The predicted position for Crystal Palace by Guardian writers is 12th, which is an average of all writers’ tips and not necessarily Sophie Downey’s prediction. Last season, Crystal Palace finished in 1st place in the Championship, marking their first promotion to the top tier of women’s soccer.

It has been a whirlwind year for the Eagles, who achieved promotion on the final day of the 2023-24 season. Head coach Laura Kaminski took over just over a year ago, inheriting a club that had undergone turmoil with the departure of former manager Dean Davenport and other staff members. Despite the upheaval, the squad quickly adapted to Kaminski’s leadership and had a successful season, securing the Championship title with 55 goals in a competitive league.

The challenge now for Crystal Palace is transitioning to WSL football. Kaminski acknowledges the need for the team to evolve and adapt to the higher level of competition. She states, “I think we’ve got to still be an exciting team to watch. Last year, we had the real pleasure of consistency in a system that pretty much fitted the entire squad. This year, I expect to have to be a bit more flexible in terms of that. The calibre and the differences in opposition may push us to really try to experiment to make sure we’re getting the best out of the players on the pitch.”

The team has experienced a mixed pre-season, facing tough opponents like Utah Royals and Bristol City. Their first game of the season is against Tottenham on 22nd September.