The wait is finally over and the 2024/25 Women’s Super League campaign is underway.
It was a packed weekend of action, as Chelsea kicked off their new era under Sonia Bompastor with a win at home to Aston Villa. Arsenal and Manchester City played out a 2-2 draw at the Emirates, while the points were also shared between Liverpool and Leicester City.
Crystal Palace’s first test in the top flight ended in a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United kicked off the season with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to West Ham. Brighton, on the other hand, brushed Everton aside with a 4-0 triumph.
Now the season is up and running, 90min has ranked the potential breakout stars of this term.
20-year-old Olivia Smith became Liverpool’s record signing this summer when she signed from Portuguese side Sporting CP. The Canada international is highly regarded as a prospect, and she became the youngest player to ever feature for her country’s senior team when she was just 15 years of age.
Smith made her competitive Liverpool debut over the weekend in their 1-1 draw against Leicester City, and has already shown flashes of her quality. Her pace and direct running caused problems for the Foxes’ backline before her substitution on 70 minutes.
If Matt Beard’s side are going to match, or even improve on, last season’s finish, they will need the likes of Smith to hit the ground running this term.
Japan international Aoba Fujino, also 20, is another exciting addition to the WSL this season. She joined 2023/24 runners-up Manchester City from Tokyo Verdy Beleza earlier in the summer.
The youngster already has the faith of manager Gareth Taylor as she started their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier against Paris FC, as well as their opening league game away at Arsenal. She played roughly 74 minutes on both occasions before making way for Chloe Kelly.
Fujino is already a regular in Japan’s senior national team, and she has scored six goals in her 26 appearances so far. It will only be a matter of time before her goalscoring form translates to the domestic stage with her new club.
In the summer of 2023, Wieke Kaptein became the youngest player ever to be included in a…
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