A year of record attendances, the most exciting title race in its history and more televised games than ever - the last 12 months have shown significant growth in the Scottish Women's domestic game.
With more professional players in the Scottish women's top tier than ever, annually, we ask a panel of current SWPL managers, coaches, players and journalists for their list of the top 10 best players in the league over the last 12 months.
The rules for voting were as follows:
- Only one person per SWPL club can vote.
- You cannot vote a player from your own club, or a club you have an affiliation with (so choices are not guided by club or professional loyalties).
- The players you choose must be currently playing in the SWPL.
- Your vote must remain anonymous.
- Choose your top 10 players in the SWPL.
Using the metric that each player receives points for their ranking (ie: position one = 10 points, position two = 9 points, position three = 8 points etc.) we then collate the points to give us the definitive of the year’s best players in the SWPL.
In both 2021 and 2022, Glasgow City's Hayley Lauder won the vote as the league's best player. Can she repeat the hat trick or will we have a new leader at the top?
5. Shen Menglu - Celtic 🆕 (Last year: N/A)
Completing our top five is the Hoops exciting Chinese wing back. A player that is a constant danger in every game, she's as solid in defence as she is at gliding forward. A real find by the Celtic recruitment team. | SNS Group
6. Kirsty Maclean - Rangers 🆕 (Last year: N/A)
Just 18 years old, Maclean is undoubtedly Scotland's most exciting talent. Winner of the SWPL in 2022, she added the Sky Sports League Cup last year and started both of Scotland's last games in the Nations League. Talent with a capital T. | Getty Images
7. Hayley Lauder - Glasgow City ⬇️ (Last year: 1st)
An icon of the Scottish Women's game, she lifted yet another SWPL trophy in May and long since secured her legendary status at Glasgow City. | SNS Group
8. Tessel Middag - Rangers ⬇️ (Last year: 4th)
If you look under the dictionary definition of the word composed, you're likely to find the name of the Dutch midfielder in the description. Highly experienced, Middag has been one of the SWPL's best ever additions. | SNS Group