Kenza Dali and Rachel Daly’s iconic selfie celebration. Photo Credit: Aston Villa Women twitter.
Following an impressive 5th place finish in the WSL last season, Aston Villa Women will be aiming to break into the top 4, hoping to challenge for a place in the UWCL. Having only been in the WSL since the 2020/21 season, they have definitely proved their worth in the league. Last season saw them get their highest finish in the WSL beating their previous two finishes of 10th and 9th place. Manchester City sat just 10 points above them on 47. With the league getting more competitive each year, no game can be seen as an easy 3 points.
England player Rachel Daly was a huge signing for Aston Villa at the start of the 2022/23 season. After spending many years playing in the US she quickly settled back into the WSL. 22 goals in 22 games saw her win the top goal scorer beating the likes of Sam Kerr and Bunny Shaw. Her ability to play well in many positions adds depth and versatility to both her and her teams performances.
Securing international players Jordan Nobbs, Kenza Dali, and Lucy Staniforth last year had a major impact on the success of the team. Contributing positively across the pitch, they all showcased their talent, making Villa a difficult team to beat.
Aston Villa manager Carla Ward has been busy strengthening her squad ahead of the 2023/24 season. As well as extending her own stay at Villa she managed to secure some impressive signings. Anna Patten and Kirsty Hanson put pen to paper becoming official Villa players after being on loan from their previous clubs Arsenal and Manchester United. Villa also added more quality across the field signing Adriana Leon, and West Ham defender Lucy Parker. Ex-academy product Ebony Salmon who has returned from Houston Dash also committed to her future as a Villa player.
Losing Hannah Hampton to league rivals Chelsea this summer meant that Villa were on the lookout for a new keeper. Netherlands international star Daphne van Domselaar was on the radar of 14 clubs before Villa won the battle. Her impressive performances in the World Cup and most recent one against England in the Nations League show why she will be one to watch this season. The Ballon d’or nominee is a young talent with lots of potential.
Netherlands international Daphne van Domselaar is signing for @AVWFCOfficial on a three-year contract.
The EURO 2022 standout is a huge signing for Aston Villa.
Watch some Daphne’s EURO 2022 highlights below 🤩⤵️ pic.twitter.com/E1xQrAWGPd
— Sporting Her (@SportingHer) June 16, 2023
With the Women’s World Cup ending just 5 weeks ago, pre-season has looked different for many clubs across the WSL. Players returning to domestic football at different times meant that teams haven’t had the same preparations going into the new season. Carla and her team have put the work in with the hopes to have their best season in the WSL.
Villa will kick off the 23/24 season on Sunday against last season’s runners-up Manchester United. Previous encounters between the two teams in 2022/23 saw United claim all 6 points. With both teams adding quality and depth to their squads during the summer, the result could go either way.
The match will be shown live on BBC2, kicking off at 12:30. Tune in to what will be a competitive and entertaining match at Villa Park.
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