'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem?
The London City Lionesses raised eyebrows with no English players in their starting line up against Manchester United, but is there a wider trend?
The opening night of the 2025-26 Women's Super League season saw London City Lionesses start a lineup without any English players for the first time in the league's history. This trend has continued, with Scotland striker Kirsty Hanson being the sole British player to start for Tottenham in their match against West Ham. While the WSL has grown and attracted world-class athletes from across the globe, this shift raises concerns about the future of homegrown players and the development of the sport in the home nations.
The decline in homegrown players starting in matches, from over a third to under a third of the total starting 11, indicates a worrying trend that could impact the performance of the England national team in the future.
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- 'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem? sports.yahoo.com
- 'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem? bbc.co.uk
