It is easy to focus on the best players in a team and their importance, such as Bunny Shaw at Manchester City or Lauren James at Chelsea
However, players in those squads have a different perspective and can often throw up different options for players who make their team tick.
So The Athletic went to the recent Women’s Super League media day to ask players one key question: who is the most underrated player on your team?
The answers ranged from veterans to newcomers. Some highlighted the off-field impact of their team-mates, while others suggested players in certain positions often get less attention. (Midfielders were an overwhelmingly popular pick.)
With one pick from each WSL team, here are their answers.
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Kim Little, Arsenal
Beth Mead: “People talk about her, but she is always underrated. She has been at the club for years and does a lot of hard graft — sometimes a graft that no one sees. She does the defensive work.
“She doesn’t get the glory of goals but sets them up, wins the ball back. An ultimate professional. She’s always competitive. Always on it in training every single day and doesn’t always get the plaudits she deserves.”
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Lucy Staniforth, Aston Villa
Maz…
