor Becky Langley penned a brand new long-term contract earlier this week. They might want to navigate the soar between divisions, however the arrival of such skilled gamers ought to assist easy the method.
Participant to look at: Demi Stokes
The second new arrival within the Championship is Portsmouth, who claimed victory within the southern division of the Nationwide League final time period. They’ve additionally made the step as much as a full-time mannequin forward of the brand new marketing campaign, however sustaining their second-tier standing past the 2024/25 season would be the precedence.
There’s been consistency within the squad and a handful of strong new arrivals in a bid to extend their probabilities of survival. Pompey will hope to copy the success of their south coast rivals Southampton, who’ve comfortably remained within the Championship since their promotion in 2022.
Participant to look at: Megan Hornby
Sheffield United completed seventh within the Championship standings final time period after profitable 9 of their 22 league video games. It was solely a slight enchancment on the earlier two campaigns, however they may hope to push on additional this time period and problem on the high of the desk.
There was considerably of an exodus of gamers this summer season, with Rebecca Rayner, Sophie Barker, Jodie Hutton, Tara Bourne and Fran Stenson amongst these to depart. Nonetheless, the Blades have recruited neatly with former Leicester Metropolis starlet Monique Robinson now amongst their ranks.
Ash Thompson has additionally made the step up from the membership’s academy to educate the ladies’s aspect. His promotion marks a brand new period for the crew and, like a lot of their rivals within the division, they’re going to be attending to grips with life underneath recent management this season.
Participant to look at: Monique Robinson
Southampton have continued to impress within the Championship following their promotion in 2022. Of their first season, they comfortably evaded relegation and secured a mid-table end.
Final time period, they had been capable of push on additional and had been among the many groups battling it out for the title till the latter levels of the marketing campaign. They in the end completed fourth within the standings however simply seven factors behind winners Palace.
The Saints underwent a managerial change this summer season after former boss Marieanne Spacey-Cale stepped apart to tackle a wider function throughout the membership. Remi Allen has been appointed as their new head coach and it has been a optimistic summer season when it comes to recruitment, with the mortgage signing of Aston Villa’s Freya Gregory and everlasting arrival of former Leicester Metropolis midfielder Aimee Palmer.
Participant to look at: Aimee Palmer
Sunderland will even be among the many golf equipment hoping to battle it out for the Championship title as soon as once more. They completed third within the league final time period, simply 5 factors off promotion.
Consistency has largely been the important thing when it comes to recruitment, with few outgoings or incomings, whereas there have been quite a few renewals. One main loss, nonetheless, was the departure of final season’s Golden Glove winner Claudia Moan to North East rivals Newcastle.
Moan’s exit was eased considerably by the arrival of goalkeeper Demi Lambourne, whereas the Black Cats’ attacking ranks have been bolstered by the signing of former Everton ahead Eleanor Dale.
