Laura Hunter, the Sky Sports columnist, breaks down the headline moments from the opening round of the Women's Super League, pulling readers into the narratives that drive the women's game forward. Michele Kang rolled out a red carpet in Bromley for the London City Lionesses’ season‑opening match under the floodlights, with Sky Sports cameras capturing a commanding victory over Manchester United. The event was a sell‑out, and Kang herself was among the cheering fans. Unsurprisingly, Alexia Putellas grabbed the bulk of the media attention.
The two‑time Ballon d’Or winner always commands the spotlight. Yet, from a purely footballing perspective, the true game‑changers on that night were Delphine Cascarino and Danielle van de Donk. Neither player was part of the club’s summer spending spree, but both proved to be the most influential figures on the pitch. London City delivered a well‑rounded performance, arguably more complete than most of their displays last season and far beyond what the sum of their individual talents suggested.
Putellas was solid, if not dazzling. It will take time for her to settle into a new environment, and equally, for her teammates to tune into her rhythm – a pattern that has always surrounded La Reina. The Spanish star will inevitably become the focal point of Eder Maestre’s tactical blueprint. Of the eight clear‑cut chances the Lionesses generated, Putellas finished two, while Cascarino accounted for four.
The relentless hype surrounding Putellas is likely to persist throughout the campaign, her standards acting as the backbone and soul of this freshly assembled squad. On the surface, Maestre’s side appeared to gel quickly. They will undoubtedly face sterner tests in the weeks ahead, but the opening night presented a perfect contrast: a rising London City side versus a Manchester United team that seemed to be in decline. London City barely paused to acknowledge the opposition.
Kang’s influence has already swept through Bromley, and as long as the results match the ambition, her name will dominate WSL chatter. There is no denying the magnetic pull of Putellas, Cascarino, or even Mary Earps – who, despite not playing on Friday, remained a major draw for fans.
Purchasing talent is the easy part; forging a consistent, cohesive unit from those pieces is far more challenging. In other news, it is only week one and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has reaffirmed why she is regarded as one of the league’s premier talents.
Her eleven attempts produced two goals as Manchester City dispatched Birmingham. The victory was not experimental, yet it was impressive. Shaw’s two goals were almost identical – both headers from corners delivered from the left flank. The first was a textbook finish; the second required a tighter angle, yet she made the difficulty look effortless.
City’s set‑piece prowess was on full display. Last season they netted fifteen goals from corners, a record, and they were the only side to score from a set‑piece during the opening weekend. In the previous campaign, they found the back of the net from a dead‑ball situation in all but seven matches.
What caught my eye, however, was the lopsided nature of their open‑play attacks. Nearly every move funneled through Lauren Hemp.
Loading the left side is not a novel tactic, but relying on it to such an extreme can become predictable. Hemp is an outstanding outlet, possessing blistering pace and pinpoint crossing accuracy, which explains why the centre‑backs often look left when building from the back. Gracie Prior linked up with Hemp eleven times against Birmingham, a pattern opponents will soon anticipate.
To break this predictability, City could use Hemp’s threat to draw defenders and then exploit the spaces created elsewhere. Manager Andree Jeglertz has spoken about the need for fresh, innovative ways to create goals. He favors central rotations that make use of Yui Hasegawa’s ball‑playing ability.
Leveraging Hasegawa’s range of passing could add a new dimension to City’s attack. The eventual return of Vivianne Miedema from injury will further broaden their options, whenever she is fit. In the meantime, mixing up their approach could make the team even more versatile and push them from being a very good side to an almost unbeatable one.
Chelsea, meanwhile, faces the same old dilemma in the new season: their creators are crying out for a reliable finisher. Lauren James cannot be expected to shoulder the entire scoring burden alone. So how does Chelsea address a flaw that has lingered since Sonia Bompastor took the helm?
Stylistically, Chelsea are ticking most of the right boxes. A statistical breakdown of their 1‑1 draw with Aston Villa shows plentiful final‑third entries. The Blues produced five big chances, missing four of them. James has essentially been asked to perform both as a winger and a striker.
She created the joint‑most chances for teammates (four) while also taking the highest number of shots (eleven). Aggie Beever‑Jones logged the highest expected‑goals figure, but debut‑goalkeeper Akane Okuma matched both of her efforts on target, none of which proved overly taxing.
Chelsea’s speed of getting into the box remains a concern. It allows retreating defenders enough time to block shots; Villa managed six blocks, and Okuma made an impressive nine saves. "We have to speed up the game," Bompastor admitted. Chelsea’s 35 shots represent their highest tally in a league game they failed to win.
Bompastor added: "If you look at the numbers, it’s crazy we didn’t win." The club’s pipeline of attackers appears thin given the competition they face. While Melvine Malard and Mayra Ramirez are set to return, the team needs immediate firepower. Overall, the opening weekend highlighted both the promise and the challenges that lie ahead for the clubs. London City’s blend of star power and emerging talent suggests they could become a dominant force if they continue to integrate their new signings.
Manchester City’s set‑piece mastery and Hemp‑centric attack provide a solid foundation, but diversification will be key. Chelsea’s creative spark is evident, yet a clinical finisher is still missing from the equation.
As the season unfolds, the ability of each side to adapt, innovate, and maintain consistency will determine who rises to the top of the Women’s Super League.