Chelsea’s Women’s Super League campaign is off to a roaring start, and the buzz around Stamford Bridge has rarely been louder. The reigning champions, determined to defend their crown and chase European glory, have opened the 2025/26 season with back-to-back wins—none more dramatic than their recent 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa on September 14. The match not only cemented Chelsea’s early-season credentials but also marked the long-awaited return of their star striker, Sam Kerr, whose late goal sent fans and teammates alike into jubilation.
For Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, the day was doubly special. Facing her former club, she delivered a string of crucial saves that kept the Londoners in the contest during a rocky first half. Speaking to Chelsea’s official website after the match, Hampton couldn’t hide her delight at both the win and Kerr’s comeback. “It’s about time she starts annoying opposition goalkeepers!” Hampton joked. “She does it to me in training all the time, and let’s be honest, she definitely makes sure I know about it afterwards! It was great to see her back. It’s almost like we have an extra signing with her back. She’s an absolute demon in the box, always finding the back of the net, so she’ll be a huge help for us going forward.”
The clash at Villa Park had all the makings of an early-season classic. Chelsea, who had edged out Manchester City 2-1 on opening day thanks to goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano, arrived with confidence but found themselves under siege in the opening 45 minutes. Villa, determined to make a statement, pressed with energy and exploited the flanks. It was Hampton who kept Chelsea afloat, making several top-quality saves—earning her an 8/10 rating from GOAL and the player of the match award.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. Catarina Macario, making up for an earlier miss, surged into the final third and linked up with Ellie Carpenter, whose pinpoint cross found Beever-Jones. The young forward made no mistake, nodding the ball home to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead. But Villa were undeterred and continued to threaten on the counter. Their persistence paid off just past the half-hour mark when Ebony Salmon unleashed a stunning strike over Hampton, leveling the score at 1-1. The momentum swung in Villa’s favor, with Salmon and Kirsty Hanson both coming close to putting the hosts ahead. Yet, time and again, Hampton stood tall, ensuring the sides went into the break deadlocked.
Recognizing the need for change, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor made a bold move at halftime, introducing a triple substitution. Erin Cuthbert, Alyssa Thompson—making her much-anticipated debut after a deadline-day move—and Sandy Baltimore were all brought on to shift the tide. The impact was immediate. Cuthbert brought composure to midfield, while Thompson’s pace and directness on the left gave Villa’s defense fresh headaches.
The second half saw Chelsea regain their swagger. The pressure mounted, and the breakthrough finally arrived, albeit in fortuitous fashion. Keira Walsh’s speculative effort took a wicked deflection off Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns and nestled into the back of the net, restoring Chelsea’s lead at 2-1. The own goal was a cruel blow for Villa, who had battled valiantly, but it also reflected Chelsea’s growing dominance.
Still, the best was yet to come. With the clock ticking into stoppage time, the stage was set for Sam Kerr’s fairytale return. After 634 days sidelined by a devastating knee injury, the Australian striker entered the fray for the final 15 minutes. There was a moment of hesitation as Kerr, just six yards out, opted to pass rather than shoot. But she quickly shook off the rust. When a loose ball spilled from a corner, Kerr pounced, stabbing it past Ellie Roebuck for Chelsea’s third. The goal was not only her 100th for the club—a milestone that speaks volumes about her enduring class—but also the emotional exclamation point on a day that saw Chelsea’s resilience and depth shine through.
The final whistle brought scenes of celebration and relief. For Kerr, the journey back had been long and arduous, but her impact was immediate. For Hampton, the result was vindication. Reflecting on the match, she praised Villa’s tenacity: “Villa are going to be a dangerous team this season. They use their width and their two strikers up top when they attack. They’re really fit, they’re really direct, and it’s a good fit. They were hard to break down and we were fortunate with the goals we scored. A lot of their attacking threats were down to our misjudgements, but at half-time we fixed that. In the second half they didn’t have as much going forward.”
Chelsea’s early-season form is all the more impressive given the strength of their opposition. Their opening-day win over Manchester City came courtesy of Beever-Jones and Hamano, with a late own goal from Niamh Charles making for a nervy finish. Now, with six points from two games and a goal difference of +3, the Blues sit third in the WSL table—trailing only Manchester United and Arsenal on goal difference.
Manager Sonia Bompastor, who led Chelsea to a domestic treble last season, is clearly intent on building a side capable of conquering Europe. The club’s run to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021, where they fell to Barcelona, remains a motivating force. This season, the return of Kerr, the emergence of young talents like Beever-Jones, and the shrewd addition of players like Thompson have given Chelsea fans plenty of reason to dream.
Looking ahead, Chelsea’s next WSL fixture is a home clash against Leicester City on Sunday, September 21. With momentum on their side and a squad brimming with both experience and youthful exuberance, the Blues will be eager to extend their unbeaten run and keep pace at the top of the table.
As the new season gathers steam, Chelsea’s blend of resilience, star power, and tactical flexibility is already making waves. If Sunday’s win at Villa Park is any indication, the champions are far from resting on their laurels. With Sam Kerr back in the fold and Hannah Hampton anchoring the defense, Chelsea’s quest for silverware—both at home and abroad—promises to be one of the stories to watch in women’s football this year.
