Opening weekend of the Barclays Women's Super League didn't disappoint. There were some expected results with some pleasant surprises sprinkled throughout, so that means it's time to roll out the power rankings. Following each matchweek, I'll rank teams based on general performances, or lack thereof.
Sometimes a blowout win by a reigning champion over a newly promoted side might not move me as much as a hard-fought draw by a lower-table team over a perennial contender, so congrats to Aston Villa. CBS Sports is the home of the Barclays Women's Super League, and fans can watch all the latest games. Paramount+ will live stream all 183 matches each season, the most matches ever made available in the competition's newly expanded format.
CBS Sports Network will additionally air one match per week, with select fixtures also broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network. The latest rankings offer a chance to comment on results, performances, and questions heading into matchweek two. Make sure to check back as the season progresses and keep up with all the matches across CBS Sports platforms.
If you want to keep up with all the changes, be sure to check out my previous power rankings. The first matchweek offered plenty of glimpses into how some teams will navigate the season, while others still haven't quite established their identity. It's not just newly promoted Birmingham City or Charlton Athletic that have work to do; it's also longer-established clubs -- sorry to Chelsea FC.
London City Lionesses kicked off their campaign with a win against Manchester United, and despite all the flashy offseason signings, it came down to previously rostered players who made the difference. Still, it felt like the first true power shift in the league. Despite third and fourth-place finishes in the previous two seasons, it could be a slow but steady decline for Manchester United moving forward, while the future looks bright for London City.
Looks like last year's league champions are picking up right where they left off. Bunny Shaw is already establishing the Golden Boot race with two goals, and Mary Fowler could be setting up a comeback season after scoring following her return from an ACL injury in February. Watch out for Lisa Baum, who already scored in her debut for Arsenal after her near $700,000 transfer to the club.
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