Bunny Shaw’s record ninth Barclays WSL hat-trick, Newcastle’s watertight defence and a BWSL2 goal rush, plus all the key Fantasy stats from Matchweek 9.
Bunny’s Shaw to score
It seems like every week, Bunny Shaw reaches some kind of statistical milestone that strengthens her reputation as the best player in the BWSL and one of the best in the world (as acknowledged by the Manchester City star’s third-placed Ballon d’Or finish).
The three-time back-to-back BWSL Golden Boot winner hit her first hat-trick of the season – and her record-extending ninth overall in the competition – as the champions ran out 5-0 winners against West Ham United on Saturday.
In doing so, Shaw not only moved into double figures for goals this term (12 in nine BWSL games) but also for expected goals, taking herself to exactly 10.0 xG in double-quick time (almost literally – no one else in the division has accumulated more than 5.7). An emphatic reminder, as if it were needed, of how she’s always there, ready to pounce – and there’s usually nothing you can do about it as an opponent.
Newcastle refuse to lower the drawbridge
Newcastle United continue to lead the way in the BWSL2, holding onto their three-point lead over local rivals Sunderland at the top thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley – in which the division’s leading goalscorer, Martha Thomas, found the net for the fifth league game running.
But we’re going to focus on Newcastle’s miserly back line this week: the Magpies boast the best defensive record in either of the top two tiers (three goals conceded at an average of 0.42 per game) and have shut the opposition out in five of their eight matches this season, on-loan goalkeeper Kayla Rendell keeping her first clean sheet this time out.
Arguably most impressive of all, though, is that Newcastle are the only side in the BWSL or BWSL2 still yet to let in a goal from a set-piece situation this term.
Free-scoring BWSL2 trio in season first
The BWSL2 went goal-crazy this weekend, with 22 goals going in across the six matches at an average of 3.66 per game (by contrast, the seven BWSL encounters produced 24 goals at an average of 1.84 per game).
Not only that, but three of those BWSL2 clashes finished 4-1 (to Southampton at home to Sheffield United, and to Sunderland and Nottingham Forest away to Durham and Wolves respectively).
It’s the first time this season in either of the top two divisions that three games in a single Matchweek have resulted in the same scoreline.
An unlikely Golden Boot contender?
Who’s second behind Bunny Shaw in the BWSL Golden Boot race? Well, officially, it’s Birmingham City’s Oceane Hurtre – who notched her seventh goal of the campaign in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to London City Lionesses – but there is another scorer (of sorts) into double figures: own goals.
Lucy Bronze put through her own net as Chelsea were held by Everton on Saturday – and it was the 10th top-flight own goal already this term (there were only 17 in the whole of last season).
Everton’s rare double
Until playing out a 0-0 stalemate with Manchester United in Matchweek 8, Everton had gone 22 BWSL games without drawing.
Not that they necessarily would have been waiting for a draw, but, in keeping with the old saying, two have come along at once – and it’s the first time Toffees have recorded back-to-back league draws since October 2024.
Fantasy in numbers: Leg 2 | Matchweek 9
Standout individual
Bunny Shaw is back on top for Fantasy points, her hat-trick against West Ham taking her to 90 for the campaign at an average of 10 per Matchweek.
Only three other players have even passed the 80-point mark: Shaw’s similarly consistent Man City teammate Lauren Hemp (83), Chelsea’s Ellie Carpenter and the aforementioned Oceane Hurtre of Birmingham.
Top of the league
The race for Leg 2 supremacy is a seriously tight one, with five managers separated by just five points at the top of the table.
Olivia Bowers’ Rolling on a Riviere lead the way with 375 points, one ahead of Jack Benham’s Charlie xGx, while Thomas George’s Jill Scott Hirons and Anurodh Kumar’s Merlin’s Magic are neck-and-neck in third a further point back.
But in terms of the overall Barclays Season Race, Samo Bobnar’s OnaBattleAfterAnothr remain out in front on 844 points, adding 84 to their tally in Matchweek 9 – of which Shaw accounted for more than half (36 points as captain).
