Women's Football: 30 best players in the Scottish Women's Premier League - as voted for by SWPL players, managers and journalists
Who are the best players in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL)? We asked a panel of SWPL managers, coaches, players, journalists and experts for their top 10 SWPL players of 2021. Here is who they picked.
It’s been another year of huge growth for the women’s game in Scotland.
Despite starting the year unable to play fixtures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the year ended with the Scottish national team playing at Hampden Park, a new record attendance of almost 6,000 at Easter Road set for a domestic game in Scotland and the highest ever crowd for a Scottish Women’s League cup final.
Add into the mix that Scotland’s top tier now has three fully-professional women’s clubs and the outlook of the women’s game in Scotland has never been brighter.
But, for those of you who are new to the SWPL or the women’s game, the question is: who are the players to look out for?
We asked a panel of nine current SWPL managers, assistant managers, coaches and players as well as former players, SWPL experts and journalists to give us their list of the 10 best players in the SWPL, and awarded each player points for their ranking (ie: position one = 10 points, position two = 9 points, position three = 8 points etc.) to give us the definitive list of 2021’s best players in the Scottish women’s top tier.
The panel – all of whom are respected voices within the Scottish game – contributed anonymously so their choices are not guided by club or professional loyalties.
So whether you’re an avid fan of the SWPL and its stars or new to the league looking to find out more, here is who the experts voted as the best 30 players in the league for the year 2021.
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Add into the mix that Scotland’s top tier now has three fully-professional women’s clubs and the outlook of the women’s game in Scotland has never been brighter.
13. Sam Kerr (Rangers)
A natural talent in the Rangers engine room, Sam Kerr is a versatile midfielder who oozes class in the centre of the park. Capable in the heart of midfielder, wide or in her preferred number 10 role, the Scotland international is the Gers best midfielder.
Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group
14. Caitlin Hayes (Celtic)
Celtic's Caitlin Hayes is an absolute warrior of a defender. Hayes is an extremely tough opponent and enjoyed a massively successful year, helping the Hoops to Champions League qualification and the SWPL Cup - only the club's second ever in their history.
Photo: Rob Casey - SNS Group
15. Sarah Harkes (Celtic)
Sarah Harkes in a big part of Celtic's energetic midfield. Capable of bagging an impressive amount of goals from midfield, the American has been one their stand outs since returning from a knee injury earlier in the year.
Photo: Rob Casey - SNS Group
16. Becky Galbraith (Spartans)
Spartan's experienced centre forward Becky Galbraith is one of the SWPL's most consistent goalscorers. Her pace and physical presence causes every back four in the league problems.
Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group