11 amazing stats behind Chelsea’s 2022/23 FA Women’s Super League title win
Chelsea won their sixth Women’s Super League title following a 3-0 success at Reading.
Emma Hayes’ defending champions were locked in battle with Manchester United heading into today’s final games of the 2022/23 season.
However, fate was in The Blues‘ own hands, and they made light work as Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten ensured all three points which also secured a fifth-ever double (third on the bounce).
Marc Skinner’s side played their part, even in vain, they ran out 1-0 winners over Liverpool but today was a further reaffirmation of Chelsea’s status as first among equals and the numbers this season have been eye-catching.
Continuity breeds success
There’s no doubt we are witnessing a footballing dynasty. By winning this season’s championship Chelsea become the first team to win four consecutive league titles in the WSL era.
They still have some work to do equalling the overall top-flight record of nine set by Arsenal between 2003/04 and 2012.
Winning is a habit
In the end, only Man Utd provided a modicum of threat, chasing a first-ever league title — five years into existence — they registered no fewer than 18 wins, in another campaign this would have been enough to be crowned WSL champions.
Skinner’s team effectively pushed Chelsea to set a new record for most wins (19) in a single WSL season.
Setting a new standard
CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND, FOUR TIMES IN A ROW. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/pzUIUl4fnr
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 27, 2023
More wins and suffering only two defeats across 22 outings tells its own story. Chelsea subsequently finished on 58 points, two more than Man Utd tallied, a new league record. Hayes’ side managed 56 and 57 in their last two championship-winning seasons, respectively. This is now the bare minimum needed to even have a chance of dethroning them.
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Chasing Mead
From an individual perspective, Guro Reiten capped off a very productive season, the 28-year-old Norwegian forward ended the 2022/23 league campaign having created no fewer than 11 goals.
The assist crown was comfortably Reiten’s but she came agonisingly close to ripping up the record books as only Arsenal’s Beth Mead (12 in 2018/19) had recorded more assists in a single WSL season than Chelsea’s number 11.
Furthermore, Reiten is one of just three players to be directly involved in 20 or more goals in the WSL this season (nine goals and 11 assists).
Kerr makes a difference
Reiten scored in the championship-deciding win over Reading, doubling Chelsea’s lead after teeing up the indomitable Sam Kerr, who continues to earn plaudits aplenty. She’s now scored 10 or more goals in at least three consecutive WSL seasons, a feat only matched by Vivianne Miedema, though Arsenal’s very own lethal markswoman managed double-digit figures across four successive campaigns (between 2018/19-2021/22).
Strength in depth
A treble eluded Chelsea who fell at the semi-final stage of this season’s Women’s Champions League, but that will not deter them as they’ll go again next term, battling on at least three fronts requires a deep squad and we’ve seen the Blues flex their muscles. Chelsea ended this campaign having made 80 changes to their starting XIs between league matches, more than any other side in the Women’s Super League.
Sharing the load
Utilising a big squad, laced with undeniable talent and full internationals, comes with its own rewards. A positive side effect has been the number of different goalscorers. Kerr unquestionably leads Chelsea’s attack but there’s no overreliance on the Aussie striker as 16 players have scored at least one WSL for the club this season which is more than any other side.
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Fortress Kingsmeadow (and Stamford Bridge)
You have to make home-field advantage count. No one could touch Chelsea at Kingsmeadow this season. Hayes’ side ultimately registered a 100% record (10 wins from 10) while registering 32 goals and conceding six times Stamford Bridge also hosted the Blues with them running out 3-0 winners over London rivals Tottenham back in November.
Bright and Kirby
There’s no substitute for experience and Chelsea are still able to count on Millie Bright and Fran Kirby when healthy. The pair have been with the Blues since 2015 and today’s success was the sixth time celebrating a WSL title which extended their record as the most decorated players in WSL history
