As the Women's Super League hits its winter break, Manchester City are sitting pretty at the top of the table, boasting a comfortable six-point lead over second-placed Chelsea to put themselves in an incredible position in their pursuit of a first title since 2016. It's no surprise, then, that the Cityzens dominate GOAL's Team of the Season so far.
In the league's history, no team has ever held a six-point lead at the halfway point of a campaign and not come out on top, with some incredibly good and consistent performers putting City, in their first season under new head coach Andree Jeglertz, in the driving seat. But that's not to say there haven't been impressive players on other teams in the WSL so far this term, either.
Four Lionesses are included in that, from three different clubs, while there is representation for Tottenham, the surprise package this year, but not Arsenal, who have underwhelmed despite clinching an amazing Champions League title at the end of 2024-25. The Gunners still sit above their north London rivals in the standings, but they have certainly not hit the heights expected, while their neighbours have gone above and beyond.
So, without further ado, who has made the cut? Introducing GOAL's WSL Team of the Season so far…
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GK: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea)
Picking a goalkeeper for this XI wasn't easy because there have been quite a lot of injuries to shot-stoppers across the WSL through the first half of this season. In fact, there are only three in total who have played all 11 fixtures so far, making it justifiable to choose one who has missed a small handful of games, in Hannah Hampton.
Of goalkeepers to have played more than three games, no one has conceded fewer goals this term than Hampton, who has only had to pick the ball out of the back of her net four times in eight appearances, keeping a league-leading four clean sheets in the process. That's not because the England No.1 is sitting behind a defence that doesn't allow many shots, either, as Chelsea are fifth in the league for shots faced and performing significantly worse defensively when compared to last term.
Despite that, Hampton actually leads the league with a sublime save percentage of 85.2, having made the fifth-most saves in the division. The Blues will be desperate to get her back from a quad injury which has sidelined her for their last three league games of 2025, of which the defending champions were able to win just one.
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RB: Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City)
Kerstin Casparij was one of the first names on this teamsheet, with her place in GOAL's XI never in doubt. That's despite right-back being one of the deepest positions in the WSL, a league which features the likes of Lucy Bronze, Emily Fox, Jayde Riviere and Ellie Carpenter. Casparij, though, has been head and shoulders above the competition so far in the 2025-26 campaign, standing out as one of the best players in any position this term.
That quality has been on show mostly in attack, given the nature of Man City's start to the season, with Casparij second in the league for assists, despite being a defender. November's WSL Player of the Month has still provided her team with some vital defensive contributions, though, ranking in the top four in the Cityzens' squad for duels won, interceptions made and successful clearances. She's been excellent.
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CB: Jade Rose (Manchester City)
Another important cog in the City defence has been Jade Rose, who is enjoying an excellent first season at the club. Though capped 35 times at senior international level, the Canada star arrived in England yet to play senior club football at a high level, having spent the majority of her last four years in a college environment. Yet, she has stepped up the challenge impressively well, showcasing the combination of athleticism and technical quality that has made her one of the most highly-rated young defenders in the game.
Still only 22, Rose has settled into life at City so well that she has immediately established herself as a key starter, despite centre-back being one of the team's most competitive positions. Only four players in the league have blocked more shots, with her also in the top four in City's squad for interceptions, clearances and aerial duels won. As for Rose's qualities in possession, of players completing more than 500 passes, only two in the WSL have a greater pass accuracy than Rose's 90.2 per cent. That's another big reason why she is turning into such a success story in Manchester.
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CB: Toko Koga (Tottenham)
Like the goalkeeper position, there have been quite a few injuries to top-performing centre-backs in the WSL this term, making it another tricky position to pick, to an extent. Like City with Rose, though, Tottenham have been reaping the rewards of good transfer business which has allowed them to boast another of the most promising defenders in the league, in Toko Koga.
Spurs signed the 19-year-old from Feyenoord in the summer, with her already boasting top-level experience after representing Japan over 20 times at senior level, including at the 2024 Olympic Games. Koga's progression through the Nadeshiko's youth set-up means she is excellent in possession, particularly with how she is able to carry the ball forward and break the lines.
However, playing for a team that can be the underdog in games, Koga has also proven to be a serious asset when Spurs have their backs against the wall, with only two players in the WSL having blocked more shots than her so far this term.
