Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the most compelling narratives emerging from the opening round of the Women’s Super League, giving readers a deeper look at the pivotal storylines shaping the women’s game. Michele Kang rolled out a glittering welcome on the pitch in Bromley for the London City Lionesses’ season‑opening fixture under the floodlights, with Sky Sports cameras capturing every moment of a convincing victory over Manchester United. Kang herself was among the packed, sold‑out crowd that turned up to support the hosts.
All eyes inevitably fell on Alexia Putellas. As a two‑time Ballon d’Or winner, she commands that level of attention wherever she steps onto the field. Yet, from a purely footballing perspective, the night’s true game‑changers were Delphine Cascarino and Danielle van de Donk.
Neither player featured in the club’s summer transfer blitz, but both proved to be the most influential figures on the pitch. Overall, London City delivered a performance that was more rounded than many expected – a display that eclipsed last season’s output and even surpassed the sum of the individual talents on the roster.
The team looked cohesive, organized, and hungry for points. Putellas was solid, if not dazzling. It will take a little time for her to settle into a new environment, and perhaps an equal amount of patience for the squad to adapt to her style.
Historically, the Spanish star’s brilliance has required teammates to find her rhythm, and that adjustment period seems to be underway. What is unmistakable is that the Spaniard will serve as the focal point of Eder Maestre’s tactical blueprint.
Of the eight clear‑cut chances the Lionesses manufactured, Putellas finished two, while Cascarino accounted for half of them with four goals. The relentless hype surrounding Putellas will undoubtedly persist throughout the campaign, with her standards acting as the backbone and soul of a group of newcomers. From a first‑glance perspective, Maestre’s side appeared to have gelled quickly. Of course, tougher tests lie ahead in the weeks to come.
London City and Manchester United provided a perfect contrast for opening night – a rising side confronting a team that seems to be sliding into a period of decline. The Lionesses barely paused to acknowledge the opposition’s presence. Kang’s influence has already permeated Bromley, and it will continue to dominate WSL conversations as long as the results match the ambition. There is no denying the magnetic pull of Putellas, Cascarino, or even Mary Earps – who, despite not playing on Friday, remained a major attraction for fans.
Acquiring top‑class talent is the easy part; forging a consistently performing unit from those pieces is a far more complex challenge. In other news, it is only week one and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has reaffirmed her status as one of the league’s premier talents, firing eleven attempts and converting two to help Manchester City overcome Birmingham.
The victory was not experimental, but it was impressive. Shaw’s two goals were almost identical – both headers from corner kicks delivered from the left flank. Her movement for each strike mirrored the other, although the second header required a far tighter angle to find the net.
She made the execution look effortless. City’s proficiency from set‑pieces was on full display. Last season they netted fifteen goals from corners, a record for the club, and that weapon will likely prove decisive again as they aim to defend their crown.
They were the only side to score from a dead‑ball situation over the opening weekend, and in the previous campaign they found the back of the net from a set‑play in all but seven matches. What stood out, however, was the lopsided nature of their open‑play attack.
Almost every move funneled through Lauren Hemp. Loading the left wing is not a novel tactic, but relying on it to such an extreme degree may limit the team’s creative options.
Hemp is a superb 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 that opponents will soon learn to anticipate.
To evolve, City could exploit that very expectation. By using Hemp’s threat to draw defenders and then shifting the point of attack elsewhere, they can open up fresh pockets of space. Head coach Andree Jeglertz has repeatedly emphasized the need for innovative goal‑creation methods.
He favors central rotations that leverage the ball‑playing prowess of Yui Hasegawa, urging the team to tap more into her expansive passing range. The eventual return of Vivianne Miedema from injury will add another layer of firepower, whenever she is fit. In the meantime, mixing up their approach could make City even more versatile, potentially propelling them from a very good side to an almost unbeatable one.
Meanwhile, Chelsea confronts the same familiar issue that has dogged them since Sonia Bompastor took the helm – a shortage of a reliable finisher. Lauren James cannot be expected to shoulder the entire scoring burden alone. So how can the Blues address a flaw that has persisted throughout Bompastor’s tenure? Stylistically, Chelsea are ticking many of the right boxes.
A statistical analysis of their 1‑1 draw with Aston Villa reveals a high volume of final‑third entries. The Blues generated five clear‑cut chances, missing four of them. James has been forced into a hybrid role, operating both as a winger and a striker.
She created the joint‑most chances for teammates (four) while also taking the most shots herself (eleven). Aggie Beever‑Jones posted the highest expected‑goals figure, but debutant goalkeeper Akane Okuma matched both of her on‑target attempts, neither of which proved overly taxing.
Chelsea’s speed of penetration into the box remains a concern. It allows retreating defenders enough time to block shots; Aston Villa recorded six such blocks.
Okuma also made a remarkable nine saves. "We have to speed up the game," Bompastor admitted. The 35 attempts Chelsea launched in that league game represent their highest shot tally in a match they failed to win. Bompastor added, "If you look at the numbers, it’s crazy we didn’t come out on top." The club’s attacking pipeline appears thin given the quality of opposition they face.
While Melvine Malard and Mayra Ramírez are expected back, the team needs a decisive goal‑scorer now. The Super 6 competition kicks off the season with a £1,000,000 prize for the winner, offering fans a chance to play for free.