Photo: Tom Phillips / SPP
For all the excitement of a title race that involved four teams, the narrative for the Women’s Super League season in 2022-23 contained some eerily familiar themes. Once again, Chelsea started the campaign slowly. Once again, Chelsea won the title.
Beginning with a shock defeat to newly promoted Liverpool, head coach Emma Hayes and her players did what they do every year — brushed off the early setback, stayed calm, and developed as the season went on. This is a team that relishes the slow burn, their eyes remaining on the ultimate prize while others enjoy smaller triumphs and fleeting flourishes of form. As the title race went to the final day, Hayes described the unfolding drama matter-of-factly as “business as usual.”
A final-day win over Reading ensured that Chelsea picked up a fourth consecutive WSL title, and a fifth in the last six years. The Blues paired the league triumph nicely with an FA Cup win, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, who also finished second in the league….
