The Best WSL Fantasy Captaincy Picks For Gameweek 1

Grace Gunn
8 hours ago
5 min read

With the new WSL Fantasy season right around the corner, one of the biggest decisions facing managers is who to hand the all-important captain’s armband to in Gameweek 1.

There are several standout options, from proven goalscorers facing newly promoted sides, to some of the league’s biggest stars beginning new chapters. Whether you’re looking for the safe option or hoping to gain an early advantage over your rivals, here are five players worth considering giving your armband to for the opening weekend.

Bunny Shaw

If you’re looking for the safest and most reliable captaincy option in Gameweek 1, Bunny Shaw is the obvious choice.

The Manchester City forward enters the new season off the back of back-to-back Golden Boot-winning campaigns and will be looking to pick up right where she left off. Shaw scored an incredible 21 goals in 22 league appearances last season, once again demonstrating why she is one of the most reliable goal sources in WSL Fantasy.

If Shaw can replicate the form she showed last season, she has every chance of becoming the captaincy staple of your side. Averaging a goal every 89 minutes, the City number nine offers a level of consistency that few, if any, other players can match, making her a reliable source of points week after week.

Another major reason to back City’s number nine is her versatility in front of goal. Shaw found the net three times with her left foot, 11 times with her right and seven times with her head last season. Whether it’s a composed finish, a strike from range or a header in the box, Shaw has shown she can score in virtually any situation.

City, the defending Champions, face newly promoted side Birmingham City at home in their first game, with their opponents returning to the topflight for the first time since the 2021/22 season so may show nerves early on; that makes Shaw an incredibly appealing option, particularly given the form she has already shown in preseason.

The Jamaican found the net in City's final preseason friendly against rivals Manchester United, providing another encouraging sign ahead of the opening weekend.

If Shaw continues the form that has made her one of, if not the WSL's most prolific forwards, goals should be on the cards. For managers who simply want the highest-floor captaincy option available, Shaw pretty much picks herself.

Beata Olsson

For those looking beyond the obvious choices, Liverpool's Beata Olsson could be an intriguing captaincy option.

Olsson comes into the season in excellent preseason form, having produced a hattrick and an assist in her latest outing. Liverpool face another newly promoted side, Charlton, in Gameweek 1, providing an immediate opportunity for the Reds to make a statement and get off to a stronger start than last season.

The Swedish international scored six league goals during her first WSL campaign and showed early signs that she could develop into a reliable attacking option before picking up injuries. With the Reds also adding Vivien Endemann to their attacking ranks, there is potential for Olsson to benefit from an increased supply of chances or additional assists.

The new attacking options around the number 11 should only be a benefit and provide them with more creative opportunities, which has certainly been evident in preseason as Gareth Taylor’s side head into the season off the back of a 7-1 win where Olsson helped herself 4 goal contributions.

She may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about captaincy, but that's exactly what makes her an interesting option. If you're looking to differentiate from the majority of managers from the very first Gameweek, Olsson could be worth considering especially at this early stage.

Kathleen McGovern

Another player who could provide an early differential is Newcastle’s Kathleen McGovern.

The forward has already made a strong impression since joining the club, netting a hattrick against Burnley in pre-season. McGovern will now have the opportunity to make her competitive debut at home against Wolves, who are entering the WSL following promotion and with the side aiming to challenge for the title, they will be keen to make a statement from the outset.

The Magpies’ new number nine arrives at the club off the back of an impressive campaign with Hibernian, where she found the net 20 times last season. With the likes of Jordan Nobbs and Beth Lumsden capable of supplying plenty of chances, McGovern has the potential to carry that goalscoring form into the WSL2 and quickly establish herself as one to watch.

A home fixture against newly promoted opposition only adds to the appeal. Throw in her pre-season hat-trick, and there’s plenty of reason for Fantasy managers to take notice, particularly when it comes to the armband this weekend.

McGovern is unlikely to attract anywhere near the same level of captaincy support as some of the game’s bigger names, but that’s exactly what makes her such an intriguing option. If you’re looking to gain an early advantage over your rivals and make a bold captaincy call, McGovern could be a gamble worth taking.

Alexia Putellas

You can’t talk about the very best picks without mentioning Alexia Putellas.

The Barcelona legend is currently the most picked in the game with 55% of players choosing the 2x Ballon d’Or winner and will begin this new chapter with a home fixture against Manchester United.

On paper, Putellas is exactly the type of player Fantasy managers want in their teams. Her ability to influence a game from midfield and produce moments of individual brilliance makes her capable of delivering returns even when a match isn't going entirely her team's way.

Eva Olid’s new-look United side have had a difficult preseason, which could make the fixture particularly appealing, but La Reina arguably carries slightly more risk than some of the other captaincy options at this early stage with the element of the unknown surrounding how she will adapt to her new surroundings and the WSL.

However, if you're looking for a player capable of producing something from absolutely nothing, Putellas certainly fits that and is very difficult to look past despite having never kicked a ball in the league just yet.

Her ownership means a big Gameweek could be hugely rewarding, whilst a blank could leave differential-minded managers with an advantage.

Lauren James

At just £7.5m, Lauren James looks like one of the most intriguing captaincy options available in Gameweek 1.

Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge, with Natalia Arroyo’s side having struggled to keep clean sheets consistently last season. It's also a fixture in which James has historically enjoyed herself, making the matchup even more appealing; and not to mention LJ’s goalscoring record at the Bridge!

James has the ability to produce Fantasy points in a variety of ways. Whether it's a spectacular finish from outside the box, a moment of individual brilliance or simply finding herself in the right position at the right time, the tricky winger is capable of changing a game in an instant.

She also comes into the season with attacking momentum. James registered a goal and an assist in the most recent meeting between Chelsea and Villa, whilst she has already recorded two goal contributions in the Blues’ Champions League qualifiers.

At £7.5m, the potential upside makes James particularly interesting for managers looking to use their captaincy on a player who isn't necessarily the most obvious choice at this early stage in the season.

Whilst Sonia Bompastor has plenty of attacking options at her disposal, there is no one like LJ and her moments of magic.