The 23/24 Women’s Super League season was one to remember. From start to finish, we’ve seen some spectacular individual performances, with these players rightly so getting their plaudits. But what about the players whose importance might have gone under the radar this season? Here is this season’s XI of the most underrated players of this season.
Goalkeeper
Rachael Laws
Rachael Laws has had a fantastic season at Liverpool, the 33 year old having been the Red’s primary keeper. With five clean sheets in fifteen games, she’s been a key contribution to Matt Beard’s team’s success this season. Laws has a composure and calmness on the ball…. She had an unbelievable start to the season, keeping clean sheets against Arsenal at the Emirates and Aston Villa, making some outstanding saves to help secure the Reds six big points and give them the perfect start. With Australian keeper Teagan Micah signing in the summer, it’s brought healthy competition between the sticks and has certainly contributed to Laws’ improved form this season. Laws dedication to the team also showed in Liverpool’s last game – she was ruled out for the remained of the season in April due to a broken finger. However, due to an injury to Teagan Micah and Liverpool unable to secure an emergency loan goalkeeper, Laws played Liverpool’s last game of the season with finger-numbing injections and a splint, keeping a clean sheet as the Reds beat Leicester 4-0.
Defence
Megan Finnigan
Everton captain Megan Finnigan has certainly done the armband justice this season, having been a key player for the Blues over this campaign. The centre-back has played twenty-one games this season in the WSL, scoring three goals in this time. The number twenty scored the only goal in the Merseyside Derby as Everton beat Liverpool in October, also scoring to secure a point against Bristol City. As well as going forward, she’s a tough and versatile defender, aerially strong against other players and overall a real asset to Everton. Fans will be happy to see the Blue’s longest-serving player has signed a new three-year deal with the club.
Naomi Layzell
At just 20 years old, Naomi Layzell has been one of Bristol City’s stand-out players. Despite the young age, she’s a really mature and reliable defender, not afraid to put in a strong tackle. With one of the highest block rates and clearances from WSL defenders, Bristol would have certainly been in a much worse position without her this season. Layzell’s exceptional season has labelled her as one of the top young players in the country, and the hard work is already paying off, as she was called in by Sarina Wiegman to train with the senior Lionesses in February. It’s almost certain that isn’t the last time we’ll see the young defender amongst this England squad.
Grace Fisk
Grace Fisk signed for Matt Beard’s Reds in the summer, joining from West Ham. Ever since, we’ve seen Liverpool’s backline go from strength to strength, and the defender has been a key component of Liverpool’s success since joining, fitting in seamlessly. The number four has played all 22 matches of the season, helping to provide that consistency which the Reds had been missing from defence in prior seasons. Keeping eight clean sheets has certainly helped Liverpool secure a fourth-place finish. Fisk’s tireless work ethic and dedication has sparked questions about when she will get a call-up into the England squad. In a recent interview, Fisk confirmed that she was “quite far off” from reaching the senior squad, after having no contact from Lioness manager Sarina Wiegman. However, to many, Liverpool’s player’s player of the season is one of the best defenders in the league.
Laia Aleixandri
Manchester City fullback Laia Aleixandri has been one of her team’s most consistent and relied-upon players last season. She’s had twenty-nine appearances in all competitions, the most for a City defender this season, contributing two goals and three assists. Aleixandri optimises the modern-day fullback, with tough tackles in defence, and pinpoint passing to capitalise on counter-attacks going forward. With much of the attention going towards City’s front line, it perhaps goes under the radar how important the dynamic defender really is. Though still a young player, she’s been incredibly composed on the ball and a real leader from the back, helping her team to keep nine clean sheets last season, the second highest in the league.
Midfield
Honoka Hayashi
Although it’s been a tough season for the Hammers, Japanese international Honoka Hayashi has played a pivotal role in keeping them in the WSL and picking up critical points. The midfielder has been a consistent face in West Ham’s XI, with twenty-three games in all competitions this season, and two goals and three assists. Hayashi’s main strength is her stamina – covering every blade of grass on the pitch, being able to get back and make strong tackles whilst also driving the ball up the pitch. She especially shone in their impressive 2-1 victory against Arsenal, where her non-stop running and last-ditch defending to secure all three points named her player of the match.
Yui Hasegawa
Another Japanese international who has once again shone last season is Manchester City midfielder Yui Hasegawa. Replacing Keira Walsh’s deep-laying role in midfield has been big boots to fill over the past two years, but she’s done this seamlessly. Hasegawa’s ability to break opponents’ lines with a burst of pace and technicality to drive the ball forward has been pivotal in City’s attack, especially seeing her link-up last season with striker Bunny Shaw. She’s also defensively class, with one of the highest rates of interceptions and winning back possession for the Blues. Hasegawa is undoubtably one of Manchester City’s most crucial players, and fans will be delighted of her new deal signed this January, to see her stay at the club until the summer of 2027.
Ceri Holland
It’s certainly been competitive for a place in the starting XI in Liverpool’s midfield last season, but Welsh international Ceri Holland has to be in there. Having started nearly all matches in the WSL for the Reds, she’s been absolutely pivotal in Liverpool’s success this season, scoring two goals and assisting four. She scored the Red’s only goal to see them take all three points against Brighton, and set up some outstanding goals, the best being the assist for Leanne Kiernan’s goal against Chelsea. Holland’s main quality on the pitch is her stamina – she famously “doesn’t stop running”, tirelessly making tackles and recovery to turn play from defence to attack in a split second. She really holds Liverpool’s midfield together, and it’s so noticeable when she’s not on the field.
Attack
Amalie Thestrup
Bristol City signed Amalie Thestrup from West Ham last summer, and in her first season for the Robins, she’s made an incredible impact. The Danish striker has scored nine goals in twenty-two matches – scoring almost half of the Robin’s goals, including equalisers against Everton and Liverpool. With 83% shot accuracy, the highest in the league, and one of the highest goal involvements per ninety minutes last season, Thestrup has become one of Bristol City’s most reliable and tenacious players, deservedly being named the Robin’s player of the year. Despite Bristol City’s relegation, Thestrup has had a season to be proud of, and her club would have been in a much worse position without her. She’s certainly one to keep an eye on during the summer transfer window – with talent like hers, she deserves to be playing in the top flight.
Elisabeth Terland
At only 22 years old, Elisabeth Terland has made an unbelievable impact in her second season at Brighton, scoring fifteen goals and one assist in all competitions. She’s been their most consistent player, featuring in all 22 WSL games last season, and coming second top WSL goalscorer, joint with Chelsea’s Lauren James. It’s not been an easy season for Brighton as they finished ninth in the table with nineteen points, but Terland played a crucial role in keeping them away from relegation and securing them a WSL place next season. The goals she has scored for Brighton have been pivotal, for example scoring two late goals against Leicester City to take away a point, before scoring a late winner against the Foxes in the reverse fixture. However, her most outstanding performance has to be against Bristol City, where the young Norwegian contributed two goals and one assist, including a last-minute winner to beat the Robins 3-2, proving crucial in the relegation battle. It’s safe to say the Brighton would not be in the position they are without her.
Aggie Beever-Jones
A product of the Chelsea academy, at just twenty years old, Aggie Beever-Jones has really made a breakthrough at her club last season. With so many injuries to Chelsea’s front-line especially in the second half of the season, the young forward was called upon in what turned out to be a very tight battle for the title. What was an incredible daunting task, she took in her stride, leading the line with such maturity and composure, and making an extraordinary impact for the Blues. Beever-Jones scored eleven goals and two assists in seventeen matches for Chelsea. One of her best performances came against Liverpool where she scored two goals and very nearly a late equaliser – although the Blues were defeated, ultimately the title came down to goal difference, where goals like these were so important. Beever-Jones also scored two goals and an assist against Bristol City, again playing a critical role to re-lift Chelsea’s title hopes and morale. Her impact at Chelsea this season has deservedly rewarded her with a senior call-up to the Lionesses for the first time, ahead of England’s Euro 2025 qualifying games.
Substitutes
Courtney Brosnan
Erin Cuthbert
Fuka Nagano
Emma Koivisto
Lena Peterman
Sjoeke Nusken
Eveliina Sumammen
Jess Naz
Gemma Bonner
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