The Women’s Super League season roared back into action after the winter break and the division’s Golden Boot race looks set to be a cracker.
In 2022-23, Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly equalled Vivianne Miedema’s record for most goals in a single season when she bagged 22.
We take a look at which players have made a fast start in the WSL’s goalscoring department this term.
Khadija Shaw (12 goals)
After a slow beginning to the season, Khadjia Shaw has burst into life at Manchester City.
Jamaica’s all-time leading scorer — who netted 20 WSL goals last term — topped the charts heading into the winter pause and has since further boosted her credentials with a stunning hat-trick against Liverpool.
The powerful forward, 26, has notched her 12 strikes to date in just 10 games and has converted a stunning 33% of her attempts on goal so far this season.
She also boasts two assists from a hugely impressive first half of the campaign.
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Lauren James (10 goals)
Chelsea ace Lauren James has been at the peak of her powers this season.
The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Liverpool before bagging a brace in the 5-2 victory against Leicester.
And when Shaw’s hat-trick threatened to see her pull clear in the Golden Boot race, James responded with a treble of her own in a 3-1 defeat of former club Manchester United.
James has also shone for her country in recent times, netting six goals in 20 international appearances.
Lauren James previously played for Arsenal and Manchester United
Lauren James previously played for Arsenal and Manchester United
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Elisabeth Terland (10 goals)
After scoring seven goals in 17 appearances last season, Norway forward Elisabeth Terland has continued to shine for Brighton by bettering that total in just 11 appearances this term.
The 22-year-old scored twice on the opening weekend to secure a 2-1 victory for the Seagulls at Everton, before finding the back of the net against Spurs and Chelsea.
And she bagged another brace against Leicester to save Brighton from defeat after they fell 2-0 behind on home soil.
Arguably Terland’s most important strikes to date came in the Seagulls’ precious 3-2 win over Bristol City, with her second strike an injury-time winner.
Elisabeth Terland has been a standout performer in the WSL this season
Elisabeth Terland has been a standout performer in the WSL this season
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Martha Thomas (seven goals)
Martha Thomas has been Tottenham’s shining star after joining from Manchester United in September.
The North Londoners sit sixth in the WSL table and their 27-year-old striker has recorded seven goals and an assist in 11 appearances.
Thomas scored on her Spurs debut in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, before netting a hat-trick to seal a 4-2 win against Villa in October.
And the Scotland star bagged the only goal in her side’s famous 1-0 victory over Arsenal before the winter break.
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Jill Roord (six goals)
Jill Roord has taken no time to find her feet at Manchester City, boasting an impressive early return of six goals and two assists.
The ex-Arsenal midfielder, 26, joined Gareth Taylor’s side from Wolfsburg in July and netted on her debut in a 2-0 win at West Ham.
Roord has impressed in all 11 of her WSL appearances so far this season, particularly in the 5-0 triumph over Bristol City where she netted twice.
City’s No20 arrived at the club full of confidence having bagged four goals for the Netherlands at the Women’s World Cup.
SOURCE: livescore.com
