The SWPL gets back to business this weekend as Hibs look to defend a title they claimed at Ibrox in May. Grant Scott’s side will have their work cut out for them as they look to defend their Champions credentials; not since 2021 when Glasgow City won an historic 14th title have a team held onto their crown. That is has changed hands since then – Rangers, City, Celtic and Hibs – would illustrate the sheer competitiveness of the women’s top flight across recent seasons. Here we take a look at the runners and riders this season and predict who will be celebrating come May. HIBS
Grant Scott’s side were unfancied right up until the moment they got their hands on the title at Ibrox last season. The players themselves acknowledged that few of them really believed that they could go all the way – but all the way they did. The big question now is, can they do it again? There have been a few tweaks to the squad but no wholesale changes.
Their championship status means there is a European qualifying tournament at the end of this month in Cyprus as they look to make it into the Champions League group stages. Last season that derailed Celtic’s domestic campaign so it will be interesting to see how if the additional games and travel, even at this early stage of the campaign, have an impact.
Prediction: 4th GLASGOW CITY
There has been no silverware at Petershill for back-to-back seasons, a scenario that will have hurt Glasgow City given the dominance with which they lorded it over the rest for so long. Leanne Ross has lost her assistant manager to Rangers with the move coming late in the day as the Ibrox side made their move for Leanne Crichton who switched to Ibrox with less than a fortnight to go before the new campaign.
Jo Love, Brenna Lovera, Aleigh Gambone, Claire Walsh, Mairead Fulton and Sam van Diemen have left the club this summer. Lovera had an excellent campaign with her goals a substantial loss while van Diemen was also impressive; she will be shoring up Roma’s defence this season. Abi Harrsion, Erin McLaughlin, Lana Golob and Emma Brownlie have been added.
Like Hibs, City have a Champions League qualifying mini-tournament to play at the end of this month and will be keen that it does not impact their domestic performances.
The suspicion is that it will be fraught at the top – and could be goal difference to settled again – but it will be interesting to see if City can reclaim a title they seemed to own for so long.
Prediction: 1st CELTIC
Any insight into how Elena Sadiku felt about the club’s fourth place finish last season would have been seen in the ten players – all first-team level – who were released from the club this summer. So far replacements have been slow to arrive albeit that Sadiku has said she expects to be in a far more comfortable place when the window closes.
The Swede was reluctant to make any bold pronouncements about winning titles or silverware this season but has insisted that there has to be an improvement on last year’s trophyless campaign.
Last season the Parkhead side toiled against their title rivals – they beat City once at the start of the campaign and never got the better of Rangers in any competition – raising question marks about their psychology around the bigger games.
Do Celtic have the players to go and claim a title they won for the first time in 2024? Time will tell.
Prediction: 3rd RANGERS
Leanne Crichton is well aware that she is in position at Rangers to deliver a title that slipped out of Jo Potter’s grasp twice at the very last hurdle. The Ibrox side have enjoyed success in both domestic Cups but the title has eluded them since they won it under Malky Thomson.
There have been accusations around the mentality of the squad as they have failed to get over the line despite having the best resourced squad in the league in recent campaigns.
Crichton has had little time to prepare for the season ahead and missed out on Rangers’ pre-season trip to Italy as Rangers and Glasgow City thrashed out a compensation agreement.
The squad itself has undergone changes – six players have gone – with Rio Hardy and Kirsty Maclean the notable departures.
Still, Rangers have a strong squad with Katie Wilkinson’s goals always significant.
Prediction: 2nd HEARTS
Eva Olid has improved Hearts year on year since taking over at the club. Her side have made for awkward opponents for all of the top teams and while they may not have the depth to go all the way in the title race they can definitely have a say in who claims the Championship.
They host Celtic tomorrow afternoon as the season gets underway and will be keen to be as problematic to Sadiku’s team as they have been in recent displays.
Olid may well fancy too that this season a kind cup run will book a Hampden date.
Prediction: 5th ABERDEEN
Scott Booth will be keen to make his mark with Aberdeen as he prepares for a full season at the club. Having made the move back North in October last year, there was a sense of frustration that results did not match his ambitions for the club.
There remains an issue with resources – the club are semi-professional rather than professional – with the chasm clear between the top end of the table and the rest. Booth’s challenge is to bridge that gap.
Prediction: 6th MOTHERWELL
Paul Brownlie had an impressive campaign last year as he took Motherwell into a top six position. The Fir Park side have punched above their weight at times with Brownlie laying solid foundations at the club.
Prediction: 7th PARTICK THISTLE
Last season proved to be a bridge too far for Thistle last season after the heights they had reached in previous campaign under Brian Graham. The striker has stepped back from the women’s game after labouring under an intense workload in recent seasons while Tiree Burchill has made the move to champions Hibs while Cara Henderson will miss the season following ACL surgery.
Prediction: 8th HAMILTON ACCIES
Robert Watson has brought Accies back into the top flight but has had a nightmare summer with legal wranglings off the park overseeing preparations for the new campaign.
He has recruited some experience SWPL players and loans but the remit will all be about staying in the league.
Prediction: 9th
MONTROSE
Montrose kick off their campaign by hosting Rangers this afternoon with the likelihood being that the season doesn’t get any easier the longer it goes on.
Prediction: 10th
