The performances of Premier League teams have a bigger impact on the Women’s Super League than five years ago.

talkSPORT conducted an investigation into the finishing positions of WSL and Women’s Championship teams compared to where their male opponents have achieved over the past eight seasons.

Female footballers at Manchester United now perform similarly to their male counterparts.
In the 2022/23 season, WSL teams are seeded 1-12, then Women’s Championship teams are seeded 13-24.

Similarly, teams finishing in the Premier League are ranked 1-20 and teams in the EFL are ranked 21-44.

But teams without an equivalent men’s or women’s team in the top two championships (like Newcastle or Lewes) have been dropped from the ladder.

In the 2015/16 season rankings, there were significantly fewer teams competing in the men’s and women’s leagues, so fewer clubs were included.

The results show that the rankings of men and women seem to be getting closer and closer together. There is a much larger relationship in the 2022/23 season graph than in the 2015/26 season graph.

While spending on women’s teams is rare at most clubs, as bigger clubs begin to commit more to women’s football, they are bringing the WSL rankings on par with the Premier League. Premier League rankings.

So what was the main point of last season’s rankings? talkSPORT.com takes a look.

The club has only finished outside the top three once since joining the WSL before finishing fourth this season.

The men’s team’s legendary success shows how far Taylor’s team will have to improve if they are to match his achievements.

Pep Guardiola’s historic hat-trick seems to be the beginning of an era of dominance for Manchester City’s team.

But it remains to be seen:
Can the women’s team compete successfully with the men’s team this season?

Chelsea:
A story of two teams

Chelsea’s team recorded the Premier League’s worst result since 1994 after a shocking season. Their 12th place was even more disappointing due to their lavish spending.

The absence of a capable striker proved crushing for a team unable to produce a string of convincing results.

While things couldn’t have gone better for Emma Hayes and Chelsea Women, they claimed their fourth consecutive WSL title and third consecutive domestic double.

Only the Champions League trophy eludes them, but they will remain confident in their ability to improve on last year’s performance and conquer Europe for the first time.

Aston Villa:
A force for the future?

At the start of the Premier League and WSL season, few could have predicted what we would see at Aston Villa this season.

Villa Men secured a place in the Conference League
Both the men’s and women’s teams exceeded expectations with impressive results.

The men’s team finished seventh under Unai Emery and earned a place in the Europa Conference League.

After West Ham won this tournament earlier this year, Villa will be confident that they can also go far in this tournament and finish well on the Premier League rankings.

On the women’s side, it was a fairytale season as Carla Ward led the team to their highest ever result.

Daly was key for Villa last season
They finished the season in fifth place after transfers including Jordan Nobbs, Lucy Staniforth and Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly took the team to the top of the table.

Teams ranked just below the top four include Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City, who have dominated the WSL since its inaugural season.

But a stunning win over Arsenal on the final day epitomized Villa’s season and could provide a glimpse of what they are capable of going forward.

Arsenal:
Failure to maintain growth momentum

Both teams started the season strongly and at one point Arsenal looked like they were heading for a double win in the men’s and women’s competitions.

But the old rival proved too strong and both teams’ losing streak caused them to lose the title. Both teams’ top-three positions were somewhat overshadowed by the reminder that victory was within reach before momentum slowed.

However, confidence can be assured by both teams and some key signings in the form of Declan Rice and Alessia Russo could prove vital as they attempt to renew their dual title challenge.

RSenal women won the Continental Cup last season
Leicester:
narrow margin

At one point during the season, Leicester looked like they might face double relegation.

Both teams struggled to score points early in the season, with the men’s team not winning until the eighth game and the women’s team losing their first nine games.

Ultimately, it’s up to both teams – but while victory for Leicester Women ensured their survival in the WSL, victory for Leicester Men was not enough to save them from relegation.

After a disastrous start to the season, Leicester Women’s manager Lydia Bedford was sacked in November and replaced by Willie Kirk.

It took the men until April before doing the same and parting ways with Brendan Rodgers and handing the reins to Dean Smith – but unlike Kirk, the new manager was unable to salvage the season from Leicester’s hands.

Both teams have a task ahead of them as the men’s team attempt to secure promotion and the women’s team once again attempt to avoid relegation.

While reading:
Miserable double relegation

Things couldn’t get much worse for Reading.

After a strong and quick start that saw Reading top the Championship table, their relegation was assured one game before the end of the season following a long winless run. The EFL also deducted Reading six points for breaching the terms of their business plan relating to profits and sustainability.

Meanwhile, the women’s team was no better, finishing last in the WSL season.

Reading are now in the league and also only part-time
The club’s double relegation has plunged the club into a financial crisis – and the worst is yet to come.

At the start of June, Reading CEO Dayong Pang announced the news that Reading Women would now operate on a part-time basis as the club attempted to rebuild after a brutal season.

Reading Women are the only club in the 2022/23 season not backed by an equivalent team in the Premier League.

Former coach Kelly Chambers has explained how other clubs struggling this WSL season, such as Tottenham and Leicester, were able to buy players like Bethany England and Janina Leitzig to save themselves himself in ways that Reading’s budget did not allow.

This raises the question:
Can a women’s team survive in the WSL without a men’s team in the Premier League? Freshly promoted from the Championship, Bristol City will put that question to the test this season as they try to avoid meeting Reading’s fate.

The clubs are not part of the men’s team

While Reading appear to be proof that a WSL club cannot succeed without the support of a Premier League team, Championship sides London City Lionesses and Lewes may suggest otherwise.

He was an important signing for Tottenham and helped them avoid relegation
Both teams are not affiliated with any men’s teams and have nonetheless had impressive seasons.

Lewes made headlines after reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and were only beaten by Manchester United, who were almost unstoppable.

London City Lionesses also performed well last season and fought for promotion to the WSL this season, ultimately missing out on Bristol City and finishing the season in 3rd place.

They were also promotion contenders last season and only lost to Liverpool, who had a great season to deny them.

These teams are constantly fighting for promotion from the WSL and hope to do so again this season. If they reach the top flight, their performance will be a key indicator of how an independent women’s team can perform in the WSL.