Laura Hunter, the Sky Sports columnist, breaks down the headline‑making moments from the opening round of the Women’s Super League, drawing readers into the narratives that define the modern women’s game. Michele Kang rolled out the red carpet 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 witness the spectacle. Naturally, all eyes fell on Alexia Putellas. The two‑time Ballon d’Or winner commands that level of attention wherever she steps onto the pitch.
Yet, from a purely footballing perspective, the night’s true game‑changers were Delphine Cascarino and Danielle van de Donk. Neither player was part of this summer’s high‑profile sign‑on spree, but each proved to be one of the most influential figures on the field. London City delivered a well‑rounded performance across the board, arguably more complete than the sum of its parts from the previous campaign. The team’s cohesion was evident in the way they pressed, transitioned and defended, signalling a step forward from last season’s inconsistencies.
Putellas was solid, if not spectacular, in her debut. It will take a period for her to settle into her new surroundings, and perhaps an equal amount of time for the squad to adjust to her unique style.
Historically, La Reina’s brilliance has often required teammates to sync with her rhythm, and that learning curve appears to be underway. What is unmistakable is that the Spanish icon will sit at the heart of Eder Maestre’s tactical blueprint. Of the eight clear‑cut chances London City fashioned, Putellas converted two, while Cascarino accounted for half of the opportunities with four attempts on target.
The hype surrounding Putellas will undoubtedly persist throughout the season, her standards forming the backbone and spirit of this freshly assembled group. On a broader level, Maestre’s side seemed to gel quickly in the opening encounter. While future fixtures will present sterner tests, the Lionesses and Manchester United offered a perfect contrast on night one: a rising force versus a club in visible decline. London City barely paused to acknowledge the opposition’s reputation.
Kang’s influence has already swept through Bromley, and as long as the results match the ambition, her name will dominate WSL conversations. The magnetism of Putellas is undeniable, as is the pull of Cascarino and even goalkeeper Mary Earps, who, despite not playing on Friday, remained a major draw for fans.
Yet, purchasing star players is the easy part; forging a consistently competitive unit from them is the real challenge. In other headlines, it’s only week one, but Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has reaffirmed her status as one of the league’s premier talents. Her 11 attempts produced two goals as Manchester City dispatched Birmingham. The win wasn’t a tactical experiment, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Shaw’s two goals were near carbon copies – both headers from corner kicks delivered from the left. 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 15 goals from corners, a record, and that weapon will likely prove decisive again as they defend their crown.
They were the sole side to score from a dead‑ball situation over the opening weekend, a stark contrast to the previous campaign when they scored from set‑plays in all but seven matches. What caught my eye, however, was the lopsided nature of their open‑play attack.
Almost every move funneled through Lauren Hemp. Loading the left flank isn’t a novel concept, but relying on it to such an extent may signal a missed opportunity for variety.
Hemp is an exceptional outlet – she possesses blistering pace and razor‑sharp crossing accuracy, which is why City’s centre‑backs often look left when building from the back. Gracie Prior found Hemp eleven times against Birmingham, a pattern opponents will soon 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 could unlock new pockets of space.
Coach Andree Jeglertz has spoken about the need for fresh, innovative goal‑creation methods, emphasizing central rotations and the ball‑playing abilities of Yui Hasegawa. Leveraging Hasegawa’s range of passing could add another dimension to their offensive arsenal. The return of Vivianne Miedema from injury will also be a boost whenever she is fit, but even before that, the team can afford to diversify their approach.
Adding versatility could transform a very good side into an almost unbeatable one. Meanwhile, Chelsea continues to grapple with the same perennial issue: a creative engine that lacks a clinical 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, the Blues are ticking many boxes. A statistical snapshot of their 1‑1 draw with Aston Villa shows abundant final‑third entries.
The team generated five sizable chances, missing four of them. Follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest sports news, videos, features, analysis and much more. In practice, James has been asked to perform both as a winger and a striker. She created the joint‑most chances for teammates (four) while taking the most shots herself (eleven).
Aggie Beever‑Jones posted the highest expected‑goals figure, yet debutant goalkeeper Akane Okuma matched both of James’s two attempts on target, none of which proved overly taxing. Chelsea’s speed of arrival in the box remains a concern. It allows retreating defenders enough time to block shots; Villa recorded six such blocks. Okuma also recorded an impressive nine saves.
"We have to speed up the game," Bompastor reflected. Chelsea’s 35 attempts represent their highest shot tally in a league match they failed to win. Bompastor added: "If you analyse the statistics, you would say it's crazy that we didn't win." The club’s pipeline of attackers appears thin compared with the quality of opposition they face. While Melvine Malard and Mayra Ramírez are set to return, the team needs firepower now.
Super 6 are kicking off the season by guaranteeing a £1,000,000 prize for the winner! Play for free.