Mariona Caldentey magic, Sonia Bompastor’s triumph at Chelsea, plus Man Utd and Man Metropolis pleasure – WSL finish of season awards

‘Shaw celebration one of the best second’

Sky Sports activities pundit and co-commentator Courtney Sweetman-Kirk:

Greatest participant – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man Utd)

On the pitch, she’s a implausible goalkeeper and you may inform she’s an excellent teammate with the best way the Man Utd gamers react along with her. She’s somebody I might’ve appreciated to have performed with.

Greatest supervisor – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

Her first season within the league, she wins the WSL and goes unbeaten.

Newcomer – Renee Slegers (Arsenal)

She’s finished a implausible job since coming in as supervisor. She was within the Arsenal set-up earlier than, however with the flip in fortunes and getting them to a Champions League last – it is an excellent achievement.

Greatest second, impression and celebration – Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Man Metropolis)

Her ‘Black Energy’ salute after the racial abuse that she acquired, it was a really highly effective second for not solely her and the sport itself, however the wider significance of combating racism in society.

Shock of the season – Aston Villa 5-2 Arsenal

Aston Villa performed very well. The flip in kind for them on the finish of the season has been an enormous shock.

‘Skinner has proven resilience this season’

Sky Sports activities pundit and co-commentator Emma Byrne:

Greatest participant – Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

She’s been constantly wonderful. The truth that she got here in as a winger and finally ends up enjoying as a No 6, she’s finished it extremely effectively. Generally, she’s been an absolute revelation to the WSL.

Greatest supervisor – Marc Skinner (Man Utd)

He is been extraordinarily resilient contemplating every thing he is needed to undergo. Man Utd completed fifth final season, they misplaced a extremely vital goalkeeper, additionally they bought Alessia Russo the 12 months earlier than and people big, important gamers would usually ensure an opposition workforce is a little bit bit inferior.

However Marc has finished a particularly good job in rebuilding the workforce, bringing in gamers and usually with how they play, you’ll be able to see there’s an enormous togetherness there.

He is needed to be very resilient with issues which have occurred within the background too. It has been public in regards to the struggles at Man United for the ladies’s workforce and he is dealt with issues very effectively.

Hero of the season – Shekiera Martinez (West Ham)

She’s introduced West Ham to life. They have been struggling in the beginning of the season because of accidents and new gamers coming in, they wanted to construct momentum, and after Christmas she has revived that workforce. She’s been an actual star and introduced West Ham in control. They appear like a very totally different workforce when she’s enjoying.

Newcomer – Kiko Seke (Brighton)

It is very tough to come back into the WSL, particularly whenever you’re coming from different divisions. Generally, Japanese gamers are likely to take a few seasons to rise up to the extent, however she began with a bang, scoring her hat-trick within the first recreation of the season.

She hasn’t performed an enormous quantity, she’s been out and in, however I do consider she’s going to be an enormous participant for Brighton. She’s finished excellently not too long ago so I am actually joyful to see her are available and settle effectively.

Greatest ability – Mary Fowler (Man Metropolis)

I am all the time in awe of Mary, how she makes use of each her proper and left foot and I do not know what number of occasions I’ve googled which foot is her strongest foot.

I’ve even requested her teammates and a few of them do not even know. She glides with it and he or she makes issues look actually easy, however it’s unimaginable how she will simply shift from left to proper and a few of her targets have been wonderful as effectively.

Impression – The media and Arsenal reaching the Champions League last

I do not suppose any nation covers ladies’s soccer higher than England – being an Irish individual, that is not simple to say!

Membership-wise, Arsenal reaching the ultimate of the Ladies’s Champions League is big. We nonetheless have not seen how large that is going to get and the way it is going to impression followers, youngsters and the league usually.

Greatest ambiance – Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham Hotspur

I believe it was a report crowd and it had that London derby really feel. There hasn’t been many occasions the place I felt that in opposition to Spurs, however that day was unimaginable and the group was simply electrical. It was implausible.

Greatest celebration – Mayra Ramirez and Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea)

You possibly can inform they apply it quite a bit which makes me chortle. It is very amusing and I consider Ramirez is sort of quiet so that is growing her persona which could be very candy.

Shock – Aston Villa 5-2 Arsenal

It was an enormous shock when Aston Villa beat Arsenal. The Gunners have been coming off the again of beating Lyon and seemed like a workforce that might undoubtedly problem Barcelona. Aston Villa had been leaking targets, struggled defensively and so they completely whipped Arsenal. That was an actual mouth-opener.

‘Bartrip has been Spurs’ hero’

Sky Sports activities Information reporter Anton Toloui:

Greatest participant – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man Utd)

Mariona Caldentey has been the saviour of Arsenal’s season however the place would Manchester be with out PTJ? At occasions it is felt as if her athleticism and dependability has single-handedly stored her workforce on observe.

Greatest supervisor – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

The report speaks for itself. The achievement is much more spectacular contemplating it is her first season in cost.

Hero of the season – Molly Bartrip (Spurs)

It hasn’t been an excellent season for Tottenham Hotspur however Bartrip has continued her rise to being a constant presence of their backline. She’s additionally finished quite a bit for therefore many off the sector by being so open about vital societal points, together with her personal expertise with consuming problems.

Newcomer – Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea)

It does not matter the place she performs, Baltimore presents excellence and pleasure. At 25 she will nonetheless get higher, which is a daunting thought.

Greatest ability – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea)

The way in which she took her volley at dwelling to Spurs was one thing 99 per cent of the gamers within the league might solely dream of. Objective of the season for me.

Greatest second – FA Cup trophy carry

It hasn’t occurred but however that second will imply Chelsea go the entire home season undefeated or Man Utd spoil probably the largest achievement within the English recreation.

Impression – Naomi Girma (Chelsea)

A membership spending over $1m on a participant was unthinkable even a few years in the past. If you wish to end greater than Chelsea subsequent season it is going to value you – world class expertise could be very costly lately.

Greatest recreation – Manchester derby on the Etihad

The second Man Metropolis knew they weren’t simply in bother, they wanted main assist. Man Utd performed their rivals off the park and proved which of the town’s groups deserved Champions League soccer.

Shock – Leicester 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea went to the King Energy anticipating to hammer struggling Leicester. As an alternative, the champions went a objective down and solely got here away from the East Midlands with some extent.

Reminiscence – Sonia’s smile

It is tough to not be joyful for the pleasant Frenchwoman. Taking up from Emma Hayes was one heck of a activity, you’ll be able to see from the WSL celebrations simply how a lot it means to have such a profitable season.

‘Emirates has one of the best ambiance within the WSL’

Sky Sports activities pundit Jayne Ludlow:

Greatest participant – Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

She provides nice all-round midfield performances. Defensively – her work price, consciousness to interrupt up play, one vs one, then attacking – her velocity of play, adjustments of tempo, ending and motion off the ball are good.

Greatest supervisor – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

Unbeaten, dominant home season with a brand new workforce. I am trying ahead to seeing her put her stamp on the workforce with gamers she indicators within the subsequent few seasons.

Hero of the season – Renee Slegers (Arsenal)

She’s obtained to a Champions League last in her first 12 months as a head coach. She’s additionally getting confirmed gamers to play at high of their recreation, like Alessia Russo and Kim Little. A gifted, younger feminine coach who will get even higher with expertise.

Newcomer – Lily Murphy (Man Metropolis)

Signed from a grassroots workforce two and a half years in the past for Man Metropolis’s academy and performed quite a few video games within the first workforce this 12 months. She has solely had one 12 months of senior soccer expertise earlier than this season, so there’s tons extra to come back from her. An thrilling winger with tempo to burn and one vs one skill.

Greatest recreation – Man Metropolis 3-4 Arsenal

An end-to-end recreation with numerous targets. Defensively, there might have been higher choices, however an thrilling edge-of-your-seat watch with two groups going for it.

Impression – Arsenal attending to Champions League last

An enormous achievement for an English membership to get again to the European last and hopefully they’ll win it once more. We speak about WSL being high of the feminine recreation however have not had justification for this in earlier years.

Greatest ambiance – The Emirates

A number of video games with excessive quantity attendance which bodes effectively for the membership and development of the broader recreation.

Greatest celebration – Mayra Ramirez and Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea)

These will need to have ben pre-planned. I like the truth that they’re assured they’ll rating in every recreation so get routines prepared.

Shock of the season – Man Metropolis needing to make use of academy gamers because of accidents

Man Metropolis having so many accidents when the 12 months earlier than they have been classed because the ‘fittest workforce’ within the WSL based mostly on bodily monitoring knowledge. It meant numerous academy younger gamers had senior recreation alternatives which bodes effectively for his or her futures, hopefully.

‘Who noticed Man Metropolis’s collapse coming?’

Sky Sports activities soccer journalist Laura Hunter:

Greatest participant – Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

I’ve appreciated tons supplied by gamers new to the WSL season. However maybe this is not probably the most appropriately headlined class for that. Specific shouts go to Elisabeth Terland and maverick Shekiera Martinez.

However Mariona Caldentey has obtained to be the headline choose right here. Renee Slegers rightly calls her “complete soccer”. She excels in virtually each artistic class, a participant that glides effortlessly throughout a soccer pitch and may harm you from all angles.

Greatest supervisor – Renee Slegers (Arsenal)

Clearly this was a toss-up between Slegers and Sonia Bompastor. The explanation I’ve chosen the Arsenal boss is due to the impressiveness of the upturn beneath her management. I had the privilege of interviewing her earlier this season and it was a splendid perception into her methodology. Very trustworthy and open. Arsenal will go far beneath her.

Hero of the season – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man Utd)

Most clear sheets, greatest save ratio, most targets prevented – all Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Man United merely wouldn’t be the place they’re with out her. The membership’s leap ahead this season has been spectacular and their best-in-class goalkeeper has had an enormous hand (pardon the pun) in that.

Newcomer – Olivia Smith (Liverpool)

In what has been a disappointing season for Liverpool usually, Olivia Smith has been a shining gentle. Some very good summer time enterprise. The Canada worldwide is Liverpool’s high scorer this season with 9 targets in all competitions. And she or he tallies effectively in WSL phrases too, high of the charts for profitable dribbles, and goal-ending carries.

Greatest second – Toone hat-trick in derby

Ella Toone scored an outstanding hat-trick in an exciting Manchester derby again in January. It marked her first hat-trick within the WSL and her first objective in a Manchester derby. Having missed giant chunks of the season with a prolonged calf damage, it was nice to listen to the unmistakable chants of “Tooooone” once more.

Impression – Shekiera Martinez (West Ham)

The place has Shekiera Martinez come from? She grew to become the first-ever participant to attain 4 targets in a WSL match in West Ham’s 7-1 win over Crystal Palace in March. Outstanding. Her xG distinction, visualised beneath, speaks volumes about her impression throughout a debut season.

Greatest recreation – Brighton 4-2 Arsenal

Purely for the shock issue – Brighton’s first league win over Arsenal. And the added delight of two worldie targets. Fran Kirby and Jelena Cankovic – take a bow.

Shock of the season – Man Metropolis’s collapse

I had such excessive hopes for Man Metropolis this season. Keep in mind once they beat Barcelona within the group phases of the Champions League to intensify such hope? Sure, accidents have ravaged their squad – and most of their greatest abilities at that – however they’ve nonetheless folded disappointingly.

Reminiscence – Bronze header to clinch title

Lucy Bronze scored the one objective of a colorless 1-0 over Man Utd in April to clinch Chelsea the title, however it epitomised every thing the champions are about. I will do not forget that second as a result of it was loaded with such defiance. Becoming the objective was scored by a serial winner in Bronze, too – England’s most trophied participant.

‘Manchester derbies delivered on leisure’

Sky Sports activities’ senior soccer journalist Charlotte Marsh:

Greatest participant – Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)

It has been a pleasure to look at Caldentey this season. She has lived as much as her billing as a serial winner from Barcelona, and introduced world-class high quality to Arsenal. She has scored eight WSL targets with 5 assists, bringing versatility and inventive spark to wherever she performs.

Greatest supervisor – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

Following Emma Hayes into Chelsea was by no means going to be simple. However profitable two trophies in your first season – and a attainable third in subsequent weekend’s FA Cup last – is spectacular. Maybe the plain alternative however Bompastor’s achievements this season can’t be ignored.

Hero of the season – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man Utd)

An excellent season for Man Utd’s No 1. Filling Mary Earps’ gloves was by no means going to be simple, however protecting 13 clear sheets and conceding simply 16 targets is solely sensational in her first full WSL marketing campaign.

Newcomer – Shekiera Martinez (West Ham)

It is exhausting to consider Martinez has solely performed half a season for West Ham, having spent the primary few months on mortgage in her native Germany. Her impression has been immediate – 12 video games, 10 targets, and a key a part of the Hammers’ enhancements.

Greatest second – WSL groups within the Champions League

Regardless of being touted because the strongest ladies’s league in Europe, the WSL has typically fallen brief in Europe. Having Arsenal within the last, in addition to two groups within the semis – and all three within the quarters – might hopefully be the beginning of extra English success within the Champions League going ahead.

Impression – Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw in opposition to Liverpool

Shaw was topic to misogynistic and racist abuse earlier this season, and made herself unavailable for a League Cup win recreation in opposition to Arsenal consequently.

On her return to the beginning XI, she scored in opposition to Liverpool within the WSL, and carried out a ‘Black Energy’ salute. One of the highly effective moments of the WSL this season.

Greatest recreation – Each Manchester derbies

The WSL video games between Man Utd and Man Metropolis delivered. Man Utd’s 4-2 win in January featured a particular hat-trick from Ella Toone, earlier than Marc Skinner’s aspect battled again to a 2-2 draw at Man Metropolis just a few weeks in the past to safe European soccer over their metropolis rivals. Enthralling each on and off the pitch.

Greatest celebration – Kerstin Casparij vs Everton

WSL gamers aren’t afraid to make statements with their celebrations – and Casparij did simply that after scoring in opposition to Everton. She wore a wristband of the trans flag, and kissed it as she wheeled away from objective. It got here after the UK’s Supreme Courtroom dominated that the authorized definition of a lady relies on organic intercourse.

She echoed her message of help on social media. The WSL has all the time been an inclusive area for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, and Casparij demonstrated that completely.

Shock of the season – Arsenal overwhelmed by Aston Villa and Brighton

After the excessive of beating Lyon, Arsenal slumped to successive defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton. It was a shock to see a workforce just like the Gunners make so many errors and concede 9 targets in simply two video games, proving that each WSL opponent is hard when you’re not on the high of your recreation.

‘Madsen proposal a second to recollect’

Sky Sports activities soccer journalist Patrick Rowe:

Greatest participant – Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Man Metropolis)

It is extremely exhausting to look previous the Man Metropolis striker for this award. She has 12 targets to her title, joint high with Alessia Russo, and her significance is just emphasised whenever you take a look at Metropolis’s drop-off since shedding their star participant.

She continues to function at one other stage and I stay up for seeing the heights she will attain when she’s again to full health.

Greatest supervisor – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)

A simple choice. Sonia Bompastor has already secured two trophies in her first season in England and will very effectively make it three with the FA Cup last on the horizon.

Falling brief within the Ladies’s Champions League doesn’t tarnish what has been a particular debut in England.

Hero of the season – Grace Clinton (Man Utd)

At simply 22 years of age, Grace Clinton is recurrently showcasing expertise past her years within the coronary heart of the Manchester United midfield.

Her eight targets within the WSL – together with an important header to tug her aspect again into the sport in opposition to rivals Man Metropolis not too long ago – have guided United to Europe’s elite competitors subsequent season.

The subsequent stage in her growth might be testing herself in opposition to Champions League opposition.

Greatest second – Rikke Madsen (Everton)

A heartwarming angle for this one. Rikke Madsen returned to the pitch throughout Everton’s win over Crystal Palace in March and throughout the post-match celebration scenes along with her household and teammates, she was proposed to by her accomplice Martin Thomsen!

I am unable to say I’ve seen something like that earlier than in soccer, however it was a pleasure to look at it unfold.

Greatest recreation – Man Utd 2-2 Man Metropolis

Derby days all the time ship however the fixture at Outdated Trafford within the WSL had added significance driving on it.

Metropolis raced right into a two-goal lead, with their hopes of a end within the high three driving on the win, however United battled again valiantly to safe a draw and their spot within the Champions League within the course of.

Excessive-quality targets with loads of drama and probabilities at each ends. Gratifying from begin to end.