Crystal Palace enter their second consecutive Women's Super League campaign after securing survival on the final day of last season. The club finished 11th, just one point above the relegation zone, and will be eager to establish themselves more comfortably in the top flight this time around.
New Leadership and Key Arrivals
The summer brought significant changes at the helm. Leif Smerud was appointed as the new head coach, replacing Laura Kaminski, who departed after guiding the team through their debut WSL season. Smerud arrives with a reputation for developing young talent, having previously worked with Norwegian national teams.
In the transfer market, Palace have been active, bringing in several players to strengthen the squad. Notable additions include midfielder Katie Stengel, who joined from Liverpool, and defender Brooke Nunn, a former Manchester United player. The club also secured the permanent signing of forward Aimee Claypole, who impressed on loan from Arsenal last season.
Challenges and Expectations
The squad retains a core of experienced players, including captain Aimee Palmer and goalkeeper Fran Stenson, who were instrumental in last season's survival. However, the team will need to improve their away form, which was a weakness last term, if they are to avoid another relegation battle.
Palace's opening fixture sees them host Leicester City at the VBS Community Stadium. The club will be hoping for a strong start to build confidence and momentum early in the season.
With a blend of established WSL players and promising newcomers, Crystal Palace will aim to push higher up the table and secure their status as a top-flight club.
