Jules Breach says she believes a WSL club can win the UEFA Women's Champions League this year as she gave her verdict on the 2022-23 season so far.
An English club has yet to win Europe's premier competition since it was rebranded in 2009 from the old UEFA Cup. But Breach says that with English women's football on an upward trajectory, success on the European club level is the next natural step.
In recent years the 36-year-old broadcaster has become a familiar face on the TV screens of football fans, regularly hosting BT Sport Score on a Saturday afternoon, fronting numerous other shows for Channel 4 and ITV or being behind the microphone as a reporter at live games. Although Breach primarily works on men's football, she is also a huge fan of hometown club Brighton and is following the WSL closely, also experiencing England's historic Euro 2022 win last summer.
"It's a great time to be watching the WSL," she told Mirror Football . "The fact that the viewing figures are as good as they are and the fact the coverage seems to have stepped up a notch has been amazing for the growth of the audience, particularly off the back of the Euros.
"To see the new demand from fans kick on into the WSL as well is a huge positive. I think anyone who is a fan of the women's game hoped this would happen.
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"We've seen more matches than ever before at men's stadiums that will help get huge audiences in, we've had a North London derby that got a record crowd earlier this season and figures across the league are only going up.
"After the winter break they've got even more televised slots on the BBC, so it is free to air for people to watch. It is just becoming a lot more accessible and a lot easier for people to enjoy. That is the whole point of football and watching your team.
"Sky Sports have done really well with the coverage as well. I know a lot of the girls who work across it and they are very impressed with the detail and effort that has been put in. The coverage continuing this way will only help the game grow."
She added: "In terms of predictions. I've always been a fan of Emma Hayes work and with them ( Chelsea ) top of the table at the moment, it is hard not to see them winning it again. With the way they play, you can't help but be impressed.
"But I would love to see an English team, one of our WSL sides win the Champions League this year. If Chelsea can go on an do that I think that would be amazing. It all feels positive for English women's football at the moment and let's hope it stays that way."
Jules Breach regularly presents Premier League football for BT Sport and Premier League Productions and covered West Ham's run to the Europa League semi-finals last season (Catchweight Sport)A Brighton native, Breach supports her local club and is hopeful the women's team can kick-on and climb the WSL table in the coming months. Albion have struggled in the first half of the campaign and will restart the season just one spot outside the drop zone in 11th.
However, they have appointed a new manager with former Bayern boss Jens Scheuer taking the reins after Christmas, ending the search for Hope Powell's permanent successor.
"I was sad to see Hope go," added Breach. "She was at the club for such a long time and had done an amazing job. We lost one of our best players in the summer (Maya Le Tissier) and that was tough.
"The season obviously hasn't gone as well as it could have, but I think as a club they run the women's team superbly. They have great facilities so fingers crossed the new manager Jens, can help them kick on over the next month.
"Last season we were pushing for a top-half finish and that's where the club want to be."
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Breach also believes women's football is in a healthy state going into the New Year after a landmark 12 months for the English game. She attended many of England's European Championship matches last summer as a fan, as the Lionesses created history by winning a first major trophy.
"2022 was such a landmark year for women's football," she added. "My favourite football memory of the year has to be England winning the Euros. What a moment that was, it was iconic.
"We had waited for such a long time. I was at Wembley for the final and it was incredible to see. That atmosphere and the way our team played in that game and the whole tournament actually, was outstanding.
"It was a really special moment for English football full stop, not just the women's game. I was away not long before that. I wasn't going to miss that final for anything."
With England now looking ahead to next summer where they will try and win back-to-back major trophies for the first time, Breach believes the Lionesses can dare to dream and capture the imagination of the sporting public for a second time.
England will head to the World Cup next summer as European Champions and one of the tournament favourites (AFP via Getty Images)"I think England probably now go the 2023 World Cup as favourites. After beating USA in October as well, I think that gives us the edge on them. They previously were always regarded as the best women's team in the world but we beat them here and it was another brilliant masterclass from Sarina Wiegman.
"We've shown we can beat them, so why not? I think we can go there and lift the trophy. We're in such a good position with a phenomenal manger and a great set of girls. I can't see why we shouldn't be looking to win.
"Sarina came with pedigree and the girls knew that. They knew she had the ability to lift them and get them over the line in a major tournament.
"She is a winner and has proven it already in such a short space of time."
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