'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 English women's national team, England, has experienced dwindling representation in the Women's Super League (WSL), raising concerns about the league's impact on homegrown talent. Two instances this season saw WSL teams fielding starting line-ups without any English players, marking a decline in the proportion of homegrown players starting for the national team.
Since the WSL's full professionalization in 2018, it has attracted top global talents, leading to a steady decline in the percentage of homegrown players starting for England in recent tournaments. England's women's national team, despite being European champions, has struggled in major tournaments, with only a few young players making it to the squad consistently.
The current concern is whether the WSL's focus on attracting global talent is hindering the development of homegrown players, a crucial factor for the future of the English national team.
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