2021–22 FA WSL

The 2021–22 FA WSL season (also known as the Barclays FA Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons) is the 11th season of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010.[1] It is the fourth season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football.

FA WSL
Season2021–22
Dates3 September 2021 – 8 May 2022
RelegatedBirmingham City
Champions LeagueArsenal
Chelsea
Matches played126
Goals scored368 (2.92 per match)
Top goalscorerSam Kerr
(18 goals)
Biggest home winArsenal 7–0 Aston Villa
1 May 2022
Biggest away winLeicester City 0–9 Chelsea
27 March 2022
Highest scoringLeicester City 0–9 Chelsea
27 March 2022
Manchester City 7–2 Brighton & Hove Albion
30 April 2022
Longest winning run8 matches
Chelsea
Manchester City
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Chelsea
Longest winless run10 matches
Birmingham City
Longest losing run9 matches
Leicester City
Highest attendance20,241
Manchester United 3–1 Everton
(27 March 2022)
Lowest attendance298
Birmingham City 0–3 Reading
(7 November 2021)
All statistics correct as of 4 May 2022.

On 4 May 2022, Birmingham City were relegated following a 6–0 defeat away at Manchester City with one game remaining. Members of the WSL since it was founded in 2011, it ended Birmingham's 20-year stint as a top-flight club having last been promoted as 2001–02 FA Women's Premier League Northern Division champions.[2]

Teams

Twelve teams contest the 2021–22 FA WSL season. At the end of the previous season, Bristol City were relegated after four seasons in the WSL while Leicester City were promoted for the first time.[3]

Locations of the 2021–22 FA WSL teams
TeamLocationGroundCapacity2020–21 season
ArsenalBorehamwoodMeadow Park4,0503rd
Aston VillaWalsallBescot Stadium11,30010th
Birmingham CityBirminghamSt Andrew's29,90211th
Brighton & Hove AlbionCrawleyBroadfield Stadium5,8006th
ChelseaKingston upon ThamesKingsmeadow4,8501st
EvertonLiverpoolWalton Hall Park2,2005th
Leicester CityLeicesterKing Power Stadium32,212WC, 1st
Manchester CityManchesterAcademy Stadium7,0002nd
Manchester UnitedLeighLeigh Sports Village12,0004th
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,1617th
Tottenham HotspurCanons ParkThe Hive Stadium5,4198th
West Ham UnitedDagenhamVictoria Road6,0789th

Stadium changes

Two teams changed home ground prior to the start of the season: Birmingham City relocated from Damson Park to St Andrew's, home of the team's male affiliate since 1906.[4] Leicester City prepared for their maiden WSL season by moving to their parent club's main stadium, King Power Stadium, with Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium serving as backup when fixtures clash with Leicester's men's side.[5]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Arsenal Jonas Eidevall Kim Little Adidas Fly Emirates
Aston Villa Carla Ward Marisa Ewers Kappa Cazoo
Birmingham City Darren Carter (interim) Louise Quinn Nike SmartMeds
Brighton & Hove Albion Hope Powell Danielle Bowman Nike American Express
Chelsea Emma Hayes Magdalena Eriksson Nike Three
Everton Chris Roberts (interim) Lucy Graham Hummel MegaFon[lower-alpha 1]
Leicester City Lydia Bedford Sophie Barker Adidas FBS
Manchester City Gareth Taylor Steph Houghton Puma Etihad Airways
Manchester United Marc Skinner Katie Zelem Adidas TeamViewer
Reading Kelly Chambers Natasha Harding Macron YLD
Tottenham Hotspur Rehanne Skinner Shelina Zadorsky Nike AIA
West Ham United Olli Harder Gilly Flaherty Umbro Betway
  1. On 2 March 2022, Everton suspended the sponsorship deal with MegaFon and removed the logos from their shirts in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine due to Alisher Usmanov's close ties to Vladimir Putin.[6]

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Aston Villa Marcus Bignot (interim) End of interim period[7] 10 May 2021 End of season (10th) Carla Ward 20 May 2021[8]
Birmingham City Carla Ward Resigned[9] 16 May 2021 End of season (11th) Scott Booth 30 June 2021[10]
Arsenal Joe Montemurro Resigned[11] 16 May 2021 End of season (3rd) Jonas Eidevall 28 June 2021[12]
Manchester United Casey Stoney Resigned[13] 16 May 2021 End of season (4th) Marc Skinner 29 July 2021[14]
Everton Willie Kirk Sacked[15] 16 October 2021 8th Jean-Luc Vasseur 29 October 2021[16]
Birmingham City Scott Booth Sacked[17] 18 November 2021 11th Tony Elliott (interim) 18 November 2021
Birmingham City Tony Elliott (interim) End of interim period[18] 21 November 2021 11th Darren Carter (interim) 21 November 2021[18]
Leicester City Jonathan Morgan Sacked[19] 25 November 2021 12th Emile Heskey (interim) 25 November 2021[19]
Leicester City Emile Heskey (interim) End of interim period[20] 6 December 2021 12th Lydia Bedford 6 December 2021[20]
Everton Jean-Luc Vasseur Sacked[21] 2 February 2022 10th Chris Roberts (interim) 2 February 2022[21]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Chelsea (T) 21 17 2 2 58 9 +49 53 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Arsenal (T) 21 16 4 1 63 10 +53 52 Qualification for the Champions League second round
3 Manchester City 21 14 2 5 56 22 +34 44 Qualification for the Champions League first round
4 Manchester United 21 12 6 3 43 18 +25 42
5 Tottenham Hotspur 21 8 5 8 23 23 0 29
6 West Ham United 21 7 6 8 23 31 −8 27
7 Brighton & Hove Albion 21 8 1 12 23 37 −14 25
8 Reading 21 7 4 10 21 36 −15 25
9 Aston Villa 21 6 3 12 13 39 −26 21
10 Everton 21 5 4 12 17 40 −23 19
11 Leicester City 21 4 1 16 14 52 −38 13
12 Birmingham City (R) 21 2 2 17 14 51 −37 8 Relegation to the Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2022. Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated; (T) Qualified, but not yet to the particular phase indicated

Results
Home \ Away ARS ASV BIR BHA CHE EVE LEI MCI MNU REA TOT WHU
Arsenal — 7–0 4–2 2–1 3–2 3–0 4–0 5–0 1–1 4–0 3–0 4–0
Aston Villa 0–4 — 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–2
Birmingham City 2–0 0–1 — 0–5 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–3 0–2 0–3 0–2 0–1
Brighton & Hove Albion 0–3 0–1 1–3 — 0–0 1–0 0–6 0–2 4–1 2–1 2–0
Chelsea 0–0 1–0 5–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–0 5–0 2–1 2–0
Everton 0–3 0–2 3–1 0–1 0–3 — 3–2 0–4 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–1
Leicester City 0–5 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–9 0–1 — 1–4 1–3 0–0 0–2 3–0
Manchester City 1–1 5–0 6–0 7–2 0–4 4–0 4–0 — 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–2
Manchester United 0–2 5–0 5–0 1–0 1–6 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 2–0 3–0 3–0
Reading 0–4 3–0 3–2 2–0 1–0 0–3 1–0 1–3 — 0–0 1–2
Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 0–1 1–0 4–0 1–3 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 — 1–1
West Ham United 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 3–0 4–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2022. Source: The FA
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 13, but then postponed and played between rounds 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for round 16.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Chelsea764322222222222221111
Arsenal421111111111111112222
Manchester City178997976655565544443
Manchester United336445565443334333334
Tottenham Hotspur642233443334443455555
West Ham United1087566757788777867766
Brighton & Hove Albion215754334577888786677
Reading11111112109888866656678888
Aston Villa5536786101010101099991010999
Everton12129881010999991010101099101010
Leicester City8910101212121212111211111111111111111111
Birmingham City91012111111111111121112121212121212121212
Leader and Champions League group stage
Champions League second round
Champions League first round
Relegation to Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2022. Source: FA WSL

Results by round
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
ArsenalWWWWWWDWWLDWDDWWWWWWW
Aston VillaWDWLLLWLLLLWLWLLLDWDL
Birmingham CityLLLLDLLLLLWLLLLLLDWLL
Brighton & Hove AlbionWWLLWWWLLLLDLLWWLWLLL
ChelseaLWWWWWWWLDWWDWWWWWWWW
EvertonLLWWLLDWDLLLLWWLLLDLD
Leicester CityLLLLLLLLLWLWLWWLLLLLD
Manchester CityWLLLDWLWWWWDLWWWWWWWW
Manchester UnitedWWLWDDDLWWWWDLWWDWWDW
ReadingLLLLWWDWWWWWLLDLLDLLD
Tottenham HotspurWWWWLDDLWWDLWWDLLLLDL
West Ham UnitedLDWWDLDWDDWLWLLWDWLWL
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2022. Source: The FA
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 4 May 2022
RankPlayerClubGoals[22]
1 Sam Kerr Chelsea 18
2 Vivianne Miedema Arsenal 14
3 Beth Mead Arsenal 11
4 Lauren Hemp Manchester City 9
Alessia Russo Manchester United
6 Bethany England Chelsea 8
Leah Galton Manchester United
Khadija Shaw Manchester City
Georgia Stanway Manchester City
10 Natasha Dowie Reading 6
Jessie Fleming Chelsea
Pernille Harder Chelsea
Fran Kirby Chelsea
Kim Little Arsenal
Guro Reiten Chelsea
Ella Toone Manchester United
Caroline Weir Manchester City

Top assists
As of 4 May 2022
RankPlayerClubAssists[23]
1 Beth Mead Arsenal 8
Ella Toone Manchester United
3 Vivianne Miedema Arsenal 7
4 Lauren Hemp Manchester City 6
Fran Kirby Chelsea
Katie McCabe Arsenal
7 Hannah Blundell Manchester United 5
Ji So-yun Chelsea
9 Steph Catley Arsenal 4
Erin Cuthbert Chelsea
Bethany England Chelsea
Jessie Fleming Chelsea
Sam Kerr Chelsea
Guro Reiten Chelsea
Alessia Russo Manchester United
Kateřina Svitková West Ham United
Caroline Weir Manchester City
Ellen White Manchester City
Katie Zelem Manchester United

Clean sheets
As of 4 May 2022
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[24]
1 Manuela Zinsberger Arsenal 12
2 Mary Earps Manchester United 10
3 Ann-Katrin Berger Chelsea 9
4 Grace Moloney Reading 7
Zećira Mušović Chelsea
Ellie Roebuck Manchester City
7 Megan Walsh Brighton & Hove Albion 6
8 Hannah Hampton Aston Villa 4
Demi Lambourne Leicester City
Sandy MacIver Everton
Rebecca Spencer Tottenham Hotspur

Hat-tricks
As of 4 May 2022
PlayerForAgainstResultDate Ref.
Sam Kerr Chelsea Birmingham City 5–0 (H) 21 November 2021 [25]
Khadija Shaw (4) Manchester City Brighton & Hove Albion 7–2 (H) 30 April 2022

Discipline
As of 4 May 2022
Most yellow cardsTotalMost red cardsTotalRef.
Player Maéva Clemaron (Tottenham Hotspur)
Katie McCabe (Arsenal)		 7 Hawa Cissoko (West Ham United) 2 [26]
Club Tottenham Hotspur 37 West Ham United 2 [27]

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
September Jonas Eidevall Arsenal Beth Mead Arsenal Pernille Harder (vs Manchester United) Chelsea [28][29]
October Jonas Eidevall Arsenal Katie McCabe Arsenal Katie McCabe (vs Aston Villa) Arsenal [30][31]
November Kelly Chambers Reading Jessie Fleming Chelsea Alessia Russo (vs Tottenham Hotspur) Manchester United [32]
December Marc Skinner Manchester United Ella Toone Manchester United Georgia Stanway (vs Birmingham City) Manchester City [33][34]
January Marc Skinner Manchester United Leah Galton Manchester United Natasha Dowie (vs Leicester City) Reading [35][36]
February Lydia Bedford Leicester City Ashleigh Neville Tottenham Hotspur Caroline Weir (vs Manchester United) Manchester City [37][38]
March Emma Hayes Chelsea Alessia Russo Manchester United Katie Zelem (vs Leicester City) Manchester United [39][40][41]

Annual awards
Award Winner Club
FWA Footballer of the Year Sam Kerr[42] Chelsea

References
  1. "The History of Women's Football". Football Association. The Football Association. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. Garry, Tom; McElwee, Molly (4 May 2022). "Birmingham relegated from WSL after being hit for six by rampant Manchester City". The Telegraph.
  3. "Chelsea Women win 2020/21 Women's Super League title with Man City Women second, Bristol City Women relegated". Sky Sports.
  4. "Birmingham Women to play at St Andrew's". BBC Sport.
  5. Garry, Tom (25 August 2021). "Leicester City Women to play eight matches at King Power Stadium in debut WSL campaign". The Telegraph.
  6. Burhan, Asif. "Everton Women Suspend Sponsorship With Alisher Usmanov-Owned MegaFon". Forbes.
  7. "Aston Villa Women can confirm that Marcus Bignot's term as Interim Manager has ended following the completion of the season". Aston Villa Football Club.
  8. "Ex-Birmingham boss Ward joins Villa". BBC Sport.
  9. Garry, Tom (14 May 2021). "Carla Ward resigns as Birmingham City Women manager". The Telegraph.
  10. "Scott Booth named Blues Women Head Coach". Birmingham City Football Club.
  11. "Arsenal Women manager Joe Montemurro to leave at end of season". The Guardian. 31 March 2021.
  12. "Jonas Eidevall named new Arsenal Women head coach". Arsenal FC. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  13. "Casey Stoney to leave role as Man Utd Women Head Coach". Manchester United. 12 May 2021.
  14. "Man Utd appoint Skinner as head coach". BBC Sport.
  15. "Everton sack Kirk after poor WSL start" – via www.bbc.com.
  16. "Everton appoint ex-Lyon manager Vasseur". BBC Sport.
  17. Garry, Tom (18 November 2021). "Birmingham City Women sack manager Scott Booth after just four months in charge". The Telegraph.
  18. "Blues Women Interim Head Coach: Darren Carter". Birmingham City Football Club.
  19. "Jonathan Morgan Leaves LCFC Women". Leicester City.
  20. "LCFC Women Appoint Lydia Bedford As First Team Manager". Leicester City.
  21. Garry, Tom (2 February 2022). "Everton sack manager Jean-Luc Vasseur after just 10 games in charge of women's side". The Telegraph.
  22. "The FA Women's Super League Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  23. "The FA Women's Super League Top Scorers - Top Assists". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  24. "Women's Super League Goalkeeper Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  25. "%competition_name% (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  26. "Yellow cards - WSL 2021/2022 stats". FotMob. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  27. "FA Women's Super League Discipline Stats 2021-22". ESPN. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  28. "Arsenal forward Beth Mead wins WSL Player of the Month and Jonas Eidevall named Manager of the Month". Sky Sports. 14 October 2021.
  29. "Pernille Harder September Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021.
  30. "Katie McCabe wins WSL player of the month as head coach Jonas Eidevall wins manager award for October". Sky Sports. 4 November 2021.
  31. "Katie McCabe October Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021.
  32. "Chelsea's Jessie Fleming named WSL Player of the Month for November as Reading boss Kelly Chambers wins manager award". Sky Sports.
  33. "WSL awards for Marc and Ella". www.manutd.com.
  34. "Georgia Stanway December Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  35. "Man Utd forward Leah Galton and manager Marc Skinner win monthly award". Sky Sports. 10 February 2022.
  36. "Natasha Dowie January Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022.
  37. "Ashleigh Neville & Lydia Bedford win Barclays WSL player & manager of the month awards". 90min.com.
  38. "February Barclays FA Women's Super League monthly awards". Sky Sports.
  39. "Emma Hayes wins Barclays WSL manager of the month for March". 90min.com.
  40. "Alessia Russo crowned WSL Player of the Month". www.manutd.com.
  41. "Katie Zelem March Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022.
  42. "Chelsea Women striker Sam Kerr crowned FWA Women's Footballer of the Year". Sky Sports.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.