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The Barclays WSL is back, and the opening weekend didn't disappoint.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa — Villa picked up their first-ever point against Chelsea after 12
straight defeats. Chelsea piled on 35 shots and 3.6 xG — their biggest attacking output in a league game
since 2017 — but debut keeper Akane Okuma was immense, making nine saves to frustrate them all afternoon.
London City Lionesses 2-1 Manchester United — A sell-out Hayes Lane crowd turned out
mostly to see Alexia Putellas' debut, but it was a Julia Zigiotti Olme own goal and a late Danielle
van de Donk flick that settled it. United's consolation didn't arrive until the seventh minute
of stoppage time.
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal — Ten minutes into her Arsenal debut, 19-year-old Lisa Baum drove
into the box and buried the winner off the underside of the crossbar. A serious first impression.
Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham City — City's title defence got underway with a Mary
Fowler strike and a Khadija "Bunny" Shaw brace, either side of Lauren Hemp's 200th
appearance for the club.
Tottenham 3-1 West Ham — Kirsty Hanson marked her Spurs debut with two goals.
Liverpool 4-0 Charlton Athletic — A routine away win to open the campaign.
The early theme of the season: new signings making an instant impact, and Chelsea's dominant numbers
not translating to results. Plenty to build on before this week's fixtures.
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