Who are the most signed BWSL2 players in Football Manager 26?
Welcome back to our FM series. This time, our attention turns to the Barclays Women's Super League 2, one of the most exciting divisions in women's football and, as it turns out, a brilliant place to start an FM save.
The players in this XI might not all be household names yet, but by the time you finish reading, you will know exactly who they are, and you might even have a few names added to your shortlist for the next transfer window.
Once again, we are using Sports Interactive's data to identify which players FM managers have been signing most in the Barclays Women's Super League 2, and working through each one to explain exactly why they keep ending up in your saves.
Don’t forget, we are running a competition throughout the series. WSL Football has teamed up with Football Manager to give you the ultimate football experience. You could win a copy of Football Manager 26 and a pair of tickets to a Barclays Women's Super League match of your choice. The competition runs until Friday 1st May at 5pm, and it only takes a moment to enter.
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Anna Tamminen
Newcastle’s Anna Tamminen might not be the most high-profile name in this XI, but her presence in the most-signed goalkeeper spot tells you something about how well-rounded she is. She does her job consistently, and for a team that is chasing promotion, as Newcastle are, that is often exactly what is needed.
Her FM profile is built around the core goalkeeping attributes. Handling, Reflexes, and One-on-Ones are all rated at 15, showing how valuable her shot-stopping ability is in-game. Tamminen’s standout attribute is her Bravery, which, at 17, highlights an important aspect of her fearless play.
What the real-world picture adds is important. She has been significantly outperforming her expected goals against this season, stopping shots that the numbers suggest should go in. Newcastle are conceding far fewer goals than the chances they face would suggest, and Tamminen is a large part of why.
For managers building a BWSL 2 save and wanting a goalkeeper they can trust to make the saves that matter, she is an obvious pick.
Megan Collett
Megan Collett is 20 years old and has started 19 games at right-back for Southampton this season. That tells us something about how important she has become for her team, despite her young age.
What jumps out from her FM profile is the mental side. Determination sits at 14, Leadership also at 14, and Vision and Work Rate are both highly rated. For a young player, she has a very strong set of attributes across the board.
On the pitch, she is reliable in both directions. Defensively, she is confident, winning her duels at a solid rate and reading danger early. Plus, when going forward, she gets into advanced areas and more often than not, delivers pretty consistently from the wide areas.
Youth is one of the most valued commodities in the game, and Collett is a reliable, two-way fullback with plenty of room to develop, making her exactly the kind of player you could build a squad around.
Neve Herron
Next up, we have another young central defender, in the form of Birmingham City’s Neve Herron. She is the kind of centre back that FM managers tend to gravitate towards, needing little convincing. She is physical, strong in the air, and makes defending look straightforward, even when it’s not.
Marking is the standout technical attribute, rated 14, backed by solid Tackling and Technique. Mentally, her Determination and Teamwork also sit high, which points to a player who will have a positive influence on the squad you build, both on and off the pitch. Natural Fitness is strong too, meaning she sustains her levels for 90 minutes and throughout a full season.
When looking at Herron’s performances this season, her aerial ability is the first thing that stands out. She wins the majority of her duels, which, at centre back, is one of the most important things a player can offer. Set pieces, crosses, long balls into the box, she deals with them confidently.
Herron is a defender who excels at the fundamentals. She’s physically imposing, defensively sound, and young enough to develop further. A straightforward pick for FM managers.
Tara Bourne
Tara Bourne is the kind of centre back that makes FM managers think about how they want to play. She is not just a defender who can pass; she is a defender who can influence how her team builds from the back.
In the game, her Marking is the standout technical attribute at 13, which reassures you that the defensive fundamentals are there. But what makes her a really interesting player is the balance across the rest of the profile. Passing, Heading, and Strength all sit at 12, and, mentally, Anticipation, Decisions, Concentration, and Positioning are all consistent. In Bourne, you have a centre back who contributes in both phases without compromising either.
In real life, two goals and four assists from centre back this season back all of that up. She finds the right pass, consistently picks out her teammates, and contributes to Southampton’s attacking play by recycling possession and posing a threat from set pieces.
The versatility to play as a defensive midfielder adds another dimension that FM managers value. Her profile makes her one of the most compelling prospects in the BWSL 2 database. Sign her early, develop her through a save, and she has every chance of becoming a cornerstone of your club for years to come.
Lia Cataldo
Lia Cataldo has not had the most prominent season in real life, with her season cut short after picking up an injury in December. But it’s clear to see that FM managers have still found their way to her, and her attribute profile explains why.
What the game sees in Cataldo is a full-back with all-round quality on both sides of the position. Her Bravery is the key mental attribute at 14, sitting alongside Work Rate at 14 and Anticipation at 13, while Tackling comes in at 12 on the technical side.
Her attributes show that she is someone who competes every time she is on the pitch, puts the defensive work in without being asked, and makes life difficult for whoever she is marking.
The versatility across right back, left back, and wing back is a significant part of her appeal in FM. When squad depth can be stretched, tactical flexibility matters, and having a full-back who can operate on either flank without a drop in quality is worth a great deal.
So, despite her minutes being limited this season, she offers solid determination and a technical foundation, and her inclusion in this squad shows that FM managers have spotted it.
Annabel Blanchard
The Crystal Palace midfielder is one of the most technically complete midfielders in the league, and her FM profile reflects that across multiple categories. Passing, Dribbling at 14, and Decisions are all rated 14, which gives you a midfielder who can receive under pressure, carry the ball forward, and make the right choice quickly enough to take advantage of the space she finds.
On the pitch, her ability has been undeniable this season; her progressive passing allows her to drive Crystal Palace forward rather than sit deep and recycle possession. She gets into the final third, finds teammates in advanced positions, often finding herself in dangerous areas, making her a real goal threat and so difficult for opponents to contain.
The Long Shots rating of 12 in her FM profile is worth noting, too. It adds another dimension to how opponents have to defend against her. A midfielder who can pass through lines, carry the ball, and also threaten from distance is considerably harder to set up against than one who relies on a single method of creating danger.
At 24 with the technical profile she has, Blanchard is exactly the kind of midfielder FM managers want in the engine room of midfield.
Mollie Lambert
The next midfielder in our team is Durham’s Mollie Lambert. She’s perhaps a hidden gem in the BWSL 2 database, not necessarily a player who generates the headlines, but watch Durham and you notice her ability straightaway. She has the experience and temperament to control the midfield, and her FM profile captures that exactly.
The mental attributes are where her profile stands out. Determination sits at the top end with a rating of 16; Leadership is also high, and her Bravery and Teamwork back it up.
All FM managers know how important it is to have players with a strong mental profile, and these are the attributes of a player who sets the tone and competes for the full ninety minutes regardless of the scoreline.
Technically, she is well-rounded across the board. Her Passing, Crossing, and Finishing all rate similarly, which means she is not a specialist but a midfielder who can contribute in multiple ways depending on what the team needs.
In real life, that translates to four goals across a full season, combined with defensive numbers that show she is doing the hard work, too.
The versatility across defensive, central, and attacking midfield gives FM managers flexibility, and her leadership profile makes her a natural captain in a long-term save. Durham have a proper midfielder here.
Emily Syme
Emily Syme's numbers this season make a compelling case for her place in the XI, with little need for supporting argument. She’s contributed four goals and six assists from central midfield so far this season - the kind of output that gets FM managers’ attention.
Her attributes tell the story of a technically gifted midfielder with the physical capacity to sustain a high workload. Work Rate and Stamina sit at the top end of her physical profile, which means the creativity she brings is not limited to the moments when the game is open.
In terms of her on-the-ball ability, Passing, First touch and Technique are the standout attributes rated at 13, backed up by Vision and Anticipation in her mental profile.
Her performances for Bristol City this season have shown how she sees the pass early, receives it cleanly, and makes decisions quickly enough to take advantage of the spaces she finds.
She is in the prime of her career and producing her best football. For anyone looking for a creative heartbeat of the midfield, Syme is the player to sign.
Abbie Larkin
Abbie Larkin is a direct, energetic wide forward who gets into the box constantly and finishes when she gets there. She is so dangerous in 1v1s, taking people on with purpose rather than just trying things. Larkin also chips in with goals, getting into the box at the right time to get on the end of crosses.
Her FM profile is led by her Determination which is rated at 15, the highest mental attribute, and that comes through in everything she does on the pitch. Her Passing rating of 14 is the standout technical attribute, fitting a player who can play through the lines as well as run in behind them.
Strong ratings in Pace and Natural Fitness give her the engine to sustain it all for 90 minutes, and with Flair rated 11, there is an element of unpredictability to keep opponents guessing.
The Crystal Palace player is one of the most exciting young attackers in the league. Sign her and build around her.
Deanne Rose
Deanne Rose is a player with senior international experience, having represented Canada on 88 occasions. She brings a physical and technical profile that stands out in this division.
Her Pace is rated at 16 in the game, the headline number, with Acceleration at 15 close behind. In real life, that translates to a forward who gets in behind, drives into channels, and is difficult to contain once she has a run on a defender. Her Dribbling at 15 and Technique at 12 mean there is quality to go with the speed, plus her Determination at 14 tells you she will not stop running when the game gets difficult.
With Deanne Rose, you have a player who consistently creates danger. She wins her defensive duels at a high rate, too, which tells you she is not passive when Forest are out of possession.
She can play anywhere across the front line, too, adding a tactical dimension that FM managers value. Whether through the middle, on the right, or cutting in from the left, she brings the same directness and the same threat in behind.
She is the kind of striker who changes a game without necessarily topping the scoring charts. Rose adds pace, physicality, international pedigree, and versatility to any FM save.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith
Lexi Lloyd-Smith is a direct forward who makes life difficult for defenders in a very specific way. She runs at them repeatedly, with pace and agility, and with enough technical quality to make something happen when she gets into dangerous areas. So far this season, she has been operating on both wings and through the middle, demonstrating excellent versatility and a willingness to work for the team.
What makes her effective is the combination of directness and finishing quality. She has been outperforming her expected goals this season, which suggests she picks her spots, arrives at the right moments, and converts. Lloyd-Smith is a young player who is still developing, and judging by her recent performances, the trajectory is only upward.
Her FM profile fits her exactly as a player. Flair is rated at 13 and Anticipation at 14, which points to a forward who is instinctive and unpredictable rather than formulaic. Technically, Dribbling, First Touch, and Technique are all rated 13, and the physical profile gives her the Acceleration and Agility to back it up in real time.
For FM managers, she is a versatile attacking option who can play wide or through the middle without losing what makes her dangerous. Lloyd-Smith is one of the best young forwards in BWSL 2 and is exactly the kind of player a long-term save is built around.
Conclusion
The BWSL2 Most Signed XI is an incredibly versatile group of players, and if you’ve not already opened FM to start a save, what are you waiting for?
What this XI shows is that BWSL2 is absolutely stacked with talent, and FM has done the scouting for you. All that is left to do is sign them.
Next week, we turn our attention to goalkeepers in both the BWSL and BWSL2, looking more closely at who the highest-rated stoppers are, how they have been performing this season, and what makes them stand out in FM.
Don't forget, the WSL Football FM competition is running from Tuesday, 14th April at 3.30pm until Friday, 1st May at 5pm. Head to the competition page for your chance to win.