Chelsea Women: Miscellaneous season-ending awards
Most Improved Player: Guro Reiten
The left-footed Norwegian wizard in the midfield is often overlooked by many supporters, but her skills in the middle of the pitch led Chelsea to some clutch wins throughout the season. Guro Reiten had some of the campaign’s most important contributions—from the first goal against Tottenham after the Sophie Ingle own-goal to her beauty against Arsenal to secure a win in the FA Cup semifinal—there is no question she is pure quality.
Reiten had the third-most goals in the Women’s Super League amongst her teammates, and she also tied with three other players at the club for most assists in league play. The set piece specialist is one of the most versatile wide playmakers in the country, as well. She influences matches in ways that most players just simply cannot.
Reiten plays with intelligence and possesses a certain calmness on the pitch that not many players in her position possess either. She has a combination of speed and vision that is able to both find players on a dime and beat opponents one-on-one on the wing. Reiten could still win the club’s official Player of the Season award given her impact on the pitch and how much improvement was seen in just one year. She had one goal and three assists in the 2020/21 season. However, she erupted this year, netting seven goals to go along with four assists.
On top of that, Reiten had the fourth highest shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the WSL this season. The only other player in the English Women’s top flight that has a left foot up to par with Reiten is possibly Lauren Hemp of Manchester City. Seeing the Norwegian move from a contributor on the team to one of the most salient players that Chelsea possesses is one of the best stories of this entire season.