Chelsea won the Women’s Super League for the fifth season in a row, but how did they reach the summit?
Summer Signings:
Defender Ashley Lawrence was the first to arrive to SW6 as she arrived from PSG on a three year contract. England International Hannah Hampton joined from Aston Villa after she joined on a three year contract. Mia Fishel was the final signing for the start of the season as she joined the blues from Mexican side Tigres. The American joined on a three year contract initially staying in London until 2026.
England U19 International, Brooke Aspin signed her first professional contract at Chelsea in the summer before returning to Bristol City for the season. She will then return to SW6 after signing a four year deal. Wieke Kaptein arrived in London from FC Twente and then returned back for the season.
October:
The WSL returned on 1st October as Chelsea hosted Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won the fixture 2-1 as Mia FIshel scored her first goal with Lauren James opening her account for the season.
First away game of the season happened on 8th October against Manchester City. They came away with one point as the match ended 1-1 with Guro Reiten on the scoresheet in the dying minutes.
Just under a week later, Chelsea had their first game at Kingsmeadow as they hosted West Ham. Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr were on the scoresheet as Chelsea secured all three points in the 2-0 win.
On 22nd October, Brighton travelled to Kingsmeadow in their final game of the month. Sjoeke Nusken secured a hattrick while Aggie Beever-Jones was also on the scoresheet in their 4-2 win over the seagulls.
November:
November was the month where the champions league returned and Emma Hayes announced she was leaving at the end of the season.
Women’s Champions League action returned as Chelsea travelled to Madrid and hosted Paris FC. They walked away from Madrid with a point as it ended 2-2 with Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr on the scoresheet. Against Paris FC, they won 4-1 at home as Sam Kerr secured a hattrick and Wales International Sophie Ingle was also on the scoresheet.
At the start of the month, Chelsea travelled to Birmingham as they faced Aston Villa and won 6-0 Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Ashley Lawrence, Niamh Charles and Aggie Beever-Jones all scored that game.
Other games that month included Everton (A), Liverpool (H) and Leicester (H) with Lauren James, Sam Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones on the scoresheet in nearly every match.
December:
On the 10th, Arsenal won 4-1 in the league against Chelsea but Johanna Rytting Kaneryd made sure that they did not come away with a clean sheet.
Just four days later, they hosted BK Hacken with the fixture ending 0-0. A week later, they won 3-1 with Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert on the scoresheet against the same side. In between the Champions League games, they travelled to Ashton Gate winning 3-0 with goals from Erin Cuthbert, Lauren James and Sam Kerr. Niamh Charles also received a red card in this match.
January:
After a winter break, Chelsea returned and played 5 games in just over two weeks as the FA Cup and Champions League returned. Both WSL games were won as Lauren James scored three against her former club and won 3-1 against Manchester United meanwhile she scored another two against brighton. Fran Kirby also scored as the result ended 3-0 to the blues.
Chelsea started the year at home against West Ham in the FA Cup. After extra time, the blues won 3-1 with goals from Mia Fishel, Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones securing their place in the next round.
Chelsea also had games in Europe as they played Real Madrid on the 24th and a week later played Paris FC. Chelsea won 2-1 against the Spanish side as Guro Reiten put the ball into the back of the net as well as an Own Goal. Chelsea ran out 4-0 winners away in Paris as Fran Kirby, Mia Fishel, Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde all scored.
January Transfer Windows:
Chelsea signed Swedish international Nathalie Bjorn from fellow WSL side Everton on a three and a half year deal until 2027. Mayra Ramirez signed from Spanish side Levante on a four and a half year deal until 2028 and became the most expensive signing.
Goalkeeper Nicky Evrard returned from her loan spell at Brighton due to Injury. It was also announced that Canadian Jessie Fleming left SW6 as she went to NWSL side Portland Thorns after being at the club for three and a half years.
February:
They started off the month hosting everton in the WSL as Guro Reiten secured a double and Erin Cuthbert continued to be on the scoresheet. Sunderland travelled to Kingsmeadow in the Continental Cup on 7th February as Chelsea won 5-0 with a Sjoeke Nusken and Fran Kirby double as well as Aggie Beever-Jones.
They played in the FA Cup the following matchday as on the 11th they won 1-0 against Crystal Palace with New recruit Mayra Ramirez getting on the scoresheet. To end the month, Manchester City travelled to Kingsmmeadow and they walked away with a 1-0 in the league with Lauren James on the scoresheet.
March:
First, they travelled to Leicester in the WSL and won 4-0 with Nathalie Bjorn, Mayra Ramirez, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Cat Macario all on the scoresheet. They also faced Arsenal and West Ham with the results falling their way winning 3-1 and 2-0 respectively. Against Arsenal, Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken were on the scoresheet and Aggie Beever-Jones and Erin Cuthbert scored against West Ham.
Ajax were the opponents for the blues as they won 4-1 over the two legs, in the Champions League. Lauren James, Mayra Ramirez and a Sjoeke Nusken double were the goals over the two legs. In the FA Cup, Everton were hosts of the blues as they won 1-0 after a Cat Macario goal.
City hosted Chelsea at the start of the month with Lauren James the only scorer in the match. The final of the Continental Cup took place at the end of the month at Molineux, Wolverhampton. Arsenal won in extra time as Stina Blackstenius scored the all important goal.
April:
Chelsea returned to action against Manchester United in the FA Cup. They lost the match as Lauren James was the only person on the scoresheet in their 2-1 defeat.
They won 3-0 against Aston Villa in the WSL as Aggie Beever-Jones and Kadeisha Buchanan were on the scoresheet and Maika Hamano scored her first goal.
On the 20th, Barcelona hosted the blues with Erin Cuthbert on the scoresheet as they won 1-0 in the Champions League. Just a week later, Barcelona won 2-0 in the capital. Kadeisha Buchanan received a red card during the fixture.
May:
Liverpool won 4-3 in the league and it looked to hinder the title race as Aggie Beever-Jones continued to be on the scoresheet.
Chelsea hosted Bristol City at Kingsmeadow for the final time this season as they won 8-0 with Guro Reiten scoring four, as well as Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles also on the scoresheet with Aggie Beever-Jones scoring another two. Just three days before the final game, Chelsea won 1-0 away from home against Spurs as Maika Hamano scored.
Chelsea lifted the trophy at Old Trafford on the final day as Chelsea only needed a win against the FA cup winners. They won 6-0 with goals from Melanie Leupolz, Sjoeke Nusken, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Fran Kirby as well as Mayra Ramirez scoring twice.
Written by Lauren White
@lozreportssports
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