There’s an argument to say the Women’s Super League is now actually more exciting than this season’s Premier League.
With Liverpool running away with the title before the turn of the New Year, the next few months could be a bit of a damp squib in England’s top tier.
However, look at the WSL and you’ll see a different story.
Arsenal, last season’s winners, are three points clear of Manchester City, while Chelsea trail by four points with a game in hand.
But while the title race is destined to be another tight affair, this weekend has seen two moments that may be seen as total game changers in the coming months.
First and foremost, don’t call this a ‘reverse Sol Campbell’ moment – though it does sound mightily familiar.
Emma Mitchell, scorer of one of the finest goals scored in WSL history (which incidentally stopped Manchester City from going unbeaten last season), has crossed the North London divide and joined Spurs on loan from the Gunners until the end of the season.
Significant? Certainly – but only through the prism of the men’s game, currently.
As Tim Stillman explains perfectly, Spurs and Arsenal aren’t ‘proper’ rivals in the women’s game yet, and due to the loan system, Mitchell can’t play against her parent club – but can against their title rivals.
Shrewd stuff from the Gunners perhaps – but if the North London rivalry is to kick off in years to come, we could be looking at this moment as a turning point in WSL history.
Secondly, Sam Kerr’s move to Chelsea has been described by some as being the biggest signing to come to the WSL.
The 26-year-old Australian will be familiar to many who kept a close eye on the Women’s World Cup last summer, and she made her English domestic debut against Reading today having signed for the Blues back in November.
The Aussie didn’t find the net herself but she produced this sumptuous assist for Bethany England as the Blues came from behind to win 3-1:
Kerr was the all-time top scorer in the American National Women’s Soccer League and Australian W-League, and also earned the Golden Boot in each of the past three seasons in both divisions – it’s easy to see why people are pleased with the signing at Kingsmeadow.
And without wanting to make too many comparisons with their male counterparts, her eventual showdown with Arsenal sensation Vivienne Miedema has been dubbed the ‘Messi vs Ronaldo’ of the women’s game.
So if you’re looking for drama in the second half of the season, look no further than the WSL…
READ MORE: