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Rachel Daly: Aston Villa forward wins PFA women's player of the year award

Last updated on .From the section Women's Footballcomments230

Rachel Daly
Aston Villa's Rachel Daly won the Women's Super League Golden Boot last season

Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly has won the PFA women's players' player of the year award, while Chelsea star Lauren James was named young player of the year.

England's Daly, 31, was top scorer in the Women's Super League with 22 goals in her debut season at Villa.

She also played a key role in the run to the Women's World Cup final, scoring in the 6-1 group stage win over China.

Daly was also named in the PFA's Women's Super League team of the year.

After a six-year spell at US side Houston Dash, Daly moved to Villa last year.

She won the main award ahead of Chelsea pair Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten, Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum, Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw and former Manchester United defender Ona Batlle - now at Barcelona.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old James was rewarded for her impressive form at Chelsea, where she scored five league goals in 15 starts for the Women's Super League champions.

The forward was England's top scorer with three goals at the World Cup, where her side lost the final to Spain, but she was sent off in the last-16 win over Nigeria.

Other nominees were Manchester City's Lauren Hemp, Manchester United defender Maya Le Tissier, Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, Villa midfielder Laura Blindkilde and Brighton and England forward Katie Robinson.

James did not feature in the PFA's team of the year, however.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland won the PFA men's player of the year award, while Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was named young player of the year.

PFA's Women's Super League team of the year: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Rafaelle Souza (Arsenal), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Ona Batlle (Man Utd), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Yui Hasegawa (Man City), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Khadija Shaw (Man City), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa).

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230 comments

  • Comment posted by Glynn Shandie, at 21:59 29 Aug 2023

    She should never have been substituted in the final.

    • Reply posted by sudo, at 04:57 30 Aug 2023

      sudo replied:
      In the final, should have put her upfront (where she belongs)... no point pushing defender Bright up, when you've taken proven striker off

  • Comment posted by Chris L, at 21:56 29 Aug 2023

    A natural finisher and an even better team player. Congratulations Rachel. We all wish you could have played up top in The World Cup

    • Reply posted by Richmondmania, at 22:00 29 Aug 2023

      Richmondmania replied:
      Crazy that she wasnt playing up top where she deserved. The Lionesses did an anti Villa Southgate move just like the mens.

  • Comment posted by heathens, at 22:42 29 Aug 2023

    Well done Rachel, this is an award by fellow professionals and as such it shows how high a regard that they hold you, It is an award that you thoroughly deserved. xx

  • Comment posted by Dont talk rubbish, at 22:38 29 Aug 2023

    Well deserved. It's great to see a professional footballer who loves playing her sport as much as she does

    • Reply posted by Ashburton Grove, at 00:11 30 Aug 2023

      Ashburton Grove replied:
      Spot on. Very good player with a fantastic attitude.

  • Comment posted by Danny, at 23:17 29 Aug 2023

    Very well deserved! Shouldn't have been subbed in the final.

    • Reply posted by Buster, at 23:25 29 Aug 2023

      Buster replied:
      Agreed, (on both your points), would have made far more sense to have had her play up front rather than Millie Bright when we were chasing the game.

  • Comment posted by Chelsea1967, at 22:46 29 Aug 2023

    Well deserved. Well done Rachel

  • Comment posted by Trevor, at 22:00 29 Aug 2023

    Congrats Rachel...Outstanding for Villa and for me the best player for England in WC23

  • Comment posted by mickey mouse, at 22:31 29 Aug 2023

    Congratulations to the Rachel and the nominees. I hope that this together with the win by the England Team at the Euros last year and their appearance in the World Cup Final will help to inspire the next generation of women. As to the winners of the men's awards. Would have to agree that Erling had a sensational season and Bukayo has developed into a talented player for both club and country.

    • Reply posted by Steve, at 15:38 30 Aug 2023

      Steve replied:
      This is what the game needs to advance and develop, inspiring the current and future generations to take more of an interest and then the standard and popularity will rise naturally. Not people who have never been to a game and actually do nothing to promote the sport spouting nonsense to try and be relevant

  • Comment posted by Steve T, at 23:23 29 Aug 2023

    Fabulous Rachel, you are a terrific player. Congratulations on the award, very well deserved 👏

  • Comment posted by Adam, at 22:22 29 Aug 2023

    Great player fully deserved and many congratulations

  • Comment posted by Metro1962, at 22:26 29 Aug 2023

    At least Leeds won something today.

    Go Rachel.....great woman and worthy of it too.👍

    Lots of hate towards her......you lot need to go and have a look at yourself in the mirror......shameful!!

  • Comment posted by BigHelen, at 22:23 29 Aug 2023

    She should have been playing as a forward for England Women not stuck at the back. What a waste of talent in the World Cup.

    • Reply posted by Richy, at 22:53 29 Aug 2023

      Richy replied:
      Share of the Well Done to Carla Ward

  • Comment posted by g p t, at 22:07 29 Aug 2023

    Many Congrats to RD, Well Deserved, A true professional and role model

  • Comment posted by Profmb, at 22:04 29 Aug 2023

    The huge rise in popularity of women’s football led by players like Rachel is fantastic for creating a whole new era of role models - notably for young girls that lack many exemplars in glamorous sports like football.

  • Comment posted by chris12, at 22:14 29 Aug 2023

    Top player for England too, was our best player along with Hemp imo.

  • Comment posted by Ribble, at 21:58 29 Aug 2023

    Absolutely well deserved - what could've been if she wasn't employed as a wing back at the World Cup...

    • Reply posted by mfundisi, at 03:45 30 Aug 2023

      mfundisi replied:
      A wing back won it for Spain...

  • Comment posted by DferPolarBear, at 22:52 29 Aug 2023

    Well chuffed for Rachel Daly, this is deserved.

  • Comment posted by gubby allen, at 22:15 29 Aug 2023

    Cannot argue with that. Well deserved and good to go to a club outside of the top 4. Surprised neither Foord or McCabe were in the team of the season.

  • Comment posted by mike green, at 22:59 29 Aug 2023

    So Rachel Daly is good enough to be top goalscorer in the WSL and is Player of the Year but not good enough to start upfront for the Lionesses? England has an easy run to the final and Wiegman was too stubborn.

  • Comment posted by Huckleberry, at 23:14 29 Aug 2023

    Hope it isn't the last Villa award this season! UTV ⚽️⚽️🙂🙂

    • Reply posted by D1701027286809, at 23:48 29 Aug 2023

      D1701027286809 replied:
      Yep and I have feeling Villa Women's team will suprise a few in the WSL this season!

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