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Chelsea captain Millie Bright lifts the Barclays Women’s Super League Trophy following the 2-0 win over Liverpool - Getty Images/Harriet Lander
There is no doubt about it – Chelsea are the greatest team in Women’s Super League history.
Players danced on the pitch while Tina Turner’s Simply The Best blasted out of the Stamford Bridge speakers and it was a fitting song for their season. They are the first side to go unbeaten in a 22-game campaign and their victory over Liverpool took them to a league-record points total of 60.
It is remarkable that Sonia Bompastor has achieved such a feat in her first year in charge. The Chelsea manager was as modest as ever when asked whether her team is the best in WSL history.
“It’s difficult to say that because for the club to be able to win six titles in a row means we have been consistent,” Bompastor said. “The fact this year we were unbeaten makes it more special because it’s never happened before. From now we will be part of history because we have this. It will stay in history.
“In this league it means a lot because this league is really competitive. To be able to achieve that is more than a title. We always found a way to win and get the points. A lot of credit goes to my players but also to my staff. This is what we want and it feels great to be number one.”
Definitely went to plan #BarclaysWSL@ChelseaFCWpic.twitter.com/uDDoxrNFOg
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 10, 2025
The worry for Chelsea’s rivals is that they have managed to go unbeaten in a season where they have been without several key players, including Sam Kerr and Lauren James, because of injury. Bompastor and her team are only likely to get better but the Chelsea manager insisted it will be hard for her to repeat such an achievement.
“I think next season it will be difficult,” Bompstor said. “I was not expecting us to be able to do that [go unbeaten] this season.
“After the win at Man United, that was when I started to think about being unbeaten in the league, before that I was just focused on the fact we had to be champions.
“Sometimes when you come as a new manager you surprise people a little bit. Next season I won’t surprise anyone. So I have to think about what we need to do to improve and stay in that position.”
The winning goal that confirmed their place in history was scored by academy graduate Aggie Beever-Jones. So much has been made of the money Chelsea have spent to enjoy a season as successful as this. But after a largely uneventful 91 minutes at Stamford Bridge, it was Beever-Jones who showed her worth.
Towards the end of her reign, Emma Hayes declared that Beever-Jones was the future of this Chelsea team and she is so far proving her former manager right.
It was Beever-Jones who scored a last-minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final last month and the striker repeated her trick at Stamford Bridge, racing on to a threaded pass from Ashley Lawrence before beating Rachael Laws at her near post.
Aggie Beever-Jones doing what she does best...
SCORING GOALS.️@ChelseaFCW#BarclaysWSLpic.twitter.com/Wyp6Fe7BGa
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 10, 2025
Definitely went to plan #BarclaysWSL@ChelseaFCWpic.twitter.com/uDDoxrNFOg
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 10, 2025
Bompastor still has an FA Cup final against Manchester United to prepare for and the chance to win a domestic treble, but she admitted now was a time to celebrate the club’s achievements – and she was joined by her four children during Chelsea’s celebrations.
“I had goosebumps because behind the scenes they cry because you are travelling and not home. It can be difficult. It’s even better when they can share these moments with you.
“Just for them to have the opportunity to come onto the pitch and celebrate with the players, I think they realised how lucky they are. When they are sad, I have these moments to remember. It is the best thing you can give your kids.”
Hayes once joked she would celebrate Chelsea winning the title by drinking a bottle of gin on a park bench but Bompastor made it clear she would not be following suit.
“I don’t drink any alcohol or go crazy dancing on the floor, I just enjoy watching others dancing and when others are drunk it is really nice to see that! I don’t want to be in that position. Sparkling water. I don’t want to be remembered for that! Just titles.”
She and this Chelsea team will certainly be remembered for their trophies but this one, as Bompastor said, is extra special.
Chelsea (3-5-2): Hampton 7, Bjorn 6 (Rytting Kaneryd HT), Bright 7, Girma 7; Bronze 6 (Lawrence 83), Kaptein 6 (Cuthbert HT), Walsh 6, Nusken 7 (Macario 72), Charles 6; Baltimore 7 (Reiten 72), Beever-Jones 7.
Booked: Bronze
Goals: Beever-Jones 90+1
Unused substitutes: Cox, Fishel, Hamano, Jean-Francois
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Laws 5, Evans 6, Fisk 6 (Fahey 84), Bonner 6, Hinds 6; Kerr 6, Nagano 6 (Matthews 83); Smith 6 (Clark 69), Hobinger 5, Holland 7 (Kapocs 76); Haug 6 (Daniels 76).
Unused substitutes: Micah, Kirby, Enderby
Booked: Hobinger
Referee: Phoebe Cross
Attendance: 21,327
Women’s Super League end-of-season awards
By Kathryn Batte and Sonia Twigg
Player of the Year – Millie Bright (Chelsea)
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Millie Bright, pictured with the Super League trophy on Saturday, was the standout performer of the campaign - Getty Images/Alex Broadway
There were a few candidates in the Chelsea team to take this award but Bright getsthe nod for her consistency. As captain, she has led by example and helped get her side over the line in crucial fixtures. Any question marks at the start of the season over whether Bright can still perform at this level have been answered emphatically.
Young Player of the Year – Olivia Smith (Liverpool)
Watching Liverpool at any point this season, Smith is the player who has caught the eye with how she challenges the top defenders in the league. The daughter of a Liverpool fan from Ontario, Smith, who made her Canada debut aged just 15, has scored seven times for her club this season, more than 30 per cent of their 22 goals.
Goalkeeper of the Year – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
The departure of Mary Earps was the talk of Manchester United in the summer but her absence is not on people’s minds now. That is down to the exceptional performances of her replacement, Tullis-Joyce. She has produced several match-winning saves which have contributed to her team having the second-best defensive record.
Signing of the Season – Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
In July, Arsenal made a statement signing, capturing World Cup winner Caldentey from Barcelona. Having won three Champions Leagues, six Spanish Cups and six Liga F titles after more than 300 appearances for Barcelona, Caldentey headed to London and has played a significant role in their European journey to the Champions League final. She offers Arsenal a different dimension in attack and has played a crucial role in their second-place finish this season.
Manager of the Year – Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)
Few could have expected Bompastor to go unbeaten in her first season in the WSL but she has exceeded expectations. The Frenchwoman has made taking over from Emma Hayes look easy and can still win a domestic treble if her team beat Manchester United in next weekend’s FA Cup final.
Goal of the Year – Jess Park (Manchester City)
There were lots of impressive goals this season, including a stunning volley from Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but Park’s goal of the month from September was a standout moment. Against Arsenal at the Emirates, the Manchester City winger controlled the ball on the edge of the box, turned and smashed the still bouncing ball into the top corner where it rebounded off the crossbar and in.
"I thought… I'm gonna hit this!"
Jess Park talks us through her goal against Arsenal this afternoon pic.twitter.com/Tbzaq5KagY
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) September 22, 2024
Surprise Package – West Ham
A number of pundits predicted West Ham would be in a relegation battle this season but they never looked like getting dragged into trouble. They produced a number of impressive performances following the Christmas break and took points off Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. Their form saw manager Rehanne Skinner rewarded with a new contract.
Alternative standout moment – On-pitch engagement
On March 22, Rikke Madsen made her Everton return after giving birth to her daughter in October. Her comeback was made even more memorable when her boyfriend Martin Thomsen proposed to her as the team celebrated their victory on the pitch at Walton Hall Park.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.She said YES!
A comeback to remember for Everton's Rikke Madsen as her boyfriend proposed to her after her first game in more than a year pic.twitter.com/3XuGVRMiHm
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 22, 2025
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