Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly has been named the Women’s Super League Player of the Season. The England international had a season to remember, scoring 21 goals in only 21 matches and guiding Aston Villa to a fifth-place finish. Her goal total is the most for an Englishwoman in the WSL era, and her form allowed Villa to advance to their first-ever FA Cup semifinal. In addition to Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, Ona Batlle, Leah Galton, Kirsty Hanson, Bunny Shaw, and Frida Maanum, who were all nominated for the award, Daly won the prize.
Rachel Daly moved from Houston Dash to Villa last summer. She played as a left-back throughout the competition and was crucial to England’s Euro 2022 success. She has, however, thrived for Villa while playing as a striker, putting herself in the running to start as England’s center forward at the Women’s World Cup. In Villa’s last WSL match of the season at Arsenal on Saturday, she will have one more opportunity to raise her goal total for the year.
Alessia Russo, Keira Walsh, and Lauren James, three players from England, were among the honorees at the first-ever Women’s Football Awards, which were held in London. Russo, a forward for Manchester United, won player of the year, while Walsh, another Euro 2022 champion who joined Barcelona from Manchester City last summer for a record transfer price, won international player of the year. The 21-year-old Missy Bo Kearns of Liverpool and the striker James of Chelsea both won the young player of the year award.
In addition, two players of the England men’s squad received awards: Declan Rice, who served as ally award recipient, and captain Harry Kane. Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright was awarded women’s football champion of the year. Eni Aluko and Jamie Carragher emceed the ceremony after more than 20,000 people cast their ballots and a judging panel comprised of United striker Nikita Parris, Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir, and Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen approved the results. United, which this year reached their greatest Women’s Super League point total, qualified for the Champions League for the first time, had their first Women’s FA Cup final appearance, and was awarded best club of the year.
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