The 2022/23 Women’s Super League (WSL) season has been one for the ages, with captivating individual performances, seismic managerial changes and record-breaking numbers dominating the headlines. Of those leading performers, Mariona Caldentey has been the star turn, highlighting her ability this season after her move from Barcelona. Narrative threads from Chelsea’s continued prowess to Arsenal and Manchester United emerging from a struggle and a culture shift.
Mariona Caldentey, 29, came to Chelsea with perhaps the most impressive pedigree of all as a world-renowned world-class player. She’s more than fulfilled those expectations, proving to be an incredible force on the pitch. Her magnificent hit proved instrumental to Chelsea’s recent Champions League win at home to Lyon. This gaudy game helped cement her as one of the league’s most important players.
It would be easy to underestimate the accomplishment of Chelsea’s journey this season. By winning their match against Manchester United 1-0 in April, they clinched a sixth straight WSL crown and eighth overall. This victory established a new record for the earliest decision of any league title during the entire season. It’s the earliest it’s occurred since the 2018-19 season. With another win against Liverpool on Saturday, Chelsea aims to set a new WSL points record, further underlining their dominance in women’s football.
Managerial Changes and Challenges
The managerial landscape in the WSL has undergone a number of high-profile changes this campaign. Jonas Eidevall of Arsenal departed the club in mid-October. The lack of success had severely tested his relationship with the supporters. In spite of the odds against them, Arsenal made it to the finals, finding strength in coming back against eight-time champions, Lyon.
Just five days prior to the League Cup final, Manchester City fired their manager of three years Gareth Taylor. This decision further highlights the brutal pressure that the league’s managers are under. His exit followed a disappointing spell of form, which sparked fears about Albion’s on-pitch issues and long-term ambitions.
Also of note, Robert de Pauw departed Aston Villa in December too after a stormy six-month spell that yielded no real success. Crystal Palace recently caused a stir on social media when they announced that Laura Kaminski would be leaving after only one year in the league. This relegation makes them the third team in WSL history to have a one-year stay since relegation was established in 2014.
Player Performances and Records
As the season went on, the focus shifted to the incredible individual player performances who kept turning heads. While Mariona Caldentey’s performances have turned heads and proved valuable to Chelsea, she is not the only Blue making waves. At Arsenal, only Alessia Russo has been directly involved in more goals than Caldentey this season. Caldentey’s talents stretch well beyond the goal-scoring department. Her all-round game has massively boosted Chelsea’s attack all season long.
In fact, after a string of managerial shake-ups, Manchester United’s Marc Skinner is now the longest-serving manager in the WSL. His stability contrasts sharply with the challenges faced by his peers, adding layers of pressure as he navigates through expectations and aspirations for his team.
The increasingly competitive nature of the league has created a paradigm in which individual player performances are crucial to the team’s success. All teams are uniquely reliant on their stars to succeed. This is incredibly important when it comes to late-season, high stakes matches that impact playoff positions and earned seedings.
Looking Ahead
Now, as this WSL season comes to an end, teams and fans of the sport in general can only hope for a bright future. Chelsea’s pursuit of a record-breaking points tally will be closely watched, while other clubs aim to reassess their strategies following managerial changes.
Mariona Caldentey have raised the bar at Chelsea. As the club’s first general manager, her influence will undoubtedly guide the club’s direction in league play and future international competitions. Meanwhile, clubs facing managerial transitions will seek stability and direction to ensure they remain competitive in upcoming seasons.
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