'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 Women's Super League (WSL) is experiencing an influx of foreign talent, with some expressing concern that this may hinder the development of homegrown players. Two matches on opening night of the 2025-26 season featured starting line-ups without any English players - Manchester City faced Manchester United while Tottenham hosted West Ham.
This is the first time an English team has done so since the WSL went fully professional in 2018. While the league has grown significantly and attracted top talent from around the world, the trend of non-homegrown players starting matches could be alarming for the hopes of developing homegrown talent and the national teams.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- 'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem? sports.yahoo.com
- 'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem? bbc.co.uk
