Women's Super League 2021/22 quarterly report: The 10 best players of the campaign so far

This season's Women's Super League promised to be the biggest and best campaign yet with a multi-million pound broadcasting deal and boasting the finest talent from across the globe.

A quarter of the way in, and the season has not disappointed. Central to the high level of entertainment so far has been the world-class performances of several in-form individuals.

Here's our rundown of the best performers of the season so far. You can have your say in the comments section below.

10. Becky Spencer (Tottenham)

A watertight defence has been the main reason why Tottenham find themselves in a Champions League place after five games, and Jamaica goalkeeper Spencer has been the star of the show.

Now 30, she appears to be getting better with every season that passes and has kept two clean sheets in her four appearances so far - ensuring only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals than Spurs in the WSL.

9. Yui Hasegawa (West Ham)

The Japan international has added star quality to West Ham's midfield after joining this summer following a spell with Italian side AC Milan. Her exquisite lob to finish off Manchester City at the Academy Stadium on October 3 was among the goals of the season so far.

More significantly the 24-year-old has brought skill, balance and flair to Olli Harder’s team to lift them up to sixth in the table.

8. Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

Chelsea’s new 3-4-3 formation this season relies a lot on the hard work of the wide midfielders and Norway’s Guro Reiten looks at home in her changed role on the left of that four, dropping slightly deeper than we have seen her in recent years when she was more often a out-and-out winger.

Her vision is rarely matched in this league, yet she is also more than adept at her defensive duties, and she is arguably the reigning champions’ most under-rated player at the moment.

7. Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Last season's top scorer leads the charts again after five games with five WSL goals, and shows no sign of letting up yet. At 28, Australia's Kerr is approaching the peak years of her career, and the WSL is lucky to have her at the moment. If any forward out there runs off the shoulder of the last defender more effectively than Kerr, I’ve not seen them in the WSL era.

6. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)

Seen by many as the best all-round striker in the world, Miedema continues to entertain, as ever. With the rest of the Arsenal side stepping things up this season, arguably the Holland star has gone slightly under the radar in the league - if it’s possible to go under the radar while scoring four games in five games.

The wider contribution of Arsenal's goals will serve her well, keeping her fresh for a charge at multiple major honours come the end of the campaign. A fully-fit Miedema is a daunting prospect.

5. Fran Kirby (Chelsea)

Last term's Player of the Season has hit the ground running again this campaign and has already contributed eight league goals, including five assists.

The England forward’s 81 per cent passing accuracy is more akin to the stats of a safe-playing centre-half than an agile attacking player, and that merely highlights her pin-point accuracy.

When Kirby isn’t carving open a defence with a pristine through ball, she’s weaving through a backline with a well-timed run of her own. At her best she is unstoppable.

4. Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

The Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe just can’t stop scoring worldies and fans of Arsenal and the whole sport can’t get enough of them.

There are few better left feet in the sport, and the 26-year-old is thriving as a wide forward just as she did as a left-back last season. That versatility is invaluable to an Arsenal side who have won all five of the matches so far in the WSL campaign.

3. Beth Mead (Arsenal)

Named as September’s WSL Player of the Month after her excellent start to the campaign, Mead looks like a player who is determined to show why she should have been at the Olympics with Team GB.

She has created 15 chances already this term - averaging three per game - and, like McCabe, she has three goals and three assists to boot, including her match-winning brace against Chelsea on the opening weekend.

2. Pernille Harder (Chelsea)

Now settled in the WSL 13 months after her arrival in England, the world’s most expensive women’s player, Harder, has found the form of her life and is delivering for Chelsea with big goals and big performances when it matters most.

Having scored seven times in all competitions for club and country this season, she has the pace, poise and ruthlessness to terrify any defence.

1. Kim Little (Arsenal)

Majestic on the ball, supremely intelligent in possession and lethal in front of goal despite being a midfielder, Little has been playing some of her finest football this season and is flourishing under new Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall.

Tobin Heath best emphasised Little’s qualities when she - as a two-time World Cup winner - said last week: ‘I have never played with a better player than Kim Little’. Few have ever.