The men’s SPFL has been up and running for over a fortnight, already serving up drama, upsets, and moments of brilliance. Now it’s the women’s turn. This Sunday, the Scottish Women’s Premier League roars back into action. Last season ended with a shock as Hibs snatched the title at Ibrox on the final day, breaking the Glasgow stranglehold. The question now: can they defend it, or will a familiar heavyweight reclaim the throne? Here’s how the 12 contenders shape up ahead of the new campaign. Aberdeen Scott Booth begins his first full season in charge with quiet optimism. Last term, the Dons finished 8th, but showed real progress after picking up an impressive 20 points post-split. The target now is to break into the top six. Consistency will be crucial; a sluggish start last season left them playing catch-up, and they’ll need to start taking points off the league’s big guns. Still in their developmental phase, Aberdeen look like a side with the tools to grow into a top team in the women’s game, but it needs to kick off this year. Celtic From treble contenders to finishing 4th and empty-handed, last season was a bitter disappointment for the Hoops. Elena Sadiku’s absence during pre-season, working at the Women’s Euros until late July, raised eyebrows, especially given the squad upheaval. Caitlin Hayes will be a big miss, but new arrivals Lisa Robertson and Claire Walsh are solid additions. Celtic’s mission remains unchanged: win silverware and mount a sustained title push. But with a thinner squad, delayed recruitment, and the Glasgow rivalry intensifying with added pressure from Edinburgh, the pressure is immense. This is a defining season for Sadiku; anything short of the league trophy will be seen as failure. Glasgow City Once the undisputed powerhouse of Scottish women’s football, City have now gone two seasons without silverware. Last term, they finished runners-up in both league and Scottish Cup, three points shy of the title. Defensively, they claimed the best record in the league, but a lack of end product cost them. Fix that, and they’re right back in the fight. Leanne Ross has the experience and the squad depth to mount a serious challenge, but the margins at the top have never been finer. Hamilton The Accies are back in SWPL 1 and determined to survive. With one of the smallest budgets in the league, realism rules: stay up, and it’s a success. Robert Watson’s side has a young core, and remaining at New Douglas Park should help keep local support strong, with the men’s team controversially moving to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Survival will depend on taking points from fellow strugglers and avoiding heavy defeats against the top sides. A scrap awaits, but Hamilton sides have been underestimated before. Hearts Eva Olid’s side were one of last season’s surprise packages, finishing 5th, briefly flirting with a title challenge, and even upsetting some of the big hitters, including a 3-1 win over Celtic. Strong at home and defensively solid, they’ve become a tough nut to crack. Losing Emma Brownlie is a blow, but retaining Olid, despite Scotland job links, is a major boost. Hearts still trail their Edinburgh rivals, but could this season see the Jambos take that next step forward? Hibernian Champions for the first time since 2007, Hibs start their title defence in unfamiliar territory: as the team to beat. Last year’s success was built on a solid defence and the prolific Kathleen McGovern, who bagged 25 goals in 28 games in Grant Scott’s 4-2-3-1 system. This time, the challenge is twofold: handling the pressure of expectation and navigating Champions League qualifiers in a packed August. The title race could hinge on how they juggle both. Can they go again, or will the hangover from their title triumph prove too much to handle? Montrose Montrose produced one of last season’s great escapes, from 14 points pre-split to 23 points from the final 30 available, hauling themselves to safety. Manager Craig Feroz, who almost walked away, has stayed on to lead another survival push. The survival formula is clear: nick something against the top six when possible, but dominate at the bottom. Motherwell Sixth place and a first-ever top-half finish made 2024/25 a landmark year for Motherwell. But several heavy defeats against the top sides show that the gap remains vast. Matching last season’s heroics will be tough, but if they can rediscover early-season form, another push for the top six is attainable. Partick Thistle It’s the dawn of a new era at Thistle. Brian Graham, the architect of their rise, has departed after five years, replaced by David Elliot. Lia Tweedie’s arrival from Hibs adds firepower, but losing Graham’s leadership will test the club’s resilience. Without the man who led the club to two top-six finishes, the transition could be tough, but the Jags should have enough to remain clear of trouble. Rangers The summer has been turbulent at Ibrox. Jo Potter’s departure for Crystal Palace rewarded Leanne Crichton with a first managerial job late into pre-season. Key players, Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Maclean and Rio Hardy have all departed for England, but golden boot winner Katie Wilkinson, who scored over a goal per game last season, remains. The attack is lethal, but defensive frailty and final-day collapses have cost Rangers two titles in the past three years, both at Ibrox. Back-to-back cup doubles are impressive, but the league is the one they crave. With Ibrox now their regular home, this season is about proving they can handle the pressure under the brightest lights. The title race looks as open as it has for years. Hibs have the target on their back, City are hungry, Celtic are desperate to rebound, and Rangers are out to exorcise final-day demons. Below them, Hearts could bloody noses, Motherwell and Aberdeen will eye the top six, and the fight for survival promises its drama. Scottish women’s football is back, and more exciting than ever.
