On fine-cut grass up and down the country there are the debutants who with every kick and sprint and tackle and header are edging ever closer to their dream.
By the day their skills are sharpening, through heatwaves and rainfall, in service of the Barclays Women’s Super League, the pinnacle since youth.
Here, with one week to go until lift off to the new season, we take a look at one debutant per team, some of them new to England, all of them new to the BWSL, who are poised to make an impression in 2026-27.
Lisa Baum (Arsenal)
With a turnover of 16 senior players (seven incomings and nine outgoings) this summer, Renee Slegers has now shaped Arsenal in her image ahead of her second full season as head coach.
And within that image exists a new-found variety in attack thanks to the arrival of teen sensation Lisa Baum from Frauen-Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
A left-footed right winger who sets pules racing with her blend of power and pace, the 19-year-old is a different type of lockpicker to right-footed trio Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith and Caitlin Foord.
Credit: Sky Sports Germany
And it is by offering a new dimension to Arsenal’s frontline that Baum can make the difference in tight games, with the Gunners having recorded the second-highest number of draws (six) in the BWSL last season.
Despite playing for a team in Leipzig who finished 10th last term, Baum created the eighth-most chances (40) in Germany’s top flight – a fantastic return that was only bettered by Mariona Caldentey (46) in Arsenal’s squad.
Mia McAulay (Aston Villa)
Following the departures of top scorer Kirsty Hanson and forward Ebony Salmon, Aston Villa are looking for a heroine to emerge in support of Rachel Daly in attack.
One player who is ready to grasp that opportunity is Mia McAulay – the 20-year-old winger who has earned a deserved move to the BWSL after hitting double figures for goals in three successive seasons with Rangers.
McAulay has everything you would want in a wide player - she is quick, two-footed and able to manipulate the ball with ease, while she also puts a shift in defensively.
Credit: Women's Ballers YouTube Channel
Owing to her completeness, the Scotland international registered 11 goals and six assists in the SWPL 1 last season, meaning she provided the joint-seventh most goal contributions in the division.
And when you consider Villa are brilliant at soaking up pressure and hitting teams on the counter attack, especially on the road against the league’s best, McAulay appears to be a perfect fit for manager Natalia Arroyo’s style of play.
Wilma Leidhammar (Birmingham City)
After a four-year absence, Birmingham City are back in the top flight thanks to Wilma Leidhammar’s inspired double against Charlton Athletic on the final day of the 2025-26 BWSL2 season.
Following her arrival from Damallsvenskan side IFK Norrkoping in January, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder scored an astonishing seven goals in just 11 league games for Amy Merricks’ champions.
The latest star to emerge from Sweden’s remarkable production line, Leidhammar is an expert at finding space – both in between the lines and inside the penalty area.
City’s number 10 keeps things simple in possession, leaving the dribbling to Lily Crosthwaite and Veatriki Sarri as she prioritises crashing the box, with all seven of her league goals last season coming from that part of the pitch.
Standing at 5ft 10in tall, Leidhammar - who scored three headers last season – has the makings to cause the finest defenders in the BWSL a headache.
Nadia Krezyman (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Arguably the best talent spotters in the country, Brighton and Hove Albion may have unearthed another gem in Poland forward Nadia Krezyman.
In need of attacking reinforcements following the departures of Michelle Agyemang and Rosa Kafaji, the Seagulls have signed a player in Krezyman who has already made 151 appearances for club and country at the age of just 22.
It is one thing to excel at finding young stars but it is another thing to nurture them properly, however, and in Brighton, Krezyman has found the perfect club to further her development this season.
Credit: Arkema Premiere Ligue
Last season’s FA Cup finalists are known for their progressive style of play which promotes fluidity in the final third, and Krezyman is someone who played on both flanks and also as a number 10 for Premiere Ligue side Dijon.
And her directness remains the same regardless of her position, completing the joint-most successful dribbles per 90 (2.1) in the French top flight last season, while creating the eighth-most chances (33) – more than anyone in Brighton’s squad.
Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Some may say it has been a long time coming for Sophie Whitehouse to make her BWSL debut, but the moment has come at the perfect time after she produced the best season of her career for Charlton in 2025-26.
The goalkeeper, who had spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham but without making a top-flight appearance, led the Addicks to the promised land by saving four penalties in the shootout win over Leicester City in a promotion/relegation playoff.
Whitehouse set herself three targets at the start of last season: to be consistent, to win the Golden Glove and to earn promotion for Charlton, and the 29-year-old achieved all three as well as a spot in the BWSL2 Team of the Season.
One of the most successful teams in women’s football in the early 2000s, having won the FA Cup in 2005 and the Women’s National League Cup in 2004 and 2006, Charlton and manager Karen Hills are now back where they belong.
They will need a bit of magic to stay there, but in Republic of Ireland international Whitehouse they have an ace in the pack who needs no extra motivation to perform, having waited patiently for her chance on the biggest stage.
Guilia Dragoni (Chelsea)
Elegance and bravery are entwined in the playing style of Guilia Dragoni, the 19-year-old who glides effortlessly through congested areas like water over stones.
She has a unique midfield profile which is different to that of Keira Walsh, Erin Cuthbert, Sjoeke Nusken and Wieke Kaptein, therefore allowing her new club, Chelsea, to build more attacks from the centre of the pitch this season.
Dragoni will also ease the ball-carrying pressure on the shoulders of Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson, which makes them fresher and, potentially, more dangerous.
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After using her agility to turn her markers, Dragoni is ice cool in the final third, with only five Serie A players producing more goal contributions (seven goals, four assists) than she did for Roma last season.
The Italy international also helped champions Roma out of possession, making 57 recoveries – with only six Chelsea players posting a higher amount last season.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Crystal Palace)
“Excitement, something different, fire in the belly, rough and ready, and celebrations,” said Lexi Lloyd-Smith when asked what Crystal Palace fans can expect from her this season.
For those who paid close attention to the 23-year-old’s exploits for BWSL2 side Bristol City last season, “something different” rings true, for she has the traits of both a winger and a striker.
Describing herself as a “winger” in her first interview with Palace, Lloyd-Smith scored goals against Southampton (away), Sunderland (home) and Sheffield United (home and away) last season that began with driving runs from outside the box.
But then Lloyd-Smith showed the instincts of a poacher when netting against Portsmouth (home), Ipswich Town (home), Crystal Palace (away), Charlton (home) and Sheff. Utd (away) from inside the width of the goalposts.
It will be interesting to see where Lloyd Smith, the BWSL2 Golden Boot winner, operates for Palace, with Jo Potter’s side also boasting Ashleigh Weerden, Bethany England, Annabel Blanchard, Abbie Larkin and Kirsty Howat as attacking options.
Holly McNamara (Everton)
Excitement is understandably high at Everton after they fought off stiff competition to sign Holly McNamara – the in-form striker who fired Melbourne City to three consecutive A-League Women Premiership titles.
The 23-year-old collected the A-League Women’s Golden Boot in the last two seasons after scoring a magnificent 34 goals in 47 games, meaning she is heading to England and Goodison Park in a confident mood.
And McNamara appears to be tailor-made for an Everton side who do their best work in transition, with Scott Phelan’s side having scored the most goals from direct attacks (3) in the BWSL last season.
Credit: A-Leagues
In her trophy-laden spell with Melbourne, McNamara produced a highlight reel of counter-attacking goals, breathing down the necks of her opponents with electric runs in behind.
And with Ruby Mace set to start the season in her preferred central midfield role, and new signing Jutta Rantala adept at playing incisive through balls with either foot, McNamara is poised to receive the service she craves at Everton.
Natalia Ramos (Liverpool)
You will be hard pressed to find a player who produced a better 2025-26 season than Natalia Ramos, who was the beating heart of a Tenerife Femenino side who finished fourth in Liga F and reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Reina.
The 27-year-old was omnipotent for her side, playing every single game (34/34), producing 15 goal contributions (10 goals, five assists) and making a stunning 191 defensive contributions alone in Liga F.
Those numbers have led Ramos to Liverpool, who needed an all-action midfielder to replace one of their standout performers from last season, Denise O’Sullivan, following her return to the United States.
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In a varied goal haul, Ramos scored piledrivers vs. Atletico Madrid (away) and Logrono United (home), a long-ranger vs. Granada (home), close-range finishes vs. Sevilla (home) and Madrid CFF (x2, home), a free-kick vs. Alhama (home) and penalties vs. Levante (away), Levante Badalona (home) and Real Sociedad (away).
And with Beata Olsson, Ceri Holland, Vivien Endemann and Mao Itamura on hand to help Ramos, Liverpool should definitely outstrip last season’s return of 21 league goals in the upcoming campaign.
Mapi Leon (London City Lionesses)
In a transfer window for the ages, London City Lionesses followed up the signings of Mary Earps and Alexia Putellas by landing a third superstar this summer: Mapi Leon, one of the greatest defenders of all time.
After lifting every major trophy available to her at Barcelona, including seven Liga F titles and four Champions League crowns, Leon told The Guardian her body was “craving” a new challenge, hence her arrival in the BWSL.
And it will be fascinating to see how that decision plays out as the 31-year-old adjusts to the transitional nature of English football, compared to the Spanish game and its emphasis on control.
Credit: Liga F
The finest ball-playing centre-back of her era, Leon – who recorded a staggering 35 assists for Barcelona – can impose her game here in England, owing to London City registering an average possession statistic of 49.8% last season (sixth-largest share).
However, that figure is some way off the mind-boggling 75.5% share that Barcelona enjoyed in the same campaign, meaning Leon is set to defend more, especially against fast transitions.
On the flip side, Leon is quick across the ground, while she has previously played with London City trio Putellas, Jana Fernandez and Lucia Corrales at Barcelona and Spain respectively, making defensive organisation much easier.
Sacha Lewis (Manchester City)
Sacha Lewis has moved a step closer to making her first-team debut for Manchester City after signing her first professional contract with her girlhood club.
The 18-year-old academy graduate, sister of Man City men’s full-back Rico, was around the senior picture last season, making the matchday squads for the BWSL clashes with Chelsea and Brighton in September 2025.
And Lewis has also featured for Andree Jeglertz’s champions in pre-season this summer, highlighting her ability to keep the ball under pressure as a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona.
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Lewis is set to miss the start of the 2026-27 BWSL season while representing England at the Under-20 World Cup in Poland, but the defender will hope to use the experience as a springboard to the City first team.
Able to operate in both full-back positions, Lewis – who was named City’s inaugural Next Gen Player of the Season for 2025-26 – can provide back-up for Kerstin Casparij and Niamh Charles this season.
Andrea Medina (Manchester United)
Manchester United know exactly what to expect from new girl Andrea Medina, having come up against her on three occasions in last season’s Champions League.
The 22-year-old, who left Atletico Madrid following the expiration of her contract in June, is a defensively-sound, flexible defender with impressive fitness levels, having made 132 appearances in four seasons in the Spanish capital.
Primarily a left-back, Medina was often used as a centre-back last season, making an incredible 206 defensive contributions in Liga F – with only two players producing more in the BWSL last season.
Credit: Liga F
The Spain prospect is also heading to Leigh Sports Village off the back of the best goalscoring season of her career, having netted on three occasions last term, while she was unlucky not to register an assist considering she is an accurate crosser.
Reuniting with former Atletico team-mate Hanna Lundkvist at United, Medina will compete with the excellent Anna Sandberg for the left-back berth in new head coach Eva Olid’s starting eleven.
Caitlin Dijkstra (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham have earned the respect of their rivals after producing three impressive transfer windows in a row, as well as a fifth-place finish and a club-record points total (36) in the BWSL last season.
With expectations soaring, there is a new level of pressure on what is an extremely talented but young squad, and that is why the summer signing of Caitlin Dijkstra could be a smart bit of business by Spurs boss Martin Ho.
Aged 27 and in the prime of her career, Dijkstra has played at the highest level for club and country, taking in the Champions League with Wolfsburg and the 2023 World Cup and Euro 2025 with the Netherlands.
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And so the ball-playing centre-back, with an 89.5% pass success rate in the Frauen-Bundesliga last season, can use her experience to help guide a Tottenham defence featuring Toko Koga, Alice Sombath, Hanna Wijk and Ella Morris – four players who are all under the age of 24.
“Now I’m 27 and I had some injuries at Wolfsburg and it’s hard, but you get mature of it,” Dijkstra told Tottenham’s official website. “Now I’m a better person mentally, physically.”
Dijkstra will need time to adjust to English football herself, of course, but the fact that she speaks so well is important for a Spurs dressing room that no longer includes last season’s captain and vice-captain, Bethany England and Molly Bartrip.
Constance Picaud (West Ham United)
Looking to kick on in their first full season under Rita Guarino, West Ham United have targeted experience in the transfer window, signing a number of players who have played in both the Champions League and at the World Cup.
One of those stars is Constance Picaud, the France goalkeeper who will inject leadership into the Hammers dressing room having captained Fleury to back-to-back fifth-place finishes in Premiere Ligue.
The 28-year-old was one of the best shot-stoppers in the French top flight last season, recording the third-most clean sheets (8) and the third-best save percentage (75%), while also using her 5ft 10in frame to make more high claims (22) than anyone else.
“As a goalkeeper, she has shown quality both in and out of possession, along with the composure and intelligence to control key moments in games, which will complement our playing style,” Guarino told West Ham’s official website.
While West Ham were already a well-organised unit by the end of last season, having kept three clean sheets in their last six BWSL fixtures, Guarino’s side should become even better with Picaud between the sticks.
