The D1 Arkema's 2023-2024 campaign starts on this Friday. 50 talents seen at the Sud Ladies Cup will compete in the French top-flight.
Divison 1 Arkéma returns this Friday for a new season with a major innovation: the introduction at the end of the season of play-offs for the four highest-ranked clubs in the regular season to decide the French champion.
The title holders and champions 16 times out of the last 17 seasons, Olympique Lyonnais are the obvious favourites. Talented youngster Selma Bacha, the league's top passer last season (9 assists), promising forward Vicki Becho and her teammates will be aiming to perpetuate their club's supremacy.
Once again, Lyon will have to keep an eye on Paris Saint-Germain, which finished runners-up to Lyon over the last two seasons. Especially as PSG are set to welcome back their star player, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who has been injured for a year and is now expected to return to action. In addition to Katoto, the Parisians will be able to count on a host of French internationals, including Elisa de Almeida, Sandy Baltimore, Laurina Fazer (best player at the 2022 Sud Ladies Cup) and Oriane Jean-François, as they attempt to win a title that has eluded them since 2021.
Aside from Lyon and Paris, other teams in the race for top spot will include Paris FC, which have strengthened their squad with the arrival of French international Kessa Bussy. Fleury and Montpellier, with Maëlle Lakrar and Sonia Ouchène, are also likely to be in the mix.
The 50 Sud Ladies Cup graduates who will compete in the French D1 Arkema in 2023-2024 :
Bordeaux : Justine Lerond, Marion Haelewyn, Maëlle Seguin, Abigail Kim
Dijon FCO : Léna Goetsch, Pauline Sierra, Océane Picard, Madeleine Yetna
Fleury : Emma Francart
Guingamp : Marie-Morgane Sieber, Emmy Jézéquel, Wassilah Pacaud
Le Havre : Christy Gavory, Mickaella Cardia
Lyon : Féérine Belhadj, Alice Marques, Alice Sombath, Kysha Sylla, Selma Bacha, Louna Belhout-Achi, Vicki Becho
Montpellier HSC : Marie Petiteau, Agathe Felden, Maëlle Lakrar, Cyrielle Blanc, Léa Khelifi, Sonia Ouchene, Nerilia Mondésir, Esther Mbakem-Niaro, Dona Scannapieco
Paris Saint-Germain : Océane Toussaint, Thiniba Samoura, Jade Le Guilly, Elisa De Almeida, Magnaba Folquet, Korbin Albert, Oriane Jean-François, Amélie Joseph, Laurina Fazer, Sandy Baltimore, Océane Hurtré, Manssita Traore, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Hawa Sangaré, Fanny Rossi
Paris FC : Celine Ould Hocine, Margaux Le Mouël, Lou Bogaert, Kessya Bussy
Stade de Reims : Léa Bourgain, Jade Nassi