Arsenal



For so long the dominant force in women’s football, they have adapted to the game’s changing landscape with investment in talent and infrastructure. Pedro Martínez Losa’s team will benefit from new training facilities at London Colney, and last season’s third-placed side have also bolstered hope of a title challenge thanks to the introduction of several gifted signings including Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, England’s Fara Williams, Germany’s Josephine Henning and Holland’s Daniëlle van de Donk.

Key signing Fara Williams. The 148-cap England midfielder may be 32 but Williams, who has joined from Liverpool, remains as effective as ever and should have a big say in any title challenge.

Player to watch Asisat Oshoala. The Nigeria striker and BBC women’s footballer of 2015 won plenty of admirers at Canada 2015 and promises to light up Arsenal’s season after following Williams from Liverpool.

Manager Pedro Martínez Losa

Last season Third

The Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala won plenty of admirers at Canada 2015. Photograph: Adam Pretty - Fifa/Fifa via Getty Images

Birmingham City



David Parker’s side must recover from the blow of losing Karen Carney, perhaps England’s most skilful individual and, previously, Birmingham’s undoubted star creator, to Chelsea. The long-serving coach – still only 31 – has tried to compensate by recruiting the club’s first overseas import in Corina Schröder but the fans may take some convincing that a relegation battle can be avoided. At least Parker retains the excellent England duo Jade Moore and Jo Potter in what remains a strong midfield department, while the England under-23 international Freda Ayisi should score goals.

Key signing Corina Schröder. David Parker described the signing of Germany’s former Liverpool defender as a milestone in Birmingham’s history and believes Schröder can be “the best left-back” in the WSL.

Player to watch Jade Moore. The midfielder shone for England in last summer’s Women’s World Cup in Canada and she can be a star of this season’s WSL too.

Manager David Parker

Last season Sixth

Jade Moore starred for England during the World Cup in Canada. Photograph: Clive Rose - Fifa/FifaA via Getty Images

Chelsea



Emma Hayes may be a rare female manager at this level but her side won the double last season with a first league title win complemented by an FA Cup triumph. Suppliers of around half Mark Sampson’s England side – Manchester City players make up most of the rest of the squad – Chelsea are expected to find themselves locked in a battle with similarly big-spending City for this year’s title. Strong in all departments the side is studded with individuals of the calibre of Eniola Aluko, Fran Kirby, Katie Chapman and Claire Rafferty. Moreover, Hayes had created a peerless team spirit in one of the game’s most harmonious dressing rooms.

Key signing Karen Carney. he winger or attacking midfielder possesses rare vision and technical ability; small wonder Hayes calls her “world class”.

Player to watch Eniola Aluko. The Lagos-born lawyer, big sister of Hull City’s Sone Aluko and England stalwart, is one of the WSL’s most intelligent players – and among its most dangerous strikers.

Manager Emma Hayes

Last season Champions

Chelsea will be hoping to be crowned champions again. Photograph: Tom Dulat – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Doncaster Rovers Belles



Glen Harris’s team finished second in WSL 2 last season but still managed promotion courtesy of the top tier’s expansion. The days when the Belles were a dominant force in the women’s game may be long gone but thanks to a club strategy dubbed “Project Phoenix”, featuring a gradual shift to full-time professionalism and the construction of a new training ground, those sunlit uplands are in view again. Natasha Dowie’s arrival has lifted everyone but it remains the club’s first season back in the big time and survival will still be an achievement.

Key signing Natasha Dowie. The former Everton, Liverpool and Melbourne Victory forward, niece of the former West Ham striker Iain Dowie, brings presence and goals as she strives to reclaim her England place.

Player to watch Jess Sigsworth. Speedy and skilful, “Siggy” is likely to present WSL defences with all sorts of problems.

Manager Glen Harris

Last season Second in WSL 2

England’s Natasha Dowie hopes to be heading for a successful season with promoted Doncaster Belles. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Liverpool



A side who dallied with the drop last season appear radically remodelled. Scott Rogers, previously assistant manager, has taken over from Matt Beard, who has crossed the Atlantic to join Boston Breakers. Rogers has made nine signings and the average age is reduced to just over 23. Even so, Fara Williams and Asisat Oshoala, who have moved to Arsenal, could be badly missed by a team who toured South Africa during the close season. At least Gemma Bonner, the influential captain, has been persuaded to sign a new contract as the 2013 and 2014 WSL champions aim to re-establish themselves.

Key signing Emma Lundh. The Sweden striker, signed from Norway’s Lillestrom, is fast, physical and technically highly accomplished.

Player to watch Gemma Bonner. Two-footed and excellent in the air, the sometime England defender captained Liverpool to the title in 2013 and 2014.

Manager Scott Rogers

Last season Seventh

Liverpool’s Gemma Bonner will hope to prove her dominance in the air. Photograph: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Manchester City



A late title push saw City really start breathing down Chelsea’s necks last season before they finished in second place. Nick Cushing’s side will want to go one better this time and a squad packed with England internationals – among others Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and Toni Duggan – look formidably well equipped for the challenge. Kosovare Asllani will add menace to the attack and great things are also expected of the 16-year-old Georgia Stanway, another forward and regarded as potentially one of the game’s brightest young talents.

Key signing Kosovare Asllani. The 80-cap Sweden striker has joined from Paris Saint-Germain, where her game drew comparisons to that of her compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Player to watch Jill Scott. A complete midfielder, the England stalwart has a useful habit of dictating games.

Manager Nick Cushing

Last season Second

The Sweden striker Kosovare Asllani will be a threat for Manchester City. Photograph: Maddie Meyer/Fifa via Getty Images

Notts County



The Lady Pies possess a clever coach in Rick Passmoor, who oversaw their transition from a defensively cautious unit to something rather more expansive last season. Buoyed by Carly Telford’s excellence in goal, Laura Bassett’s central defensive strength, Rachel Williams’s midfield class and Jess Clarke’s attacking sorcery, the 2015 FA Cup finalists should at least match last season’s mid-table finish.

Key signing Angharad Jones. The 21-year-old Wales midfielder arrives from Bristol Academy with, in Passmoor’s words, “a big skill set”.

Player to watch Jess Clarke. Controversially left out of England’s Canada 2015 squad, the gifted winger-cum-striker is on a mission to prove Mark Sampson wrong.

Manager Rick Passmoor

Last season Fifth

Reading



After leading Reading to the WSL 2 title last season 29-year-old Kelly Chambers joins Chelsea’s Emma Hayes in becoming a female coach in WSL 1. Committed to an attractive, attacking game, her youthful side promise to be good to watch as they endeavour to establish themselves in the top tier. “Long term we want to be in the top three or four,” Chambers says. “But this season’s target is to stay up.”

Key signing Mary Earps. Great things are expected from the England Under-23 goalkeeper, who has signed from Bristol Academy and is expected to reach the top.

Player to watch: Jade Boho-Sayo. An Equitorial Guinea striker and another signing from relegated Bristol Academy – where she scored eight goals in nine games after joining partway through last season – the player known as Jade starred for Atlético Madrid and Real Vallecano.

Manager Kelly Chambers

Last season WSL2 champions

Reading expect good things from Mary Earps, their England Under-23 goalkeeper. Photograph: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Sunderland

This time last year Carlton Fairweather’s side were newly promoted to WSL 1 but, before fading out, they spent a significant part of the campaign looking like potential champions. The Wearsiders had to settle for fourth place but Fairweather is recognised as one of the best coaches in the women’s game and Sunderland should not be underestimated this time round. Much may hinge on whether Beth Mead retains her prolific scoring touch but they are strong all over the pitch with Rachel Laws excellent in goal and Rachel Furness dominant in midfield. The team spirit nurtured by Fairweather, a former member of Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang, is excellent too.

Key signing Kylia Sjoman. The high-calibre Canada defender joins from Celtic after previously playing in the US and Germany.

Player to watch Beth Mead. Could not stop scoring last season and there seems no reason why the striker cannot keep unhinging defences and force her way into the England squad.

Manager Carlton Fairweather

Last season Fourth