Chelsea Women 2023/24 mid-season review: Standout performer, best signing & more

Chelsea's perfect start to the 2023/24 WSL campaign began to derail in December. With the winter break now over and early FA Cup commitments out of the way, the second half of the season is upon us and the Blues' challenge for a fifth consecutive WSL trophy is under threat.

They say things comes in threes.

First, Emma Hayes announced her shock departure, set to take up post with the United States at the end of the season. Then long-time adversaries Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 4-1, handing the Blues their biggest WSL loss in five years. The third and most heartbreaking came during the winter break as Sam Kerr ruptured her ACL during a warm weather training camp in Morocco.

Entering into the second half of the season with so many unknowns and injuries, even Chelsea's determination and resilience will come under pressure to deliver during Hayes' swansong.

The true impact of Kerr's absence remains uncertain. The prospect of Chelsea clinching another WSL title without their star striker still feels plausible given the solid foundations they've built thus far. However, the journey ahead for the defending champions won't be a straightforward one.

For the last four seasons, Chelsea have enjoyed an exceptional run, clinching the WSL title each time and asserting their dominance throughout English women's football.

In previous seasons, Hayes has attracted top tier international talent to the WSL, compelling rival teams to make substantial investments to match Chelsea's supremacy. The inclusion of such high-calibre talent has naturally also positioned Chelsea as a formidable force across the continent.

Last season, Chelsea set a new WSL record points tally to claim the ttle ahead of Manchester United. Simultaneously, they embarked on a