Chelsea FC Women 2024/25 Season Review – Invincible Champions
Historic unbeaten treble under new manager Sonia Bompastor: record 60 points, defensive excellence, and collective scoring in dominant WSL campaign.
Executive Summary
Chelsea complete historic unbeaten campaign with record 60 points. The 2024/25 season saw Chelsea FC Women crowned WSL champions for the sixth consecutive year – this time in truly dominant fashion. Under new manager Sonia Bompastor, the Blues went 19–3–0 (W-D-L) in the FA Women's Super League, becoming the first team to finish a 22-game WSL season unbeaten.
Chelsea's 60 points set a WSL record (maximizing all but 6 possible points) and put them 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal. They amassed a +43 goal difference (56 goals for, 13 against) and a +28.9 expected goal difference (xGD), reflecting balanced excellence in attack and defense. Overall, Chelsea also completed a domestic treble, adding the Subway Women’s League Cup (won 26 March 2025) to the league title and FA Cup on 18 May 2025.
Key Season Metrics
Trophies: WSL Champions, FA Cup winners, League Cup winners
Chelsea averaged 2.55 goals per match — second-best in the WSL — but led the league in expected goals (2.19 xG), suggesting they created high-quality chances despite scoring fewer goals (15) than the previous season. No player reached double figures, yet seven different players netted 4+ times, underlining a deep, multi-faceted attack that stepped up in Sam Kerr’s injury absence.
But it was their defence that truly powered the title. Chelsea conceded just 0.59 goals per game (13 in total) — the best in the league — while allowing only 0.87 xGA per match. Hannah Hampton led from the back with 13 clean sheets and +2.1 goals saved above expected. The Blues ended the season unbeaten, finishing 12 points clear of Arsenal and clinching the league with a steely, balanced approach.
Context & Objectives (as of 31 August 2024)
Defending Dynasty, New Era
Chelsea entered 2024/25 as five-time reigning WSL champions, but a major transition was underway. Legendary manager Emma Hayes departed in May 2024 after over a decade of success, and French coach Sonia Bompastor took the helm. The primary objective was clear: retain the WSL title for a sixth straight season, while integrating Bompastor's philosophy and pushing for European glory.
Pre-season odds made Chelsea clear favourites – roughly 38% title probability with Ladbrokes on 31 August – while FiveThirtyEight’s SPI model also had them top of its projections. Pundits expected Arsenal and both Manchester clubs to narrow the gap, but recognised that Bompastor’s first task was simply to extend Emma Hayes’s domestic dynasty to six consecutive WSL titles.
Squad Turnover & Key Changes
The summer saw significant roster changes:
Key Departures:
Fran Kirby → Brighton & Hove Albion
Jess Carter → NJ/NY Gotham FC
Melanie Leupolz → Real Madrid
Maren Mjelde (free agent departure)
High-Profile Signings (Summer 2024):
Lucy Bronze (RB) from Barcelona
Sandy Baltimore (LW) from PSG
Oriane Jean-François (CM) from PSG
January 2025 Reinforcements:
Keira Walsh (CM) from Barcelona
Naomi Girma (CB) from San Diego Wave (world-record fee)
Injury Context:
Striker Sam Kerr was sidelined long-term after rupturing her ACL in January 2024.
Kerr’s absence (99 goals for Chelsea since 2020) left a huge void, and the club’s pre-season goal was to compensate via a collective attacking effort.
Team-Level Performance
Results & Trends
Chelsea's results trajectory in 2024/25 was remarkably stable and historic. They opened with a 1–0 home win vs Aston Villa and a 7–0 away thrashing of Crystal Palace, immediately signaling intent. By winter break, Chelsea sat top unbeaten at 9–1–0.
Notable achievements:
Led the league from Matchweek 7 onward and never relinquished first place
Won 19 of 22 matches, drawing just 3 times
Perfect 6-0-0 record against title rivals (Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd)
Spent just ~76 minutes trailing across the entire season (only in two matches)
Preserved unbeaten record with 91st-minute winner on final day vs Liverpool
Attack Analysis
Chelsea’s attack this season, although not as flashy as in 2023/24, was still potent. They scored 56 goals in 22 games – ranking 2nd in WSL behind Arsenal's 62. Their Expected Goals (xG) total of 48.2 led the league at ~2.19 xG per match.
Key attacking metrics:
2.55 goals per game (down from 3.23 last year, but still well above league average)
418 shots (19.0 per 90, league best)
Average shot distance: 15.4 yards
Shot conversion rate: ~12.7%
Goal Distribution: The scoring was remarkably balanced with no single superstar
Seven different Chelsea players scored 4 or more goals in the league, but none reached double figures — a clear shift from past seasons anchored by Sam Kerr. Instead, goals and assists were widely shared: Beever-Jones (9 G), Reiten (8 G), Macario (6 G, 2 A), and Kaneryd (4 G, 4 A) led a frontline built on depth and rotation. Macario had the highest output per 90 (0.91), while Baltimore and Ramírez each added 7 G+A from wide roles. Even midfielder Erin Cuthbert chipped in with 4 goals. This scoring-by-committee approach proved not just necessary in Kerr’s absence — it became a title-winning strength.
Macario’s league minutes were 793, so her per-90 output benefits from a smaller sample, but she still tops the chart among anyone with meaningful time.
Defensive Excellence
Chelsea's defense was exceptional – arguably the true foundation of their invincible season. They conceded only 13 goals in 22 matches, the fewest in the league, and 5 fewer than previous season.
Defensive highlights:
Chelsea’s title run was built on a historically elite defence, ranking top of the WSL in four of seven key defensive KPIs. They conceded just 13 goals all season (0.59 per game) — more than 60% below the league average — and posted the lowest xG against (0.87) and fewest shots-on-target conceded (2.8 per match). While they allowed the second-fewest shots overall (188), their structure forced low-quality chances, backed by +2.1 PSxG (saves above expected) — third-best in the league and a testament to Hannah Hampton’s composure. With strong showings in interceptions (11.9/90, 2nd) and total defensive actions (31.5/90, 5th), Chelsea’s backline didn’t just defend deep — it disrupted high and often. A gold-standard unit.
Tactical Evolution
Formation and Philosophy
Early in the season Bompastor flirted with a 4-3-3 or a 3-1-4-2 in lower-stakes matches, but her strongest XI nearly always re-assembled into a 4-2-3-1 for marquee fixtures.
Key tactical elements:
Balanced possession-based buildup with quick transitions
59.3% possession (3rd in WSL)
Fluid front four with interchanging positions
Strong set-piece execution (15 goals from set situations)
The tactical approach was "evolution, not revolution" – Bompastor refined Hayes' successful formula rather than completely overhauling it, demonstrating tactical flexibility while maintaining the squad's winning identity.
Player-Level Analysis
Key Player Statistics (900+ minutes played)
Standout Performers
Millie Bright – The Everlasting Anchor
Chelsea’s captain and iron-woman led from the back with trademark authority. She completed the most passes in the squad (1,332), ranked top three for progressive passes (85), tackles (20) and interceptions (30), and played more minutes than any outfielder. With Chelsea +43 goals when she was on the pitch, her influence extended far beyond defending. She also crossed 17,000 career WSL minutes, becoming the league’s true evergreen figure.
Lucy Bronze – The Engine of the Right
Bronze returned to WSL action like she’d never left — 1st in progressive passes (121), =1st in progressive carries (99), 4th in shot-creating actions (60), and no defensive errors in 20+ appearances. She was Chelsea’s outlet, pressure valve, and one of their title clinchers — her headed goal at Leigh sealed the WSL crown. Simply one of the most complete full-backs in Europe this season.
Sjoeke Nüsken – The Midfield Brain
Chelsea’s control tower. Nüsken led the squad in goal-creating actions (8) and total defensive actions (91), and was top three for progressive passes (93) and shot-creating actions (60). Her ability to read, recover, and recycle defined Chelsea’s rhythm — an unflashy, complete technician whose data footprint touches every phase of play.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – The Relentless Creator
Kaneryd exploded this season: 1st in attacking-third touches (503), 1st in box touches (126), 1st in key passes (36), and =1st in progressive carries (99). Her four goals and four assists barely scratch the surface — she was Chelsea’s most involved final-third player and among the hardest-working wingers defensively (28 blocks). End product + intensity = breakout year.
Sandy Baltimore – The Game-Changer
Though she logged just over 1,100 minutes, Baltimore packed elite impact into her time: 3.9 SCA per 90, +2.5 G−xG overperformance, and a brace in the FA Cup Final. Her 54 progressive carries and 7 GCA ranked near the top despite reduced minutes. She gave Chelsea a different dimension on the left and showed up in their biggest moments — few were more explosive.
🟨 Honourable Mentions
Aggie Beever-Jones: Clinical finisher with a team-high 9 goals, but her overall touch and carry stats still lag behind the top-tier group.
Hannah Hampton: Efficient, reliable and a Golden Glove co-winner — but not statistically dominant enough to stand above the league's elite.
Performance vs Opposition Quality
vs Top-Half Teams (Places 1-6)
vs Bottom-Half Teams (Places 7-12)
Head-to-Head vs Title Rivals
Chelsea’s flawless record against their three title rivals — Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United — was the defining factor in the title race. They took maximum points (18/18) from those six head-to-heads, winning every match home and away and conceding just two goals in total. That alone created a swing large enough to neutralise any slip-ups elsewhere. Beyond that, they also posted a 90% win rate against all top-half teams (28/30 points) — a dominance that ensured the title never truly left their grip.
Record-Breaking Campaign
Historical Comparison: Five-Year Trend
Chelsea’s 2024/25 season wasn’t just title-winning — it was record-breaking. Their 60 points (2.73 per game) set a new WSL benchmark for a 22-game season, part of an unbeaten campaign unmatched in the league’s current format. It marked a sixth consecutive title, doubling the previous record, and confirmed a five-year dominance that included three seasons with 58+ points. While they narrowly missed the all-time defensive records for goals against and clean sheets, their campaign still delivered the league’s best defence and the highest points-per-game average in WSL history.
Comparative Excellence
In men's football terms, Chelsea's pace is ~104 points over 38 games. For comparison, Arsenal's legendary 2003/04 men's Invincibles had 90 points. While different competitions, it illustrates the dominance Chelsea achieved in their sphere.
Looking Ahead: 2025/26 Challenges & Opportunities
After a season of near-total domestic dominance, Chelsea must still plan smartly to ensure longevity at the top:
Youth Integration
Chelsea’s development pipeline remains a strategic asset:
Aggie Beever-Jones emerged as a breakout star, scoring in big moments and thriving in both wide and central roles.
Wieke Kaptein made strides as a composed, intelligent midfield option with strong defensive metrics.
The goal will be to ensure these young talents aren’t just depth — but key rotation players in a stacked squad.
⚠️ Key Risks
An aging spine.
Millie Bright (31), Guro Reiten (30), and Lucy Bronze (33) remain central figures — but Time is undefeated. Carefully managing minutes and succession plans will be essential.Sam Kerr’s ACL recovery.
The Australian striker’s return date is still unclear. While Chelsea adapted brilliantly without her, a long-term absence may necessitate tactical adjustments and forward reinforcements.Complacency.
With six consecutive WSL titles, there’s always a risk of standards slipping. Maintaining hunger in a squad of serial winners will be Bompastor’s next great challenge.
Sustaining Success – and Reaching Europe’s Summit
The immediate target in 2025/26 will be a seventh straight WSL title. But just as crucial is reclaiming a place atop Europe — the UEFA Women’s Champions League remains the one trophy that eluded Chelsea this season.
Despite another strong domestic campaign, their Champions League semi-final exit to Barcelona (2–8 agg.) laid bare tactical vulnerabilities — notably in central build-up and handling sustained high presses. Addressing these areas will be vital if Chelsea are to truly evolve from English giants into continental conquerors.
Domestically, their dominance remains unmatched — they comfortably outclassed Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United. But every team will now circle their Chelsea fixture as the measuring stick. The Blues won’t just be defending a title — they’ll be defending an era.
Conclusion
Chelsea’s 2024/25 season will be remembered as one of the great campaigns in women’s football history.
They achieved the rare feat of going unbeaten, set a WSL points record (60), won a domestic treble, all under a new manager, and did it without their talismanic striker.
This was a team defined by tactical clarity, remarkable depth, and mental resilience. Few opponents even came close to landing a blow.
As we look ahead, the rest of the WSL is asking the same question they did all season:
“Who can stop Chelsea?”
This analysis is based on official WSL statistics, Opta data via FBref, and comprehensive match reviews. All statistics current as of season end, May 2025.
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Great analysis from a Chelsea fan I thought your analysis on Europe was spot on. Just a small comment I believe in the 2020/21 season Chelsea also only conceded 10 goals and had 14 clean sheets total