City ace Shaw leads the way in WSL Golden Boot race

The Women's Super League season is approaching the business end and the Golden Boot race looks set to be a cracker.

In 2022-23, Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly equalled Vivianne Miedema's record for most goals in a single campaign when she bagged 22.

We take a look at which players are excelling in the WSL's goalscoring department this term.

Khadija Shaw (14 goals)

After a slow beginning to the season, Khadjia Shaw has burst into life at Manchester City.

Jamaica's all-time leading scorer — who netted 20 WSL goals last term — topped the charts heading into the winter break and further boosted her credentials with a stunning hat-trick against Liverpool last month.

The powerful forward, 27, has notched her 14 strikes in just 13 games, most recently netting a crucial winner against champions Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.

Shaw also boasts a tally of three assists.

Lauren James (12 goals)

Chelsea ace Lauren James has been at the peak of her powers this season.

The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Liverpool before bagging a brace in a 5-2 victory against Leicester.

And when Shaw's hat-trick against Liverpool threatened to see her pull clear in the Golden Boot race, James responded with a treble of her own in a 3-1 defeat of former club Manchester United before netting a double in the 3-0 win at Brighton.

James has also shone for her country in recent times, netting six goals in 21 international appearances.

Elisabeth Terland (nine goals)

After scoring seven goals in 17 appearances last season, Norway forward Elisabeth Terland has continued to shine for Brighton by bettering that total in just 14 appearances this term.

The 22-year-old scored twice on the opening weekend to secure a 2-1 victory for the Seagulls at Everton, before finding the back of the net against Tottenham and Chelsea.

And she bagged another brace against Leicester to save Brighton from defeat after they fell 2-0 behind on home soil.

Arguably Terland's most important strikes to date came in the Seagulls' precious 3-2 win over Bristol City, with her second effort a stoppage-time winner.

Nikita Parris (eight goals)

Manchester United ace Nikita Parris has been a standout performer in the WSL after the winter pause.

The 29-year-old forward bagged consecutive braces in key victories over Aston Villa and Brighton.

But Parris' sparkling form did not pique the interest of England boss Sarina Wiegman ahead of the Lionesses' matches against Austria and Italy this month.

The former Arsenal ace has already represented her country on 71 occasions and scored 17 goals.

Amalie Thestrup (eight goals)

Bristol City's hopes of WSL survival are heavily dependant on the form of Amalie Thestrup.

The ex-Liverpool forward joined the club from PSV Vrouwen last summer and has delivered the goods in the final third.

She was on target in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa after netting her side's goal in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham.

Thestrup has converted a hugely impressive 53% of her attempts on goal this season, while also boasting a 93% shot accuracy.

Martha Thomas (seven goals)

Martha Thomas has been Tottenham's shining star after joining from Manchester United last September.

The North Londoners sit sixth in the WSL table and their 27-year-old striker has recorded seven goals and two assists in 14 appearances.

Thomas scored on her Spurs debut in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, before netting a hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win against Villa in October.

And the Scotland star bagged the only goal in her side's famous 1-0 victory over Arsenal before the winter break.