SWPL players to watch in 2025
Our Scottish football expert Matt Dallinson highlights some of the players to look out for in the Scottish Women's Premier League this year
The SWPL is, in my opinion, the best league in the world.
For the last two seasons the title has been decided by a last minute goal, some of the best players in the game have played across its pitches from Katie McCabe to Jess Fishlock, and once it randomly got a shoutout from Megan Rapinoe courtside at the WNBA. It has immaculate vibes, and a number of very exciting players that you should be watching in 2025.
These are six players I think you should be looking out for when the season resumes in mid-January. The run-in to the split (where the top six and bottom six teams separate into two mini leagues) is always an exciting time in the SWPL and if I were a betting man, I would be putting money on them being influential figures in the remainder of the competition.
Kirsty MacLean - Rangers, CM
Kirsty MacLean was recently voted as the best player in the SWPL by players, staff, and media across the country.
Nicknamed 'mini Ini' by her teammates as a comparison to the Spanish great's ability to control the ball, 19-year-old MacLean is usually found at the base of Jo Potter's midfield. Not often on the scoresheet or one to find assists, she is a maestro in possession as she dictates the flow of the game.
Rangers will be all too aware that her contract is expiring at the end of the season. Given the midfield performances from Rangers while the playmaker was injured, they’ll be desperate to get her to stay long term.
Tegan Bowie - Hibernian, LW
If every SWPL player was to compete in a track event, whether it be 100m or 1,000m, my money would be on Bowie crossing the line first. Her unique running style has been a standout since she made her debut in SWPL as a 17-year-old after leaving the Hibernian academy set up for Celtic's first team.
A return to Hibs has seen her become a key player for one of Scotland's most successful clubs. It's not just pace that sets her apart, she has fantastic dribbling ability and is always looking to move the ball forward which makes her so fun to watch. Her game is largely about getting to the byline before putting a cross into a dangerous area for the forwards to attack, something she is amongst the best in the league at doing.
Could she add more goals and assists to her end product? Absolutely, but, what young wide player couldn't?
Kimberley Smit - Glasgow City, CB
When it comes to central defenders the age old wisdom is that the best ones are the ones that you don't really notice doing anything, the famous Maldini quote being wheeled out to justify boring defenders not getting involved: “If I have to make a tackle, then I've already made a mistake.” Kimberley Smit does not subscribe to that philosophy (although neither did Maldini really).
Questions were raised when perennial champions Glasgow City announced they had signed a defender from the worst team in the Eredivisie, but a rocky start aside she has been a great addition to the club. An all-action centre back who loves a big sliding challenge - despite the risk of friction burn on the mostly artificial surfaces in the SWPL. She also comes with two unteachable benefits: height, standing at 5'10, and left-footedness, adding variation to City's build-up phase.
Hannah Jordan - Spartans, FW
If you love an underdog story, this one's for you. Spartans have a history with iconic, very fun, attacking midfielders. The likes of Alana Marshall, Michaela McAlonie, Hayley Lauder, and Caley Gibb filling that spot for the North Edinburgh club in years gone by. Hannah Jordan has more than taken the mantle this year.
Predominantly used as a midfielder in previous campaigns, she has found joy playing as the focal point of Spartans’ attack this season. By no means a traditional No. 9, Jack Beesley has given her the freedom to float around the attack to wherever she feels she is needed to support her (somehow even younger) teammates.
Nine goals for the season has her already outscoring Spartans' top scorers from last season. Those goals could be crucial with three relegation spots in play amidst a looming restructure for the SWPL. From the 2025-26 season, the SWPL will switch into two leagues with 10 teams instead of the existing 12-team SWPL 1 and eight-team SWPL 2.
Olufolasade 'Sade' Adamolekun - Hearts, AM/Winger
Listed as one of the teenage talents at the 2019 World Cup, the American-born Jamaican international was one of Eva Olid's statement signings as she aimed to make Hearts one of the top teams in the SWPL. It has come to great success as she has blossomed from the raw talent that arrived from the University of South Carolina into an all-round talent that is regularly making a difference for the Jam Tarts.
The 23-year-old usually plays as one of Olid's wide No. 10s in a 3-4-3. With license to roam and support in the wide areas from the wing-back position, she finds space to dribble right at the heart of teams before playing through the lines or striking on goal. Her height and pace are an added bonus that can help unlock any tricky situations Hearts find themselves in when the ball along the ground isn't working.
Caley Gibb - Partick Thistle, RB
Caley Gibb is truly a one in a million player, while at Spartans she transitioned from youth right-back to the creative focus of the team in the No. 10 role. Despite this, she became probably the only person in history to say "I'd love to go back to being a full-back". Very on brand for the Scotland youth international and exactly what she has done since joining Partick Thistle in the summer.
The return to right back has been perfect for her as it has allowed her to stretch her legs, covering every blade of grass on the right-wing as she overlaps, underlaps, inverts, and even occasionally makes runs into the six-yard box. For the defending purists, she hasn't allowed her fun on the ball play detract from the primary job of a full-back.
It would probably be a stretch to describe her as 'solid', but she is more than capable of causing opposing wingers stress. If just for her work rate alone that sees her track even the most persevering runners.
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Great article by the way 😊 , can we have a womens championship one soon
Huge gulf between top and bottom of table but hoping Motherwell can do enough to better last seasons 7th place finish, some great youngsters on loan from Rangers this season. Some really exciting players , will be interesting to see if the big clubs invest more in the teams next season