4 Chelsea Women players who shined brightest at World Cup

Even though Chelsea Women will not feature a 2023 Women’s World Cup champion on its roster next season, there were numerous positives from the competition. 19 representatives from the west London outfit played a part with eight making it all the way to the semifinals. There was not a group within the tournament that did not possess at least one west Londoner. Beyond the five individuals that competed with the Lionesses, Emma Hayes’ side showed its true global presence.

Some like Guro Reiten were dealt a poor hand from the start, others relished in the chances their country presented them with. Here are the players that showed more than the rest as the Women’s Super League campaign inches closer and closer.

4 Chelsea Women players who impressed the most at the 2023 Women’s World Cup

4. Zecira Musovic – Sweden

Mary Earps may have lifted the Golden Glove, but Zecira Musovic’s name will forever be engrained in the minds of USWNT fans. Heading into the tournament, the No. 1 goalkeeper for Sweden was up for grabs. Jennifer Falk and Musovic were the two taking control of the position as long-time No. 1 stop stopper Hedvig Lindahl was not selected.

The west Londoner won the competition, making the discussion for the No. 1 for Hayes even more interesting for next season. Musovic stood between the sticks in six out of the seven matches for the Swedes. She made 22 saves, second-most of any keeper at the World Cup, behind only Costa Rica’s Daniela Solera. The Falun native faced five more shots on target than Earps while allowing the same amount of goals. She produced three clean sheets, second most throughout the tournament including an 11-save masterclass against the No. 1 ranked team according to FIFA in the Round of 16. The Swede made a massive name for herself down under, proving that she has the ability to take the top spot from Ann-Katrin Berger at some point next season.

3. Lauren James – England

Everyone is going to bring up the red card. Even with the fact that the Blues’ No. 10 missed two games, Lauren James officially arrived on the international stage. Despite playing just 331 minutes in five games, James collected the second most goal contributions of any player during this World Cup. Her three assists were the most by a single individual in the competition, tied with France’s Kadidiatou Diani, and Mina Tanaka.

The 21-year-old was a constant headache to any backline, amassing 16 successful take ons, tying Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso, and Morocco’s Sakina Ouzraoui. Sarina Wiegman knew she made a mistake leaving the youngster out of the starting lineup to begin the tournament against Haiti. When she was inserted into the Lionesses’ first XI, James made an immediate impact, scoring her first World Cup goal against Denmark. The London native followed that up with two goals and three assists against China to seal England’s top spot in Group D. Her youth got the best of her against Nigeria, but that should not take away from a brilliant outing this summer. The quality and calmness at such a young age for England was something no CFCW fan was shocked about.

2. Millie Bright – England

Eight players contributed 660 minutes on the world stage this summer. Millie Bright was one of them. The Lionesses’ captain led the defending European champions with class from the beginning to the end. The Blues’ No. 4 completed over 490 passes with an 86.2 percent completion percentage. Her progressive passing distance, the measurement of how much the ball traveled toward the opponents goal was 4,553 yards. That was good for the most on the English side, and 90 yards more than any Lioness.

If there was any concerns about Bright following an injury in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, this World Cup answered them all. For the majority of the tournament, the Lionesses’ No. 6 played in the middle of a back three alongside Alex Greenwood, and club teammate Jess Carter. She was a force in the air from corner kicks on the offensive and defensive end, winning 25 aerial duels, second on the team behind only Lucy Bronze. With Magdalena Eriksson in Germany, Bright will more than likely take the full time role as captain in west London. There is nobody else the Blues should want leading the team out game in and game out than the now 30-year-old going forward.

1. Jess Carter – England

From essential no role on the European championship team to one of the most essential pieces of England’s World Cup run. Carter benefited the most from the team’s loss of Leah Williamson. The versatile defender started in every game in which she contributed to. Wiegman used her abilities in multiple positions including on the wing of a back four, and in a back three.

Her pass from outside the box to find James on the back post was one of the highlights of the competition from a Chelsea perspective. Her 48 recoveries were the second most by any England defender during its run to a second place finish this summer. She just adds so much to any defense. Carter connected progressive passes while fighting one-on-one against some of the most elusive attackers in the world. There is an argument that Hayes could deploy a back-three next season with Kadeisha Buchanan on the right, Bright in the middle, and Carter on the left. No matter what formation Hayes puts out, England’s No. 16 is going to play much more of a significant role from the beginning to the end of the next campaign.