We take a look at six players that are in their WSL debut seasons who have started very impressively. A positive impact on the team and settling in quick is what side’s look for in a new star player and these six have certainly lived up to the bill so far.
(Players included are players that have never played in the WSL before this season and are just a select few in no particular order. The price shown indicates their value on the ShePlays WSL fantasy league only)
Here goes….
Sam Mewis – Manchester City – £80,000
The World Cup winning American has been one of a few bright spots in the Manchester City setup in the opening part of the season. Mewis’ tall figure has brought a level of calmness, physicality and power to a City side lacking all three of those traits in the WSL so far. The aptly nicknamed ‘tower of power’ has shown her worth by scoring twice in the league already and has seemingly settled into life in England pretty fast. Out of the Americans who made the move, Mewis seems strides ahead when it comes to making an impact on the field with the red side of Manchester chasing down her heels.
Denise O’Sullivan – Brighton & Hove Albion – £45,000
The Irish international has been highly praised by many in the game. This could prove a huge signing for Brighton bringing much needed experience to the pitch and behind-the-scenes. O’Sullivan made the team of the week for Round 5 and will only get better as she finds her feet in her first season in England. Many have touted the North Carolina Courage loanee to have the biggest impact of all the NWSL arrivals this season. Rebekah Stott has also been great for Brighton but is lacking the minutes compared to O’Sullivan within a defence that seems inconsistent.
Melanie Leupolz – Chelsea – £50,000
German midfielder, Melanie Leupolz has looked like she belongs at the heart of Chelsea already. With a host of international stars at the reigning champions, it is always going to be a battle for places. Leupolz has been a regular since the season start displacing stalwart Sophie Ingle and even Ji and Reiten being forced to the bench. The 26-year-old netted her first Chelsea goal in the thrashing of Bristol City and has played the full 90 in four out of five WSL games so far.
Ingrid Moe Wold – Everton – £27,500
Everton have started the season in fine form and have a whole host of new additions that could have been included. If not for an unfortunate own goal at the weekend, Rikke Sevecke would have been involved but the honour lands at Norwegian full back Ingrid Moe Wold’s feet. The 30-year-old defender brings some much needed international experience to the back line and has been operating very much under the radar. She has played the full 90 minutes in all bar one of the five games for the Toffees this season as well as the cups and an international stint with Norway!
Valerie Gauvin – Everton – £40,000
The French international striker has had a fantastic impact at Everton. She has scored three times in five WSL games and twice in the FA Cup. Already dubbed, Everton’s ‘super-sub’, Gauvin has started the last three WSL games, scoring twice. She seems to have settled in brilliantly on Merseyside and looks set to be an important player in an impressive Toffees side.
Carla Ward – Birmingham City
You won’t be finding Carla Ward in the heart of the midfield for Birmingham but very much on the sidelines! The Birmingham manager has come in at the Blues and seemingly changed their fortunes around. Birmingham were touted as favourites for the drop at the start of the season but two impressive wins against Reading and Bristol City have handed them six points from their first five games. These points could prove vital at the end of the campaign. The setup at Birmingham seems to be great and the visible motivation, hunger and enjoyment has returned to the faces of the Blues players. Ward says she is still short of a few players and there are still things to work on for the West Midlands side, this is only the beginning!
Alternatively, an article with six players who have struggled to settle into WSL life so far can be seen here.
Tobin Heath, Christen Press and Damaris Egurrola were considered for this piece but although all three have had an evident positive impact on their clubs and results, were deemed to have been a little short of minutes to feature. Caitlin Foord officially joined Arsenal last season so does not fit the parameters surrounding this piece. Rachel Corsie and Alessia Russo have previously featured in the WSL also making them ineligible for consideration.