The first round of Fantasy is now complete, following defending BWSL Champions Manchester City’s 3-1 win over last season’s BWSL 2 Champions, Birmingham City.
Matchweek one had plenty of talking points, but matchweek two is where the key Fantasy decisions begin to matter most.
Arsenal defenders are a safe pick for the next couple of games, at least.
Last season’s BWSL runners-up Arsenal correctly began their season with a 1-0 win away at Brighton and Hove Albion as new signing Lisa Baum bagged her first goal for the Gunners.
Last season, Renée Slegers' side had the best defensive numbers in the division with 11 clean sheets and just fourteen goals conceded, just one shy of the record set by Aston Villa back in 2021/22.
Arsenal 25/26 BWSL defensive numbers
Clean sheets - 11 (1st)
Goals conceded - 14 (1st)
xG conceded -15.4 (1st)
Goals conceded per match - 0.6 (1st)
Emirates Stadium was also a happy hunting ground for Arsenal last season, having gone unbeaten across the season and conceding just eight goals.
Of their remaining games in Leg 1, they play two at home and two away. The two home games are pretty favourable fixtures as they face Crystal Palace and Manchester United, while away from home, it’s Chelsea and Manchester City.
The Gunners' first home game against the Eagles seems like a good opportunity to record another big haul for defenders.
Emily Fox could be classed as a differential pick heading into matchweek two, having only been selected by 14% of players.
The £6.5 million price is the sixth-highest for a defender in the game; however, it does guarantee minutes, having started in 18 of the 20 appearances that she made in the BWSL last season.
She finished matchweek one with the joint highest points total of any Arsenal defender, earning seven points alongside Steph Catley.
The biggest challenge for Fantasy players will be picking the defenders who are guaranteed minutes. For the next few games at least, it does seem that the Gunners American full-back could be one to make the difference.
Teams to target
Arsenal
Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)
As mentioned, Arsenal do seem one of the better teams to target in matchweek two, particularly as they host a newly promoted Crystal Palace side at home. Defenders do seem like a sure choice, but it could also be a week to potentially back Alessia Russo when it comes to captaincy.
This should also be a game where the Gunners create plenty of chances, allowing opportunities for either last week’s goalscorer Baum or Olivia Smith to thrive.
Speaking of clean sheet opportunities, new signing Misa Rodriguez could also be an effective pick for matchweek two, having started in the win over Brighton. Being priced at £5 million and just 3% owned, the Spaniard may be the differential needed for players to kickstart their season.
Potential picks
Alessia Russo - £11.5 million (Forward)
Lisa Baum - £6.5 million (Midfielder)
Olivia Smith - £7.5 million (Midfielder)
Emily Fox - £6.5 million (Defender)
Misa - £5.0 million (Goalkeeper)
Manchester City
Fixture: Aston Villa (A)
The defending champions looked formidable in the opening fixture of their title defence, racking up 28 shots, 2.59 xG and having 59 touches in the opposition box.
The attack seems like the most effective route, with Khadija Shaw repaying the faith of those who selected her by scoring a brace.
Last season’s BWSL Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner is the most selected player in Fantasy (60%), meaning that other forwards may be effective in order to make the difference.
One of those different choices may be Mary Fowler, the Australian’s brilliant 10 goals and 10 assists from 34 games in all competitions back in 2024/25 were halted after rupturing her ACL in a Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to city rivals Manchester United.
After 10 months out, she returned and made nine appearances last season, including the first goal in a sensational 3-2 comeback in the FA Cup semi-finals away at Chelsea.
This season, the Australian has begun well, with the opening goal in the win over Birmingham. She claimed the third-most points of any City player from the game with seven. In total, Fowler created two chances and completed two successful dribbles.
She is priced at just £6.0 million currently, and only picked by 5% of players.
In terms of defenders that pose an attacking threat, Kerstin Caspari could be that player. The Dutch full-back already has an assist to her name this season, and created four chances in the Birmingham game, returning 11 points to the 35% of players that chose her.
Last season, she also had the most assists in the Manchester City team with seven.
Aston Villa have already shown they are susceptible to giving up chances too, allowing Chelsea 35 shots and 3.60 xG, despite walking away from Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw. They conceded the second most goals last season with 48, while City scored the most with 62.
Potential picks
Khadija Shaw - £12.5 million (Forward)
Mary Fowler - £6.0 million (Forward)
Kerstin Caspari - £8.0 million (Defender)
Alex Greenwood - £7.0 million (Defender)
London City Lionesses
Fixture - West Ham (A)
The big story from the first weekend of the new BWSL season was the new-look London City Lionesses getting a win on opening night by beating Manchester United 2-1, though the performance in truth was quite a dominant one.
They now go into a run of fixtures across the next three games which on paper look favourable, facing West Ham away, a newly promoted Charlton side at home, and Brighton away from home.
Last season, London City did beat both West Ham and Brighton in the BWSL, and both clubs did not enjoy the best start to their seasons, having suffered defeats to both North London clubs.
The biggest challenge when it comes to Eder Maestre’s side will be who gets consistent minutes, particularly for a side whose main focus for the majority of the season will be on the league.
Of the attacking threats in the team, Daniëlle van de Donk is the only one to have played 90 minutes in the win over Manchester United, returning nine points having scored a wonderful goal to make it 2-0 late on.
Only being £4.5 million too could become a potential steal in terms of being a budget enabler that will also get consistent points.
Of course, when talking about the London City Lionesses, you can’t mention Alexia Putellas, who in prospect does seem like a good pick in terms of minutes, having been appointed the captain of the team.
The two-time Ballon d'Or Féminin winner is priced as the most expensive midfielder in the game at £8.5 million, so the question will be: can she provide returns on a consistent basis which players will expect at such a premium price point?
Delphine Cascarino is also another one to watch, having created the most chances in the game with four, recording the most touches in the opposition box with eight, and also providing the assist for van de Donk. £5.5 million and 3% ownership could be quite enticing factors for players.
Defensively, Mapi León and Isa Kardinaal have the potential to be essentials in the backline after playing 90 minutes on the opening weekend; the question will be how often London City can keep clean sheets. This next three-game run may be the chance to do so.
Potential picks
Daniëlle van de Donk (£4.5 million) - Midfielder
Alexia Putellas (£8.5 million) - Midfielder
Delphine Cascarino (£5.5 million) - Midfielder
Mapi León (£5.5 million) - Defender
Isa Kardinaal (£4 million) - Defender
Delphine Cascarino (£5.5 million) - Midfielder
