There are five Lionesses in GOAL's best XI, plus one player who recently earned a first call-up from Emma Hayes over in the United States…
Chelsea might have be unbeaten through all 10 of their Women's Super League outings in the first half of this 2024-25 campaign, starting their post-Emma Hayes era in flying form under new coach Sonia Bompastor, but as the division comes to its winter break, that doesn't mean there haven't been eye-catching stories or impressive performers elsewhere.
It's no surprise to see Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all in the top four places in the table alongside the Blues, with the Gunners doing particularly well to recover from a sloppy start that led to Jonas Eidevall's departure. Just below the Red Devils, meanwhile, is the surprise package of this campaign, with Brighton continuing to catch the eye under new boss Dario Vidosic.
Those are the five clubs represented in our WSL Team of the Season so far, but who from each side has got the nod? Without further ado, here is GOAL's best XI from the first half of the campaign…
Getty ImagesGK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Following in the footsteps of Mary Earps, winner of The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award in each of the last two years, would not be an easy task for any goalkeeper. Yet, Phallon Tullis-Joyce has risen to the challenge remarkably well and has been the most impressive goalkeeper in the first half of this WSL season.
Man Utd have the best defensive record as the league heads into its Christmas break, conceding just three times in 10 games despite their expected goals statistic against sitting at over 11. With a league-leading save percentage of over 90 per cent, Tullis-Joyce has played no small part in that great record.
But it's not just about the American's ability as a shot-stopper, with her distribution and consistency also standing out. She's been so good since inheriting the starting gig, in fact, that she earned her first call-up from Emma Hayes to the United States women's national team back in November. That says a lot, given the depth the U.S. has.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Lucy Bronze
When Lucy Bronze signed for Chelsea in the summer, there were a lot of people who questioned whether it would be a good deal for the champions. With Ashley Lawrence and Eve Perisset both already at the club, they didn't need a right-back, while others simply just didn't believe that the 33-year-old had the level in her to be a consistently competent performer in a Blues team looking to go to the next level and win a Champions League. It's fair to say she's proved her doubters wrong so far.
Nailing down the starting role, Bronze has been superb for Chelsea through the first half of the season, with Katie McCabe, who takes set pieces for Arsenal, the only defender who has created more chances than the England star, and one of just three players overall in the league to have done so. But it is actually in her defending, the part of her game that her critics question the most, that Bronze has really stood out.
The full-back has consistently showcased her experience with her discipline getting forward, knowing when to go and when to stay, and leads the league in interceptions thanks to how well she has been reading the game. Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to the summer arrival is that arguably her most impressive performance of the season came in the 2-0 win over title rivals Man City, emphasising the fact than Bronze can certainly still hang with the best.
Getty Images SportCB: Maya Le Tissier
It's not just because of Tullis-Joyce that Man Utd have a great defensive record this season. While her opportunities for England continue to primarily come at right-back, Maya Le Tissier is having another fantastic campaign at the heart of the Red Devils' back line. That she is producing such stand-out form in her first season as captain of this club says a lot about her character and the manner in which she can step up when the pressure is on, despite being just 22 years old.
A fantastic distributor of the ball, and taking up a role in that sense which is vital to the way Man Utd play, Le Tissier also takes some beating in a physical battle, no matter who her opponent is. Leading her team in aerial duels won and interceptions, the young defender continues to catch the eye.
Getty Images SportCB: Millie Bright
While Alex Greenwood has been widely regarded as the Lionesses' best centre-back for a while, and has been having herself another strong season, it's her England team-mate, Millie Bright, who gets the nod ahead of her in this XI. Boasting a defensive record of just six goals conceded in 10 games, Chelsea have been strong at the back this term and Bright's ever presence has certainly helped, especially while those around her have often been rotated.
There's been no one particularly impressive performance from the Blues skipper but rather a very good showing week after week, as she leads the squad for aerial duels won and ranks fourth for interceptions made, while also boasting two assists for rather different reasons. The first came from Bright doing as she always does, in causing problems attacking a corner, while the second was a perfect cross-field ball that Johanna Rytting Kaneryd volleyed home just as brilliantly.