The performance of teams in the Premier League is having a greater effect on the Women’s Super League than it did five years ago.
talkSPORT have carried out an investigation looking into the finishing positions of teams in the WSL and Women’s Championship compared to the position their counterpart men’s team finished in over the last eight seasons.
For the 2022/23 season, teams in the WSL were ranked from 1-12 and then the Women’s Championship sides were ranked from 13-24.
Likewise, teams who finished in the Premier League were ranked from 1-20 and those in the EFL were ranked from 21-44.
But teams who did not have either an equivalent men’s or women’s team in the top two leagues (such as Newcastle or Lewes) have been removed from the scale.
In the 2015/16 graph, far fewer teams competed in both the men’s and women’s leagues so less clubs are included.
The results show that the men’s and women’s league tables seem to be growing closer together.
There is a much greater connection in the 2022/23 season graph than the 2015/26 season graph.
Where spending on women’s squads used to be sparse throughout most of the clubs, as the bigger clubs begin to commit to a greater investment in the women’s game, they are bringing the WSL table into greater harmony with the Premier League table.
So, what are the biggest talking points from last season’s graph? talkSPORT.com takes a look.
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Manchester City: A treble win, and a top-three loss
Manchester City Women lost a host of big names before the 2022/23 season including 2022 European Championship winners Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh.
But after two shock defeats at the start of their season, Gareth Taylor’s side put themselves within reach of the title.
Three crucial losses to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool ended both their title hopes – and their Champions League hopes.
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The club had only finished outside the top three once since joining the WSL before their fourth place finish this season.
The legendary success of the men’s side highlights how far Taylor’s side will have to progress if they are to match their achievements.
Pep Guardiola’s historic treble seems to be the start of what could be an era of dominance for Manchester City Men.
But it remains to be seen: can the women’s team emulate the success of the men’s team this season?
Chelsea: A tale of two teams
Chelsea’s men recorded their worst ever finish in the Premier League since 1994 after a shocking season.
Their 12th place finish was even more disappointing given their extravagant spending.
The lack of a successful striker proved crushing for the side who were unable to produce a convincing run of results.
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Whereas things could not have gone much better for Emma Hayes and Chelsea Women – they secured a fourth consecutive WSL title and a third consecutive domestic double.
It is only the Champions League trophy which eludes them, but they will remain confident that they can better last year’s run and conquer Europe for the first time.
Aston Villa: A force for the future?
At the start of the Premier League and the WSL season, few predicted what we would see from Aston Villa this season.
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Both the men’s and the women’s sides outperformed expectations with some impressive results.
The men’s side finished seventh under the leadership of Unai Emery and secured a spot in the Europa Conference League.
After West Ham went all the way in that tournament earlier this year, Villa will be confident that they too can go far in that competition as well as finishing well in the Premier League table.
On the women’s side, it was a fairy-tale season as Carla Ward led the team to their highest ever finish.
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They ended the season in fifth place after transfers including Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Staniforth and Golden Boot-winner Rachel Daly propelled the side up the table.
The side finished just below the top four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City who have dominated the WSL since its inaugural season.
But a stunning win over Arsenal on the final day epitomised Villa’s season and could be a glimpse of just how much they might be capable of in the future.
Arsenal: A failure to maintain momentum
Both sides started off the season strong and there was a moment when it looked as though Arsenal could be heading for double victory in the men and women’s league.
But old rivals proved too much and a string of defeats for both teams put the title out of their hands.
A top three finish for both sides was somewhat overshadowed by the reminder that victory had been within reach before momentum slowed.
Confidence can be taken by both teams though, and some key signings in the form of Declan Rice and Alessia Russo could prove vital as they attempt to renew a double title challenge.
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Leicester: narrow margins
There was a moment in the season when it looked as though it could be a double relegation for Leicester.
Both sides struggled to pick up points early in the season as the men’s side did not secure a win until their eighth game and the women lost their first nine games.
In the end, it came down to the final day for both sides – but while a win for Leicester Women secured their survival in the WSL, Leicester Men’s win was not enough to save them from relegation.
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After their disastrous start to the season, Leicester Women manager Lydia Bedford was sacked in November and replaced with Willie Kirk.
It took the men’s side until April before they followed suit and bid farewell to Brendan Rodgers and handed over the reins to Dean Smith – but unlike Kirk, the new manager was unable to salvage Leicester’s season.
Both teams have a task ahead of them as the men attempt to secure promotion and the women attempt to avoid relegation yet again.
Reading: disastrous double relegation
Things could not have gone much worse for Reading.
After a strong start which briefly saw Reading’s men top the Championship table, their relegation was secured one game before the end of the season after a long winless run.
The EFL also deducted six points from Reading for breaching the terms of a profit and sustainability business plan.
Meanwhile, the women’s side fared no better, finishing bottom of the WSL season.
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The double relegation for the club led them into financial crisis – and the worst was still to come.
In early June, Reading CEO Dayong Pang announced the news that Reading Women will now operate on a part-time basis as the club attempts to rebuild the club following a devastating season all around.
Reading Women were the only club in the 2022/23 season not backed by an equivalent side in the Premier League.
Former manager Kelly Chambers spoke about how other clubs that struggled in this WSL season, such as Tottenham and Leicester, were able to buy players such as Bethany England and Janina Leitzig to rescue themselves in a way that Reading’s budget simply would not allow.
It begs the question: can a women’s team survive in the WSL without having a men’s side in the Premier League?
Having just been promoted from the Championship, Bristol City will put that question to the test this season as they attempt to avoid meeting Reading’s fate.
Clubs not attached to men’s teams
While Reading seems evidence that a club in the WSL cannot succeed without the backing of a Premier League side, Championship sides the London City Lionesses and Lewes could suggest otherwise.
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Both sides are not affiliated to any men’s team yet had impressive seasons, nonetheless.
Lewes made headlines after reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and were only knocked out by a Manchester United team who seemed virtually unstoppable.
London City Lionesses also performed well last season and were in the fight for promotion to the WSL this season, missing out to Bristol City in the end and ending the season in 3rd place.
They were also promotion contenders last season and only lost out to Liverpool who had an excellent season to deny them.
These teams continually challenge for WSL promotion and will hope to do so again this season.
If either were to make it into the top league, their performance would be a huge indicator of how an independent women’s team could function in the WSL.
You can listen to the Women’s Football Show every Monday from 6pm-7pm on talkSPORT 2.
Source From: Football News, Transfers, Opinion – talkSPORT
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