The wait is almost over. Fantasy football (and real football!) is finally here.
With the new BWSL and BWSL2 Fantasy game giving us £100m to spend, there are plenty of ways to build a team. Before you get too attached to your midfielders or start agonising over your bench, there is one decision that could make or break your opening weekend:
Who gets the armband?
Your captain scores double, so this isn't the time to play it safe just for the sake of it. You want goals, assists and, ideally, a player who looks capable of taking over a game.
Here are the five players The Scout recommends as a captaincy shortlist for Gameweek 1.
1. Alexia Putellas — London City Lionesses
vs Manchester United | £8.5m
Let's get the obvious one out of the way.
Alexia Putellas is already the most-picked player in the Fantasy game, appearing in 57% of teams in the latest WSL Football data. And honestly, it's not difficult to see why.
Two Ballon d'Ors. Four Champions League titles. A World Cup winner.
Now she's in the BWSL.
The one thing working against her is the fixture. Manchester United aren't exactly the easiest opponent to welcome to your new league, and Putellas has never played in England's top flight before. There will inevitably be an adjustment period.
Then again, if you're looking for a player who can produce something from absolutely nothing, Putellas is about as good as it gets.
She doesn't need to score to justify the armband either. Her ability to create, dictate play and find those tiny pockets of space gives her multiple routes to Fantasy points.
The risk is real but so is the upside.
2. Alessia Russo — Arsenal
at Brighton | £11.5m
Sometimes Fantasy football rewards you for overthinking things. This probably isn't one of those times.
Russo finished last season with 13 BWSL goals and six assists from 22 appearances, making her one of the safest attacking options available.
The £11.5m price tag isn't cheap but there is a reason she's one of the game's premium players.
The slight concern is the fixture. Brighton are no easy opponent and Arsenal will have to work for their chances at Broadfield Stadium.
Russo is exactly the sort of forward you want when those chances do arrive.
She is Arsenal's focal point, knows how to find space in the box and has the finishing ability to turn one good opportunity into a big Fantasy return.
Not particularly adventurous but sometimes it’s better to err on the safer side.
3. Emily Syme — Bristol City
at Sunderland | £7.5m
Now we're getting interesting.
If you want to move away from the obvious BWSL names, Emily Syme is my pick from BWSL2.
The Bristol City captain had a huge 2025/26 campaign, finishing with four goals, nine assists and 146 Fantasy points; the seventh-highest total across both divisions. Her nine assists also put her second among BWSL2 players.
And at £7.5m, there's plenty of room to work with.
The attraction isn't just her scoring potential. Syme's involvement means she can rack up points through creating chances as well, making her a particularly appealing captain if you don't want to rely solely on a striker finding the net.
Bristol City travel to Sunderland for their opener and if the Robins' attack clicks early, Syme could be right in the middle of it.
She's not going to be everyone's captain but that's exactly what makes her a good pick.
4. Lauren James — Chelsea
vs Aston Villa | £7.5m
If Putellas feels like the exciting pick and Russo feels like the safe one, Lauren James sits somewhere nicely in the middle.
Chelsea's opening fixture against Aston Villa gives James an appealing platform to start the season, while her price makes her considerably easier to fit into a Fantasy squad than the premium forwards.
Then there's the obvious factor: when James is on it, she is really on it.
She has the ability to create chances herself, score from distance and produce the kind of individual moment that turns into Fantasy gold.
The only question is consistency and how Chelsea's new-look attack settles.
At £7.5m? Sure, I’ll bite.
5. Saoirse Noonan — Watford
vs Burnley
Finally, for those of you who looked at the first four names and thought, Nope, I'm going rogue.
Saoirse Noonan.
The Republic of Ireland international brings plenty of experience to Watford's attack after playing at the top level of English football and she gets a fascinating opening fixture against newly promoted Burnley.
There are obviously more question marks here.
A new team and a new season. We don't yet know exactly how Watford's attack will look in BWSL2.
That's also what makes a differential fun.
If Noonan hits the ground running, the managers who trusted her early could have a serious advantage over the rest of us.
It's a gamble but what’s fantasy football without a few risks?
So, who gets my armband?
Putellas gets it for me.
Yes, Manchester United is a difficult opening fixture and this is her first BWSL season. Yet, when you're choosing a captain sometimes you have to back the player who can completely change a game.
Russo is the safer alternative. James gives you a cheaper route to attacking returns. Syme is the differential I really like and Noonan is for anyone who wants to start the season with a little chaos.
Bottom line: The best captain isn't necessarily the biggest name. It's the player who has the right combination of role, fixture and opportunity when the deadline rolls around.
Now, we get to find out.