Last season’s Women’s Super League top scorer Rachel Daly of Aston Villa has secured the PFA Women’s Player of the Year accolade, leaving Chelsea’s young sensation Lauren James to bag the title of Young Player of the Year.
At 31, England international Daly had a stellar debut season with Aston Villa, netting the ball 22 times and securing her position as the league’s highest scorer.
Not just content with club-level victories, Daly also turned heads on the international stage. She was instrumental in England’s journey to the Women’s World Cup finals, including an impressive goal in a 6-1 thrashing of China during the group stage.
Daly’s exceptional performance this season didn’t go unnoticed; she also found a spot on the PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year. The forward joined the Villa ranks last year after a six-year stint with Houston Dash in the United States.
In the race for the coveted Player of the Year title, Daly emerged victorious against a star-studded lineup. The competition included Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten, Frida Maanum from Arsenal, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, and ex-Manchester United defender Ona Batlle, who has since transferred to Barcelona.
On the flip side, Lauren James, the 21-year-old wunderkind, clinched the Young Player of the Year award for her remarkable contributions to Chelsea, the Women’s Super League champions. With five league goals in just 15 starts, James had a season to remember. Although her team, England, fell to Spain in the World Cup finals, James stood out as the country’s top scorer, netting three goals. However, her campaign did have a hiccup when she was shown a red card during the last-16 victory over Nigeria.
The competition for Young Player of the Year was equally fierce, with nominees including Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp, Maya le Tissier from Manchester United, Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns, Laura Blindkilde of Villa, and Katie Robinson from Brighton and the England squad. Intriguingly, James was not listed in the PFA’s Team of the Year.
In other news, the men’s awards went to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland for Player of the Year and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka for Young Player of the Year.
The PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year was also announced, featuring Mary Earps (Manchester United), Rafaelle Souza (Arsenal), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Maya le Tissier (Man Utd), Ona Batlle (Man Utd), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Yui Hasegawa (Man City), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Khadija Shaw (Man City), and, of course, Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rachel Daly PFA Women’s Player of the Year
Who won the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award?
Rachel Daly, the forward for Aston Villa and England international, won the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award.
Who was named PFA Young Player of the Year in the Women’s category?
Chelsea’s Lauren James, at the age of 21, won the PFA Young Player of the Year in the women’s category.
How many goals did Rachel Daly score in her debut season for Aston Villa?
Rachel Daly scored an impressive 22 goals during her debut season with Aston Villa, making her the top scorer in the Women’s Super League.
Did Rachel Daly contribute to England’s performance in the Women’s World Cup?
Absolutely. Rachel Daly played a key role in England’s journey to the Women’s World Cup final, including scoring a goal in a 6-1 win over China during the group stage.
Who won the men’s PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards?
Erling Haaland from Manchester City secured the men’s PFA Player of the Year award, while Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was named Young Player of the Year.
Who were some of the other nominees for the women’s Player of the Year award?
Rachel Daly faced stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten, Frida Maanum of Arsenal, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, and former Manchester United defender Ona Batlle, who is currently at Barcelona.
Did Lauren James make it to the PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year?
No, despite winning Young Player of the Year, Lauren James did not feature in the PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year.
Who are included in the PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year?
The PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year features players like Mary Earps (Manchester United), Rafaelle Souza (Arsenal), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Maya le Tissier (Man Utd), Ona Batlle (Man Utd), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Yui Hasegawa (Man City), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Khadija Shaw (Man City), and Rachel Daly (Aston Villa).
Where did Rachel Daly play before joining Aston Villa?
Before her transfer to Aston Villa, Rachel Daly spent six years playing for the U.S. side Houston Dash.
Was Lauren James the top scorer for England in the Women’s World Cup?
Yes, Lauren James was England’s top scorer in the Women’s World Cup with three goals, even though the team eventually lost the final to Spain.
More about Rachel Daly PFA Women’s Player of the Year
- PFA Official Website
- Women’s Super League Official Page
- Aston Villa Women’s Team News
- Chelsea Women’s Team News
- Erling Haaland’s Profile on Manchester City Site
- Bukayo Saka’s Profile on Arsenal Site
- Houston Dash Official Website
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
- England Women’s National Football Team
8 comments
Why is it that women’s sports dont get as much coverage? These ladies are KILLIN’ it. Hollywood needs to make a movie on this asap.
Woah, Rachel Daly is crushing it! 22 goals in debut season? Thats insane! Aston Villa must be over the moon to have her.
Daly’s stats are off the charts, especially for a debut season. Someone give her another award just for that.
Lauren James is just 21 and already winning young player of the yr? Girl power for the win! Chelsea’s lucky to have her.
kinda weird that Lauren James wins young player but doesn’t make it into the Team of the Year. What’s up with that?
Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka winning the men’s? not surprisd. they’re absolute beasts on the field!
As a hardcore Villa fan, I can say Daly’s a game changer for us. Cant wait for the next season!
i’m not much into soccer but it’s cool to see women get the spotlight they deserve. More power to em.