On the opening night of the Women’s Super League season, a new era will begin with the end of a custom that for so long was seen as one of the many attractions of the women’s game.

Through its formative years and into the professional era, it was seen as a selling point of the WSL that matchgoing supporters felt as if they had a “closer” relationship with the players than in the men’s game, which seemed to be heading in the other directions as the rise of transfer fees and salaries further added to the sense of detachment between the pitch and the stands.

Women’s football felt more open: even the biggest names in the league, like the England internationals, seemed more authentic, as evidenced by the regular sight of playing giving time back to their supporters at the end of matches, acknowledging their presence by stopping to take pictures by the side of the pitch and signing autographs.

It is a practice that will continue at some of this weekend’s games – but not at Chelsea. The champions announced in a notice to supporters last month it was no longer “safe or sustainable” for players to sign autographs or take selfies with fans “in an uncontrolled way” after matches at Kingsmeadow. Instead, the club said that they would hold “organised opportunities” away from match day.

Of course, such a move reflects positive change, that the WSL and women’s football at the top level in England is growing to the point that players can no longer accommodate the requests of every fan at full time. Rising attendances render it impossible anyway, particularly when games are played at the club’s main stadium: Arsenal, for example, have largely left those days behind them as a virtue of committing to playing at least 11 matches at the Emirates this season. And their average attendance last season was over 35,000 – above that of half the Premier League.

Jamie Braidwood’s big WSL preview:

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Lucy Bronze aims to complete her “dream” by winning the Champions League with an English side following her move to Chelsea earlier this summer.

The England international has won the top European trophy five times throughout her illustrious career, three with Lyon before going on to win it in both seasons during her time in Spain, but is still looking to add to her tally.

Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore make their full debuts for Chelsea in the first WSL line-up named by Sonia Bompastor. Erin Cuthbert is fit to start in midfield while Lauren James is on the bench for the home side.

For Aston Villa, Missy Bo Kearns starts following her move for Liverpool in the summer while Sabrina D’Angelo makes her first start in the WSL for the club. Rachel Daly leads the line and Jordan Nobbs, a former fan favourite of rivals Arsenal, starts too.

Chelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Buchanan, Lawrence; Cuthbert, Nusken; Reiten, Baltimore, Kaneryd; Ramirez

Aston Villa XI: D’Angelo; Maritz, Patten, Parker, Tomas; Nobbs, Staniforth, Grant; Kearns, Dali; Daly

The new Women’s Super League season gets under way after a summer transfer window that featured a number of eye-catching moves.

Here, we highlight five players to look out for in the campaign ahead, all of whom are starting life with new employers.

Chelsea all set to host the opening game of the WSL season against Aston Villa - team news on the way soon.

The Women’s Super League returns with the 2024-25 season’s first round of fixtures being kicked off by champions Chelsea hosting Aston Villa tonight - here, we look at some of the talking points heading into the opening matches.

The game will mark the first competitive match in charge for new Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, who reached the Women’s Champions League final with Lyon last season. She replaces Emma Hayes on the back of yet another title-winning campaign.

Meanwhile Villa will look to make a strong start to the season after a seventh-placed finish in 2023/24.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

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