WSL Team of the Week: The Opta XI from Matchday 2

We’ve curated our WSL Opta XI of Matchday 2 based on the performances that stood out most across the opening round of fixtures.

The 2026-27 Women’s Super League season is already delivering on its promise, with Matchday 2 producing another set of standout performances and plenty of talking points.

From Crystal Palace’s defensive resilience against Arsenal, with goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and Molly Bartrip at the heart of a historic clean sheet, to Chelsea’s attacking firepower, and Khadija Shaw continuing to underline her dominance in front of goal, there was no shortage of contenders for our Opta XI of the week.

With several players again making strong cases for inclusion, narrowing the field down to just 11 was no easy task. As ever, though, we’ve let the data make the case.

GK – Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Crystal Palace)

Like on Matchday 1, there was little debate about our goalkeeper of the week.

Crystal Palace’s summer recruit from Denver Summit on loan, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, produced a standout display to help secure the club’s first-ever WSL point against Arsenal.

Magnin made eight saves, more than any other goalkeeper on MD2.

Only Shae Yanez has recorded more saves in a single WSL match for Palace, making 12 against Tottenham in September 2024, 12 against Manchester City in May 2025, and nine against Aston Villa in November 2024.

Arsenal generated 1.6 expected goals on target (xGOT), yet the Eagles kept a clean sheet, meaning Peyraud-Magnin prevented 1.6 goals based on the quality of the shots faced.

Two matches into the campaign, Palace are yet to concede in the WSL. Arsenal are the only other side with the same record, highlighting the defensive resilience Palace have displayed on their return to the top flight.

LB – Estelle Cascarino (West Ham)

It was a family affair at Chigwell Construction Stadium as Estelle Cascarino faced her twin sister Delphine, and it’s safe to say the West Ham defender will be the happier of the pair after helping her side to a surprise victory over London City Lionesses.

Cascarino made six entries into the final third against London City, the most among West Ham defenders on MD2, underlining her willingness to contribute going forward. She also made five clearances, the joint-most among West Ham players alongside Nadine Riesen.

That took Cascarino’s total to nine clearances across the opening two matchdays, more than any other Hammers player.

CB – Molly Bartrip (Crystal Palace)

The summer signing from Tottenham is already proving her worth for Crystal Palace, who became the first promoted team in WSL history to keep a clean sheet away against a side that finished in the top two the previous season.

Molly Bartrip made a matchday-high 18 clearances against Arsenal, including eight headed clearances. Her ability to repeatedly clear her lines was crucial as Palace withstood heavy pressure from Arsenal.

Her most important intervention came in the 27th minute, when she produced a vital goal-line clearance to deny Alessia Russo.

Alongside her defensive teammates, Bartrip anchored a backline that ultimately held firm against Arsenal’s sustained pressure.

RB – Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea)

Ellie Carpenter played a key role in the constant chance creation that ensured Chelsea ran riot at Leigh Sports Village against Man Utd.

The Blues defender created three chances on MD2, taking her tally to seven across Chelsea’s opening two games. That is the most of any defender in the WSL this season and ranks her third among all players.

Only Fran Kirby (five) registered more successful crosses than Carpenter (four) on MD2, highlighting her influence in Chelsea’s attacking play.

She also got on the scoresheet, reacting quickest after her initial shot was saved. It was just her second WSL goal away from home for the Blues and her sixth overall in the competition.

LM – Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

City’s superstar winger Lauren Hemp created four chances on MD2 in the 4-1 win at Aston Villa, with only Fran Kirby (6) creating more this gameweek. She has now created 11 chances across the opening two games, the most of any WSL player this season.

She also recorded 17 touches in the opposition box and had the most shot-ending carries (three) of any player on MD2, underlining her threat in the final third.

Crucially, her assist means she now has 100 goal involvements in the WSL, becoming just the seventh player to reach the landmark.

CM – Keira Walsh (Chelsea)

Keira Walsh marked her 50th Chelsea appearance across all competitions with a goal and an assist at the weekend. It was only the fourth time she has recorded two goal involvements in a WSL game, and her first for Chelsea, having last done so for Manchester City against Bristol City in November 2020.

Her strike against Man Utd continued her recent goalscoring form after she found the net in the UWCL third qualifying round against Real Sociedad.

CM – Signe Gaupset (Tottenham)

Signe Gaupset played a key role in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, as her cross deflected in off defender Sam Kerr to give Spurs the lead in the 41st minute.

She registered three shots, the joint-most among Tottenham players alongside Shekiera Martinez, while her 13 attempted passes ending in the final third were the most of any Spurs player on MD2.

Her physical contribution was just as important, winning seven duels – the most of any Tottenham player – and drawing three fouls, also a team-high.

The Norwegian’s all-round contribution was crucial in helping Tottenham earn a point on the road and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

RM – Océane Hurtre (Birmingham City)

Océane Hurtré was one of five players to register two goal involvements at the weekend, scoring and assisting as Birmingham City were unlucky not to claim their first win of the season. She caught Brighton out with an aggressive press to regain possession before firing the Blues ahead.

Having also scored on MD1, Hurtre now has three goal involvements this season. Only Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw has more (four).

If she maintains this form, Hurtre could be on track to challenge Ellen White’s record of 17 goal involvements for Birmingham in a single WSL campaign, set in 2017-18.

LW  – Lauren James (Chelsea)

Lauren James’ eight shots on MD2 were the most of any player. Her 19 shots across Chelsea’s opening two games are also the most ever recorded by a player across a team’s first two games of a WSL campaign.

She has completed six dribbles across the two matchdays, joint-most with Tottenham’s Alejandra Bernabé, while her six shot-ending carries lead the WSL. Her numbers are already highlighting exactly what Chelsea were missing last season.

ST – Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)

We simply can’t leave Khadija Shaw out of our team when the numbers continue to underline her attacking dominance.

The Jamaican leads the WSL for goal involvements this season with four, including three goals and one assist, while also topping the league for both xG (2.02) and goals scored.

She also registered a goal and an assist in the same WSL game for the first time since December 2025, when she scored twice and assisted against Leicester.

With Shaw already leading the Golden Boot race, she looks well placed to retain the crown.

RW – Mary Fowler (Manchester City)

After nearly 10 months on the sidelines following the 2025 Women’s FA Cup final against Manchester United, Mary Fowler returned in February and is already showing signs of getting back to her best.

With Kerolin departing over the summer, Fowler looks increasingly ready to fill the attacking void, and she added another goal to her tally against West Ham to make it two in two games this season.

The last time she scored in consecutive WSL appearances was in January-February 2025, when she netted against Aston Villa before scoring twice against Arsenal.

Fowler played 83 minutes on MD2, the second-most she has managed since returning, behind only her 90-minute appearance on the final day of 2025-26.

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