The Women’s Super League (WSL) season is over and, while the Champions League final is still to come on Saturday, it is time to reflect on 2023-24.
Our team of writers and analysts have been looking back at a dramatic campaign and have cast their votes in The Athletic’s end-of-season awards.
Our men’s football awards can be found here.
It’s time to reveal the winners…
Khadija Shaw reacts to being awarded with The Athletic’s WSL Player of the Season for 2023/24.#TAFCAwards | #MCFC pic.twitter.com/tWRO9fSOYW
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 21, 2024
WSL Player of the Season: Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Runner-up for the Golden Boot by two goals last year, this time there was no stopping Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, even though she missed the final three games of the season through injury. She has yet again shown what a complete striker she is, with a variety of top-class finishes, her impressive hold-up play and aerial prowess.
A clear focal point for Manchester City, Shaw has been clinical in front of goal and a nightmare to defend against. The Jamaica international has bettered her statistics from last year, scoring 21 times in 18 matches — a rate of 1.37 goals per 90 minutes played. Her absence might have been the difference in the title race, as Chelsea pipped City on the final day.
Charlotte Harpur
Khadija Shaw reacts to being awarded with The Athletic’s WSL Player of the Season for 2023/24.#TAFCAwards | #MCFC pic.twitter.com/tWRO9fSOYW
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 21, 2024
WSL Young Player of the Season: Jess Park (Manchester City)
There were two completely different halves to Park’s season. You would understand her frustration having missed out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a shoulder injury and then sitting on the bench for City until February this year. But when Jill Roord was sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Park was rewarded with her patience, taking her opportunity in the No 10 position with both hands and lighting up City’s attacking threat.
The 22-year-old started every one of City’s last nine league games, registering four goals and five assists. A menace in midfield, she has always been known for her driving runs and quick feet but this year her quality in scoring and creating chances has shone through.
Charlotte Harpur
WSL Team of the Season
Chelsea and Manchester City took the title down to the wire and as a reflection of that their players feature heavily in the WSL Team of the Season.
Manchester City’s Khiara Keating saved more goals than expected than any other goalkeeper in the WSL and at 19 years old is the youngest recipient of the Golden Glove award.
Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood have been rock solid for their respective clubs and, while goals will take the headlines, their performances kept their teams in the running.
Yui Hasegawa has pulled the strings in City’s midfield, seamlessly filling the gaping hole vacated by Keira Walsh two years ago, while Erin Cuthbert, who shared the Chelsea armband with Niamh Charles, has enjoyed her best season to date.
The attacking line are the top three contributors for goals and assists combined and have been instrumental to the chances their teams have either converted or created.
Charlotte Harpur
WSL Goal of the Season: Khadija Shaw (for Manchester City vs Liverpool)
Just one of Shaw’s crackers this season. She initially has her back to goal but wants to face forward straight away. What is most impressive is her lightness of touch and balance for someone who is 6ft (1m 82cm) tall. Shaw is known, by her own admission, for her heading and physicality but focusing purely on those attributes would be to do her technical qualities a disservice. And this goal shows why. She not only silkily sets herself up but hits an absolute rocket with so much power, yet 100 per cent accuracy. Ridiculous.
Charlotte Harpur
European Women’s Player of the Season: Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
After a disappointing World Cup campaign with Norway, Graham Hansen has bounced back with perhaps her greatest season yet. Nineteen goals and 18 assists from the equivalent of 17 complete matches in Liga F this season is an absurdly good record, and she has now won eight league titles in a row — three with Wolfsburg and five with Barcelona. An old-school, right-footed right winger who is capable of going on the outside or driving inside, she’s also adept at popping up in goalscoring positions when the ball is being crossed from the opposite wing, and her relationship with Aitana Bonmati in the right channel has constantly unlocked opposition defences.
Michael Cox
European Women’s Young Player of the Season: Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
The winner of the best young player award at the World Cup has also been the best young player in European club football this season. If last season was her breakthrough year, this time around she’s demonstrated consistency, intelligence and more assured finishing. Twice she’s managed a four-goal haul in Liga F, in an 8-0 win over Sevilla and a 7-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad — and she finished one goal behind Graham Hansen in the scoring charts. It’s only two years since Paralluelo signed for Barcelona and committed fully to football, having been a Spanish champion hurdler at youth level.
Michael Cox
European Women’s Team of the Season
Barcelona inevitably dominated the European XI of the season with six players, including all three midfielders and goalkeeper Cata Coll, who was a mere backup until her fine form at World Cup 2023 demonstrated her quality. Ona Batlle has unsurprisingly adjusted well to life alongside several international team-mates following her move from Manchester United.
The front three features the outstanding individuals from three different leagues. Manchester City’s Shaw spearheads the side, having recorded 21 goals and three assists. Tabitha Chawinga has 19 and 11 in her first season at PSG, while Graham Hansen has an incredible record of 19 and 18 at Barcelona. That’s a combined 91 goal contributions, from an almost unarguable front three for this season.
Michael Cox
European Women’s Manager of the Season: Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona)
It’s sometimes difficult to judge managerial performance considering the inequality in Liga F and the sheer depth in Barcelona’s squad. But Giraldez’s side unquestionably play the most cohesive, intricate attacking football in Europe, and you can’t argue with a title-winning campaign where they haven’t lost a single game. There will be another winner of this award next season, as Giraldez is leaving Europe to take charge of Washington Spirit, perhaps relishing a more testing role.
Michael Cox
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
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