How the WSL season affects the Women’s World Cup Predictor game

As you start preparing your selections for the Women’s World Cup Predictor game, chances are you’ve been looking at the form from this year’s Women’s Super League to guide you. And what a year it was!

The action went down to the wire this season, with the seemingly unstoppable Chelsea snatching the championship from long-time leaders Manchester United in the final weeks. It was Chelsea’s fourth successive WSL title and third successive domestic double, after also winning the FA cup this season.

Manchester United lost just two matches in the WSL all season, but unfortunately, both of these were to eventual title winners, Chelsea, losing 1-3 at home and 1-0 away. To rub salt in the wound, the only other domestic game United lost was the FA Cup final, also to Chelsea. That game drew a world record crowd of 77,390, underlining the growing popularity of women’s football.

Golden boot but no silverware

The good news for England fans preparing for the Women’s World Cup Predictor game, is that this year’s golden boot for top scorer went to an up-and-coming England star, Rachael Daly from Aston Villa. Scoring at an average of goal a game for 22 games in the WSL, and matching that with 30 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions, Daly is in excellent form ahead of the summer.

Remarkably, the WSL top scoring striker could just as easily start as a defender in Australia and New Zealand, with Sarina Wiegman usually playing Daly at full back. However, this seems to bother the media more than it does Daly, who recently commented: “I'm not bothered, I'm really not. I think [the press] care more about where I play than I do. I'm genuinely happy to play in any role.” Wherever she does play, Daly has to feature in anyone’s Women’s World Cup Predictor game plans.

Relegation for Reading

As the only team without the financial backing of a Premier League club, it’s remarkable that Reading have lasted as long as they have in the top flight of women’s football. However, with just three wins from 22 games and just 11points to show for their season’s efforts, sadly Reading’s eight-year WSL run is over.

Flip the coin and you see last year’s promoted team, Liverpool, finishing a respectable seventh, beating the mighty Chelsea along the way, despite a whole heap of injuries. They may not trouble the England selectors or influence your Women’s World Cup Predictor game thoughts, but the reds are certainly one to watch next season and could challenge the established top four.

Top four dominate England World Cup squad

With the big clubs, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City as dominant in the women’s game as they are in the men’s, and Chelsea doing even better than their male counterparts, it came as no surprise when they also dominated Wiegman’s World Cup squad, announced today.

Of the 23 players named, 15 of them came from these four clubs, with Manchester City leading the way with six players, Chelsea and Manchester United following with four and Arsenal contributing just one. Aston Villa, who finished fifth added three players to the squad, including Daly, while the rest of the WSL contributed just two. The remaining three players come from Europe, with two from Barcelona and one from Bayern Munich.

We’ll be discussing the England team selection in detail, including who’s in and who’s out, plus all the injuries and surprises, in our next Women’s World Cup Predictor blog, so come back soon to find out more.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about the Noise Women’s World Cup Predictor game right now by visiting the website, or calling our own team on 01524 68446.