WSL 2023-24 team guide: A look at all 12 clubs

The new Women’s Super League season gets underway on October 1 as Chelsea begin their title defence.

Former contenders Bristol City are back in the big time having won promotion and are now one of 12 top-flight clubs. 

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we turn the spotlight on every WSL side. 

Arsenal

Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal finished third last season, while also winning the League Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. 

The Gunners could achieve even more now that they have signed England's Alessia Russo on a free transfer, with the striker notching 22 goals in 46 WSL games at Manchester United. 

Aston Villa

Aston Villa can be very pleased with last season's performance as Carla Ward's team finished fifth, with Rachel Daly notching 22 goals to top the WSL scoring charts. 

The permanent signing of Scottish international forward Kirsty Hanson is an important acquisition. She scored seven league goals during her loan from Manchester United in 2022-23. 

Brighton

An 11th-place finish last season saw Brighton narrowly avoid relegation. During that time the Seagulls had three different managers, with current boss Melissa Phillips taking charge in April. 

They will be keen to avoid a similar scenario and the acquisition of the former Barcelona midfielder Vicky Losada from Roma will add experience. 

Bristol City

Bristol City returned to the WSL after a two-year absence, having pipped Birmingham to the Championship title last season with a game to spare. 

Lauren Smith's side have signed one of the best players from the second tier in the shape of London City Lionesses' midfielder Amy Rodgers, who made her Scotland debut this year.

Chelsea

Chelsea are aiming to win the WSL for a fifth consecutive season. 

Emma Hayes' outfit also won the FA Cup, reached the League Cup final and Champions League semi-finals. 

As the Blues look to take a step closer to perfection, they have added Brazil-born USA international Catarina Macario to their squad. She scored 22 goals in 33 games for Lyon in 2022-23.

Everton

Everton finished sixth in the WSL in their first season under Danish coach Brian Sorensen. 

A lack of a reliable goalscorer prevented further progress and the Toffees will hope Italian international striker Martina Piemonte will solve this issue following her move from AC Milan. 

Leicester

Leicester flirted with relegation last season and replaced Lydia Bedford in November with current manager Willie Kirk, who delivered a 10th-place finish. 

The Foxes have added some experience and class to their squad in the shape of new signing Janice Cayman. 

The 34-year-old Belgium midfielder won the Champions League twice at Lyon. 

Liverpool

Matt Beard's Liverpool managed to finish seventh in the WSL in 2022-23, despite there being only three teams that scored fewer goals than them. 

Norwegian forward Sophie Roman Haug could provide a cutting edge. Signed from Roma, she has found the net eight times in 11 matches for her country. 

Manchester City

Manchester City missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference, finishing fourth behind Arsenal. 

The Citizens have broken their own transfer record with the £300,000 signing of Dutch international Jill Roord from Wolfsburg, giving Gareth Taylor access to a quality goalscoring midfielder. 

Manchester United

Marc Skinner came close to delivering the double last season, only for Manchester United to finish two points behind the champions Chelsea in the WSL and lose to the Londoners in the FA Cup final. 

Losing Russo to Arsenal is a major blow but one that could be softened by the signing of 17-year-old sensation Emma Watson, who has already scored three goals in four games for Scotland. 

Tottenham

Tottenham were in danger of relegation last season until the goals of Bethany England saw them rise to an eventual finish of ninth. 

They now have a new manager in Robert Vilahamn and a fresh presence between the posts, having signed Czech international goalkeeper Barbora Votikova. 

West Ham

Despite finishing ahead of rivals Tottenham in eighth place, West Ham dismissed their manager Paul Konchesky and replaced him with Rehanne Skinner, who was sacked by Spurs last season. 

The Hammers will be hoping that their new striker Riko Ueki can shoot them to new heights, having proved her goalscoring ability with former club Tokyo Verdy Beleza and the Japanese national team.