The new official WSL Fantasy game is here ahead of the 2026/27 season, bringing a new challenge for Fantasy managers.

If you’d like to know how to play it, consult our guide here.

But in this article, we bring in WSL Fantasy expert Joe, who reveals his opening squad and explains the thinking behind his selections.

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TEAM REVEAL

GOALKEEPERS

With the new substitution rule, I’m aiming for a goalkeeper pair who play on different days throughout the first four Matchweeks. For now, I’ve landed on Hannah Hampton (5.5m) from Chelsea and Fran Bentley (5.0m) from Bristol City.

Hannah Hampton has been a very solid Fantasy option over the last few years, becoming the first goalkeeper to win the WSL’s Golden Glove award twice. Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing third-place finish last year. A fixture against Aston Villa, who sold the player responsible for over 42% of their WSL goals last season, could be a great way to start.

Fran Bentley is a great back-up if needed. Bristol City were the highest finishers in last season’s WSL2 outside of the three promoted teams. The WSL’s expansion leaves the WSL2 title race wide open and Bristol will no doubt be one of the teams battling for promotion.

Bentley’s five clean sheets and three saves per 90 in 2025/26 meant she was the second-highest-scoring goalkeeper still in WSL2 this season, according to the WSL.

Even so, I may end up switching to another goalkeeper rotation, such as Mary Earps (5.5m) from London City Lionesses and Khiara Keating (4.5m) from Liverpool.

DEFENDERS

Ellie Carpenter (7.0m) has had an exciting pre-season. Katie McCabe, who Chelsea signed from rivals Arsenal in the summer, has slotted in at left-back for the Blues. This has allowed Carpenter to push much further forward, effectively playing as a right winger in possession.

She showcased her attacking potential in Chelsea’s first Champions League qualifier last Wednesday, where the Aussie provided two assists.

London City play on a Friday or Saturday in each of the first four Matchweeks, allowing us to substitute their players if they blank. Thomsen is the current placeholder as a defender from that team, as she has been playing as a winger during pre-season and has been on a handful of their set pieces.

If she starts, her ceiling is very high. Luckily, we get their line-up before the deadline, so I can transfer her out if she’s benched. I’m also considering Jana Fernández (5.0m) and Alanna Kennedy (4.5m) as other options.

Ella Morris (4.5m) comes in as my option from Tottenham, who start the season with some really nice fixtures. However, she could be replaced by Hannah Blundell (4.5m) from Everton.

Ona Batlle (6.0m) is my favourite route into Arsenal’s defence, while I’m not put off by Kerstin Casparij‘s price tag (8.0m). Her 10 goal involvements last season made her the highest-scoring defender in the game.

MIDFIELDERS

The midfield looks challenging this season, with so many good options, but this is what I’m sat on for now.

I’ve gone with a London City double-up in midfield. Alexia Putellas (8.5m) feels like one I shouldn’t overthink. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner is favourite to win it for a third time in October and joined London City from Barcelona having scored eight and assisted six in the Champions League alone last season.

Alongside her, Daniëlle van de Donk looks a bargain at 4.5m! The Dutch international missed most of last season through injury but has looked great in pre-season, scoring in three different games and playing as a striker on multiple occasions.

Lauren James (7.5m) showed her magic last week, scoring and assisting in Chelsea’s Champions League qualifier. James averaged the second-most xG+xA per 90 among wingers in the WSL last season and scored or assisted more than once per 90. She always has the potential to haul!

Fellow Lauren and England international Lauren Hemp is beside her. City have a great opening three games and I’m hoping she can capitalise on that. Hemp wasn’t far behind James on her underlying numbers, creating 0.72 xG+xA per 90 in the league last season.

Ceri Holland (6.5m) is my final pick in the middle of the field. In Matchweek 1, Liverpool face newly-promoted Charlton, who look like the team to target. Holland impressed in pre-season, scoring three times, and I’m hopeful she can continue her impressive form from the end of last season.

Other midfielders I’m considering include Beth Hepple from Durham (7.5m), Caldentey from Arsenal (7.5m), and any of Kirsty Hanson (8.0m), Olivia Holdt (7.5m) or Signe Gaupset (6.0m) from Tottenham.

FORWARDS

Bunny Shaw (12.5m) is the easy set-and-forget captain for most of the season. City’s striker averaged 1.23 xG+xA per 90 last season, scoring 21 times in total.

I did contemplate a double-up with Alessia Russo (11.5m), but so far I’m going without to allow further investment in the rest of my team.

For my second striker, I’ve gone with Beata Olsson (6.5m) from Liverpool. Olsson looked great for Liverpool last season, scoring six in her 13 league starts. She finished pre-season on a high too, scoring a hat-trick against Durham.

With Charlton up first, she looks a great choice for the opening few weeks while I get a feel for the best mid-priced forwards.

Burnley’s Claudia Mummery-Walker (4.5m) completes my side. I’ve found my third striker spot difficult to pick, so choosing a cheap Burnley forward could be the answer!

Burnley’s line-up will be released before the deadline, so we’ll know which of their forwards start. While promotion into WSL2 is a big step up for the Clarets, they begin their season against fellow newbies Watford.

I’m not set on this yet, however, as a downgrade in defence could allow me to go for Cathinka Tandberg (6.5m) from Tottenham, Vivien Endemann (6.0m) from Liverpool or Kathleen McGovern (6.5m) from Newcastle.

Best of luck for the season, everybody, and use code BVPUV822 to join my league!