As the Women’s Super League (WSL) reaches its winter break, Sport News Center has taken a deep dive into the statistics to uncover the most intriguing trends and developments of the season so far. From tighter title races to a rise in cards due to stricter refereeing, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what’s been happening in the WSL.
The Title Race
League leaders Chelsea are currently averaging 2.5 points per game this season, which is slightly lower than their past three title-winning seasons, where they finished with averages of 2.59, 2.54, and 2.63 points per game. Interestingly, this season, they are on track to finish with just 55 points, which would be the lowest tally for champions in a 22-game season.
However, there’s hope for Chelsea fans, as in the previous two seasons, they averaged 2.5 and 2.33 points per game, respectively, at the winter break. The race for the top spot is heating up, with only three points separating the top three teams. This is a significant change from the past three seasons when the gap was six, five, and five points at this stage.
The Relegation Battle
The fight to avoid relegation in the WSL is tighter than ever before. Only three points separate the bottom three clubs: Bristol City, West Ham, and Brighton. This is a notable decrease compared to recent years when it was seven points in 2022-23 and nine points in 2021-22. Bristol City currently sits at the bottom with five points from 10 games, closely followed by West Ham, also with five points but a better goal difference, and Brighton with eight points.
This season seems poised for an intensely close relegation battle when it resumes in late January. Even seventh-placed Everton, with just 11 points, is not safe from the danger of being caught.
Closing the Quality Gap
The dominance of the traditional ‘big four’ clubs in the WSL, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City, is gradually diminishing. Only 10 points separate league leaders Chelsea from sixth-placed Tottenham going into the Christmas break. This is a clear reduction from previous seasons when the gap was 13, 12, and 15 points in the past three years.
One significant change this season is the extension of match lengths, following a directive from law makers Ifab. The average length of a WSL game this season has been 101 minutes and 50 seconds, which is more than three minutes longer than the past two seasons and over four minutes longer than in 2020-21. However, despite the longer game time, it hasn’t resulted in more goals, as the average goals per game this season is 3.35, down from 3.38 last season and 3.56 in 2020-21, possibly due to players missing games due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Golden Boot Race
In the race for the golden boot, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw currently leads the standings with nine goals and two assists. Close behind are three players: Chelsea’s Lauren James, Tottenham’s Martha Thomas, and Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland, each with seven goals. Last year’s winner, Rachel Daly of Aston Villa, scored an impressive 22 goals across the season.
Shaw’s pace is noteworthy, averaging a goal a game, putting her on track to score 21 if she maintains this rate. However, it’s important to remember that Daly’s 22-goal tally last year tied the record for the most goals in a single campaign, equalling Vivianne Miedema’s feat for Arsenal in 2017-18.
Stricter Refereeing and More Cards
The 2023 WSL season has seen significant changes in refereeing, with officials taking a tougher stance on dissent and time-wasting. There has been a 600% increase in cards for dissent compared to the previous season, jumping from four to 24. Additionally, cautions for time-wasting have risen from eight to 28. These two factors now account for 30.2% of bookings, up from 9.4% at the same stage last season.
The total number of yellow cards has also increased substantially from 124 in both of the last two seasons to 172 in the current campaign. Notably, there have been eight red cards this season, a significant rise from the four, four, and three in the previous three seasons. One controversial incident involving Alex Greenwood’s second yellow card for time-wasting during Manchester City’s game against Chelsea in October sparked debate among pundits.
As the WSL heads into its winter break, it’s evident that this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and intriguing yet, with changes in title race dynamics, a fierce relegation battle, evolving match lengths, and stricter refereeing decisions all contributing to the excitement. Fans can look forward to a thrilling second half of the season when play resumes in late January.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about WSL 2023 Season Stats
Q: What are the key statistics for the 2023 Women’s Super League season?
A: The 2023 Women’s Super League season is marked by several key statistics. Chelsea leads with an average of 2.5 points per game, on track for the lowest points tally for champions in a 22-game season. The title race is closer than ever, with only three points separating the top three teams. The relegation battle is intense, with just three points separating the bottom three clubs. Match lengths have extended, averaging 101 minutes and 50 seconds, while stricter refereeing has led to a 600% increase in cards for dissent and increased cautions for time-wasting. The golden boot race features Khadija Shaw as the current leader with nine goals.
More about WSL 2023 Season Stats
- BBC Sport – Women’s Super League
- Women’s Super League Official Website
- IFAB – International Football Association Board
- 2022-23 Women’s Super League Standings
4 comments
Refereeing changes = more cards! Strict refs clamping down on dissent and time-wasting. Red cards spike – controverSY brewin’.
Lovin’ this breakdown! Links are helpful too – thanks!
Chelsea point drop surprisin! Closer titl race means mor excitement. Longr games but not mor goals – pandemic impact maybe? Shaw leadin golden boot – watch out!
good info abt the womens super league! titl race tight and relegation battl lookin fierce. 2023 season changin game length & mor cards. exciting!