WSL odds and talking points ahead of new season
WSL odds and 2022/23 season preview
The 12th edition of the Women’s Super League will get under way amid an unprecedented sense of buzz and excitement following England’s momentous summer.
The journey of growth the English women’s game has been on for a number years was taken to a whole new level in July as the Lionesses surged to European Championship glory on home soil.
Now, six weeks later, the Women’s Super League is back and we look at the big talking points and outright WSL odds ahead of the opening round of matches.
Can Chelsea defend their crown?
Chelsea will be looking to extend their WSL dominance as they go hunting for their fourth consecutive title and they are odds-on at 4/5 to be champions once more in Coral’s WSL odds.
The Blues secured the spoils last season but the race boiled down to the final day, with Chelsea beating Manchester United 4-2 to pip Arsenal to top spot.
Emma Hayes has bolstered her ranks with some new summer signings including Kadeisha Buchanan and Katerina Svitkova as they search for further silverware.
This is not a moment, it's a movement.
The new era of football has officially arrived. 👊 #NothingStopsUs
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) August 8, 2022
Euros impact
Clubs will be looking to capitalise on the impact of this summer’s European Championships and have already started to see the effects of England’s win.
Last month Aston Villa reported a 108 per cent increase in season ticket sales and attributed this to the success of the Lionesses in the Euros.
Arsenal increased and sold out their allocation of season tickets, while Brighton and West Ham have also reported major growth.
Liverpool’s return
Liverpool will be looking to make an impact upon their return to the WSL and hoping to make their stay permanent.
The Reds were relegated in 2020 on a points-per-game basis and spent two seasons in the Championship, finishing third in 2021 before earning promotion in April this year.
Matt Beard’s side only lost two games last season and secured their return to the top tier of women’s football with a 4-2 win against promotion contenders Bristol City.
Survival should not be an issue but they are 150/1 in the outright WSL betting.
Manchester City movements
Manchester City managed to secure the final Champions League spot when they beat Reading on the final day last season.
However, the summer saw plenty of outgoings for Gareth Taylor’s side, the biggest of which came this week when England midfielder Keira Walsh joined Barcelona for a world-record fee.
She adds to a list of Lionesses to have departed the squad this summer, which includes Lucy Bronze also leaving for Barcelona in June.
There has been Georgia Stanway moving to Bayern Munich, and Ellen White and Jill Scott have retired, while another notable exit has been Scotland’s Caroline Weir moving to Real Madrid.
Incomings have included three players arriving from the Spanish top flight, Leila Ouahabi from Barca, and fellow defender Laia Aleixandri and forward Deyna Castellanos from Atletico Madrid.
City are third in the WSL winner odds at 11/2, with Arsenal second favourites at 7/4.
Showpiece stadiums
Women’s teams will continue to use the stadiums of their male counterparts, with many opening-day fixtures being held there.
Tottenham host Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Chelsea kick off their title defence at Stamford Bridge against West Ham.
Manchester City will also hold fixtures at the Etihad including the Manchester derby, while the King Power Stadium plays host to all of Leicester’s home fixtures.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
