The standard of goalkeeping in the Women’s Super League is as strong as its ever been right now.
Shot-stoppers are reaping the rewards of improved facilities and specialist coaching and all WSL sides have stars capable of producing eye-catching saves. There have been plenty of goalkeepers over the years who have pulled out save after save to deny their opponents and keep their team ahead.
Here are the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in Women’s Super League history.
Rachael Laws arrived at Liverpool in 2020 on a permanent deal after impressing with Reading and has developed into an excellent shot stopper, winning the club’s Players’ Player of the Year award for 2021/22.
Laws was actually part of the Liverpool side that won the 2013 WSL title, joining on loan from Sunderland to play nine games.
Lydia Williams has a brilliant CV, having previously played for Melbourne City, OL Reign and Pitea before joining Arsenal in 2020.
The Australia couldn’t nail down the starting role, however, and her quest for more WSL clean sheets will continue at Brighton, where she moved in January 2023.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin has mainly made her name on the European circuit but played a crucial role when Arsenal won the WSL in 2018/19.
She has since moved to Italy with Juventus, where the France international has won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.
An England legend with 82 international appearances from 1997 to 2013, Rachel Brown-Finnis came through the American college system before signing for Everton in 2003.
She would earn an FA Cup winner’s medal when Everton beat Arsenal 3-2 in 2010, having lost on her previous appearance in 1996.
Twice a Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich, Finland legend Tinja-Riikka Korpela first played in the WSL for Everton.
She spent two years with the Toffees before signing for Tottenham in 2021.
Manchester City re-signed Sandy MacIver in 2022 after she previously spent a year in their academy in 2015.
She was brilliant in a losing cause for Everton against City in the 2020 FA Cup final, which was eventually decided in extra time.
Marie Hourihan was born in London but played for the Republic of Ireland, keeping ten clean sheets in 24 international appearances.
She kept clean sheets regularly in the WSL for the likes of Birmingham, Chelsea and Manchester City, winning the Women’s FA Cup with each team.
Hannah Hampton is still a baby in goalkeeping terms but already a WSL regular, an England international and UEFA Women’s Championship winner.
Hampton got increased game time at Birmingham following Ann-Katrin Berger’s departure and produced regular performances before a move to Aston Villa in 2021.
Grace Moloney first joined Reading when she was nine years old and has developed into their regular starting goalkeeper.
Moloney is also likely to go to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with the Republic of Ireland after their playoff victory over Scotland.
Arsenal legend Emma Byrne played a huge role in the Gunners’ glorious 2000s era, being named the club’s Ladies Player of the Year twice.
The former Republic of Ireland international spent almost 17 years with the north London side before ending her career in England with then WSL 2 outfit Brighton.
Manchester United goalie Sophie Baggaley impressed hugely during his term with Bristol City, often keeping her side in games singlehandedly with her volume of saves.
The former England youth international began life at Old Trafford as an understudy to Mary Earps but is slowly getting her opportunities.
Legendary Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl patrolled Chelsea’s penalty area between 2015 and 2019, enjoying domestic success with the Blues.
She would win the WSL title twice alongside two FA Cups, later enjoying success in Germany with Wolfsburg.
After becoming Yeovil’s number, Megan Walsh joined Brighton in 2019/20 and has
However, recent transfer moves mean Walsh now has a new teammate in Lydia Williams to compete with for a spot in goal for the Seagulls.
Former Netherlands international Sari van Veenendaal spent four years with Arsenal, enjoying domestic success alongside the trophies she won at international level with the Dutch.
She left for Atletico Madrid before finishing her career at PSV, having previously kept 23 WSL clean sheets.
Rebecca Spencer has recently enjoyed more game time at Tottenham, having found regular appearances tougher to come by at big clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea.
Having previously proved her worth at West Ham and Birmingham, Spencer is now a key part of a Spurs team looking to rise up the ranks.
Austria international Manuela Zinsberger scooped the 2021/22 FA Women’s Super League Golden Glove prize thanks to a haul of 13 clean sheets.
She is yet to win a WSL title with Arsenal, with their last success coming in 2018/19 – just before she signed from Bayern Munich.
Siobhan Chamberlain jumped around a number of sides, playing at the top level for Chelsea ,Fulham and Arsenal alongside North American W-League club Vancouver Whitecaps.
She went to Liverpool in 2015 before rounding off her playing days at the newly reintroduced Man Utd, collecting clean sheets all the while.
Carly Telford made her England debut in 2007 and has been a steady presence in the Lionesses’ squad ever since.
She has often had to be with a reserve role behind Ann-Katrin Berger at Chelsea and is now out in the states with Casey Stoney’s San Diego Wave.
81-time capped former England international Karen Bardsley joined Man City in 2014, having previously played in America and Sweden before a short stay with Lincoln.
She won the WSL with City in 2016, also picking up the Women’s League Cup four times and the Women’s FA Cup three times before announcing her retirement.
Ellie Roebuck took her chance to establish herself at Manchester City when Karen Bardsley got injured and has since made the position her own.
One of the younger regular goalkeepers in the WSL, Roebuck will be adding to her clean sheet tally for years to come.
Ann-Katrin Berger has grown into one of the WSL’s all time greats since swapping Birmingham for Chelsea in 2019.
The Germany international has enjoyed domestic success as was voted into the FA WSLPFA Team of the Year for the 2017/18, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.
No goalkeeper in WSL history has made more appearances in the competition than Mary Earps, the Manchester United and England number one.
She previously played with Birmingham before joining United in 2020, having also played in Germany with Wolfsburg. A leader for an exciting United side, Earps is likely to continue keeping sides out with her excellent shot stopping.
Credit: 90min.com
