JESS FISHLOCK believes the Women’s Super League has made great “strides” since her Bristol Academy days.
And Reading’s loan star hopes this season’s match action gets more attention than debates on whether men’s sides should pour cash into the women’s game.
OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock will return to the WSL this season with Reading
The 5ft 2’’ midfielder, who made a temporary switch from the NWSL in the United States, once saw the WSL as “lacking in tempo”.
But the 33-year-old now reckons the gap is closing between top-flight women’s football in England and the USA.
The Wales international said: “When I was at Bristol there were four players who were full time.
“Now it’s all full time, great facilities, great training grounds. Everything has taken strides since I was last here.
“Everyone’s on a professional contract; we’re training every day, not twice a week. It still has a way to go but it’s definitely taken strides.
“I’ve said from day one the WSL lacks tempo and it lacks competitiveness, but I think right now that probably goes out the window.
“I don’t think you can say that any more. The one thing I’d like to see is everyone just talk about the football.
“I think we talk too much about men’s clubs investing in women’s teams or the women’s crowds.”
Fishlock, who is currently the most-capped Welsh footballer of all time, joined the Royals on loan in August from Washington-based club OL Reign.
The midfielder, who battled back from a serious knee injury she picked up in July, is one of four summer transfer additions to Kelly Chambers’ new-look Reading side.
The NWSL star is the second OL Reign player to make a short-term move to England’s top tier, with World Cup-winning US star Rose Lavelle agreeing to a one-year deal with Manchester City in August.
Fishlock added: “Seeing people like Rose play here at club level will be pretty special. City, Chelsea, look great, we look great.
“It’s exciting. It’s really exciting for WSL. It’s closing that gap massively.”
Bridging the gulf between the league’s established top three and the rest of the table is something Fishlock and her new teammates aim to do this term.
And the Royals, who finished fifth last season, have made some astute signings ahead of their highly-anticipated season-opener against Arsenal.
Among the big names who will be helping them challenge the dominance of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City is former Gunners golden girl Danielle Carter.
Danielle Carter spent 11-years at Arsenal and made 184 appearances for the clubCredit: Getty – Contributor
The fleet-footed forward, 27, is hoping to make her comeback following two devastating ACL injuries that put the brakes on her playing career for two seasons.
And the former Arsenal star, who spent 11 trophy-laden years with the former WSL champions, is looking forward to playing alongside Fishlock and her old Gunners teammate Fara Williams.
Carter, 27, said: “Fara and Jess have got so much experience in the women’s game and have been around for a while.
“That experience and their quality can hopefully benefit me with them playing behind me.
“Reading have high ambitions to challenge and bridge that top-three gap because they have been a top-four, top-five team consistently.
“So now it’s a case where they want to do what they can to bridge it as much as possible.”
The Royals face Arsenal away in a behind closed doors game on Sunday.
The last time the two sides faced each other in the league was in December 2019 with the Royals losing 3-1 at home.
And the North London team have won the last four of the two clubs’ WSL clashes against each other.
Carter added: “When we used to play Reading, they were always like a bogey team just in terms of how hard they work and almost how annoying they were.
“Now being amongst it (at Reading), it’s just a case of we need to carry that on and now push with the quality side of things to really compete with the other teams.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
