A new WSL season is upon us, with a mouthwatering set of fixtures to get the new campaign underway this weekend.
Chelsea kick things off on Friday night against Aston Villa, with the game live on BBC Two - Ireland's Anna Patten is likely to feature for the visitors to Kingsmeadow in London.
In fact, there are players from the Ireland WNT set to feature in every game on the opening weekend of the new season, with representatives of the Girls in Green up and down the WSL.
It could be a mega season for several of Eileen Gleeson's Irish side, and we've picked out five storylines for you to keep track of as the WSL season progresses.
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Ireland WNT: 5 storylines to track in the new WSL season
A grand new stage for Katie McCabe and Arsenal
Arsenal will play the majority of their home games in the Emirates Stadium this year (Photo: Shutterstock)
When it comes to Irish stars in England's Premier Division, they don't come any bigger than WNT captain Katie McCabe.
The 28-year-old is entering her tenth season at Arsenal and has become an integral part of Jonas Eidevall's setup with the Gunners in recent years. Having been named in the 2022-23 Champions League team of the season, with a Ballon d'Or long-list nomination following that, McCabe has firmly established herself as one of the leading lights of the WSL.
McCabe and her teammates will have new surroundings to enjoy this season, with Arsenal WFC making the big move from Meadow Park to the long-standing home stadium of the men's team, the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.
Select games have been played at the Emirates in recent years, with games against Chelsea and Manchester United drawing huge crowds last season. The opening weekend of the season sees the massive visit of rivals Manchester City, setting the tone for the season to come.
Ireland's captain finally has a stage befitting of her talents. Fans will be watching eagerly to see how McCabe rises to the challenge.
Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday. Kick-off is at 12pm, with the game live on Sky Sports Main Event.
Youngsters arrive after starring in Crystal Palace's promotion charge
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One of the biggest Irish success stories in last season's English football league was the promotion of Crystal Palace from the Championship, with three Irish players starring in their promotion charge.
Last summer saw Hayley Nolan arrive in South London before a pair of Irish youngsters joined her at Palace in January. Both Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson have impressed in blue and red, with Atkinson winning the Championship's Player of the Month award in her first full month in blue and red.
This will be a first taste of WSL football for Larkin and Nolan, while Atkinson returns to the division after being frustrated with her game-time at West Ham early last season. Having more players in the top division can only be a good thing for Eileen Gleeson's national team and, with Atkinson impressing in last year's Nations League campaign and Larkin featuring at the World Cup, two stars of the future have a brilliant opportunity to develop at the highest level this season.
Crystal Palace travel to Tottenham on Sunday, with kick-off at 2pm.
Leanne Kiernan pushes on with high-flying Liverpool
A fantastic ball from @Ceriholland_11 that @kiernan_leanne finishes with style! 🤩#BarclaysWSL @LiverpoolFCW pic.twitter.com/M13DQE5YOH
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 1, 2024
After an impressive first campaign with Liverpool, Leanne Kiernan spent most of the 2022-23 season on the sidelines with an ankle injury. It was an injury which ultimately prevented her from making Ireland's squad for the World Cup in Australia, a heartbreaking outcome for one of Ireland's most promising young forwards.
She has responded in brilliant style, fighting her way back into the frame at both club and international level last season and scoring some delightful goals for Liverpool in the back half of the campaign.
The Reds mounted an impressive charge last season, ultimately faltering late in the day with their Champions League charge but finishing ahead of Manchester United. There is a massive opportunity for Kiernan to push on and establish herself as a major player should Liverpool do likewise in the league table.
Also committed to Liverpool for another season is 36-year-old Niamh Fahey, who signed a new contract with the club ahead of the WSL season.
Liverpool take on Leicester City on Sunday at 2pm.
Uncertainty for Aoife Mannion at Manchester United
Ireland defender Aoife Mannion was definitely making the most of the Manchester United FA Cup celebrations yesterday 🏆pic.twitter.com/isSeIvBoPp
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 13, 2024
Aoife Mannion picked up her first silverware in England last season, as Manchester United won the FA Cup at the end of a challenging campaign for the Red Devils.
Things have become even more tumultuous at the club over the summer. Big-name stars Katie Zelem, Lucia Garcia, and Mary Earps have all departed since that FA Cup triumph, leaving question marks as to how the team can improve on last season's fifth-place finish.
Couple that with new owner Jim Ratcliffe's contentious attitude towards the women's team, the movement of the squad away from their old training base to facilitate the men's team, and long-term questions as to the team's permanent venue, and it has been a ropey few months for United.
Time will tell how these issues will affect the club this season. Mannion will hope that she and her teammates can do their talking on the pitch.
Manchester United host West Ham on Saturday, with kick-off at 12pm.
Players up and down the league earning new contracts
16 July 2024; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
There were votes of confidence for two Irish stars earlier this summer, with both Jess Ziu (West Ham) and Courtney Brosnan (Everton) earning contract extensions.
After a lengthy ACL layoff, Ziu has impressed at international level since returning in February, and Brosnan remains one of the first names on any Irish team sheet. Both players securing their long-term WSL futures is a massive boost for the Ireland WNT, and they will hope to help push their teams up the table in the coming season.
Jess Ziu's West Ham travel to Old Trafford on Saturday, with kick-off at 12pm.
Courtney Brosnan and Everton travel to Brighton at 12:30pm on Saturday.
