Sky Sports delivered a comprehensive recap of Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixtures, spotlighting the immediate impact of two new signings – Lisa Baum for Arsenal and Kirsty Hanson for Tottenham – who each helped their teams secure opening‑day wins. Arsenal’s 1‑0 triumph over Brighton was sealed by 19‑year‑old winger Lisa Baum, who marked her debut with a decisive strike. The youngster wasted no time, weaving past multiple defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that curled into the top‑left corner in the 10th minute, breaking the deadlock.
Her confidence set the tone for a newly assembled Arsenal side that featured other recent acquisitions such as Misa, Georgia Stanway and Ona Battle. While the Gunners flirted with a second goal, they fell short of the clinical finishing they have become known for, especially in the early stages of a new campaign.
Both Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius created chances for Brighton, but each failed to convert from close range, leaving their side reliant on a solid defensive effort to stay within reach. Brighton’s manager Renee Slegers, making his debut behind the bench, could take solace from his side’s resilience, even though the result was not in his favour. In the north London showdown, Tottenham Hotspur opened their WSL season with a convincing 3‑1 win against West Ham United. The Hammers, who introduced ten new faces over the summer – four of whom started at Brisbane Road – struggled to find cohesion, allowing Spurs to dictate the tempo with a blend of intensity and technical quality.
Kirsty Hanson stole the spotlight on her Spurs debut, netting a brace that included a spectacular curling effort from outside the 18‑yard box. The opening goal came after Signe Gaupset reacted quickest to a loose ball, slotting it home via the inside of the post.
Gaupset then supplied a perfectly timed pass to Hanson, who sprinted from beyond midfield and slid the ball to her teammate for the first tally. Spurs continued to press in the second half, creating numerous opportunities. Cathinka Tandberg and Julie Blakstad each missed clear‑cut chances, but Hanson completed her double by receiving the ball on the edge of the box, turning unmarked, and blasting the ball into the far top corner beyond a stranded Constance Picaud. Viviane Asseyi added a late consolation goal for West Ham, but it was merely a footnote in a match that mirrored Tottenham’s dominant opening‑day performance against the Hammers last season, this time with an even larger margin.
Manchester City’s campaign began with a 2‑0 victory over Birmingham City, after a sluggish start that was rectified in the second half. Mary Fowler opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a low drive that found the bottom‑right corner.
Six minutes later, Khadija Shaw rose highest to meet Kerstin Casparij’s corner, heading the ball home for the second goal. Substitute Beth Mead, making her debut for City, supplied the assist for Shaw’s second header of the afternoon, which secured the win. The only blemish on City’s performance came when goalkeeper Jade Rose mishandled a back‑pass, allowing Oceane Hurtre to score a late consolation for Birmingham. Nevertheless, the champions displayed the quality expected of a title‑defending side.
Liverpool, who endured a 13‑game wait for their first WSL win last season, wasted no time this year, demolishing newly promoted Charlton Athletic 4‑0. Central defender Grace Fisk made headlines by scoring the opening two goals.
Her first came within eight minutes, a simple tap‑in from the byline. Her second was a different story: after Vivien Endemann’s incisive cut‑back evaded all defenders, Fisk struck an inch‑perfect shot from the edge of the box into the top corner. Endemann, also on debut, added a thunderous strike just after the hour mark, while Cornelia Kapocs sealed the rout with a stoppage‑time penalty. Despite the scoreline, Charlton never looked threatening, and Liverpool’s manager Gareth Taylor praised his side for topping the league after the opening weekend.
Crystal Palace became the sole promoted club to collect all three points on the opening weekend, edging Everton 1‑0. Lexi Lloyd‑Smith, returning to the top flight after a season in WSL 2, scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute on her debut.
Although her potential second goal was ruled out for off‑side, Palace held firm against late pressure from Everton to secure the win and announce their intent for the season. Overall, Sunday’s action underscored the immediate influence of new signings across the league. Both Baum and Hanson demonstrated why their clubs invested in them, delivering match‑winning performances that set a positive tone for their respective campaigns.
The matches also highlighted the competitive balance of the WSL, with established giants and newly promoted sides alike showcasing attacking flair, defensive solidity, and moments of individual brilliance that promise an exciting season ahead.