<p>In every facet of Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want to make a major splash. With two consecutive promotions <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/what-league-is-wrexham-in/">putting them in League One</a>, all eyes have been on the men’s team. Yet, other areas are now attracting attention.</p>



<p>Finishing in third place was a respectable accomplishment for Wrexham Women during their first season in the Genero Adran Premier in 2023-24. It is, in fact, the top level of Welsh women’s soccer competition.</p>



<h2>How did Wrexham Women fare in first top-flight campaign?</h2>



<p>The Red Dragons completed a season in which they made history as the first semi-professional women’s team in Wales. </p>



<p>They had a solid first season in the Genero Adran Premier, placing third, and finished second in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup.</p>



<p>For the first time ever, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/wrexham-women-announce-historic-summer-tour-in-united-states/">Wrexham Women</a> reached the final of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup this season. What’s more, they also played in each of the four main Welsh stadiums, making them quarterfinalists in the Genero Adran Trophy.</p>



<p>Making Wrexham the undisputed powerhouse of Welsh women’s soccer is Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s declared goal. The team has made tremendous progress this season towards that objective, and thus, many think it’s achievable.</p>



<p>When the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/rob-and-ryan-effect-how-wrexham-is-thrust-onto-world-stage-20240103-WST-481099.html">Hollywood duo</a> handed out semi-professional contracts, they created history. With a Tier 1 license in March 2023, the Wrexham women’s squad aspired to become a semi-professional soccer club.</p>



<p>The following June, Wrexham made public the fact that ten female players had signed semiprofessional contracts. “This makes Wrexham the first Club in North Wales to have a semi-professional women’s football setup”, <a href="https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2023/june/contract-news--wrexham-afc-women-stars-sign-first-semi-pro-contracts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">they said at the time</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="370" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240511_WST_506132_image-11_df629c00.webp&amp;width=439&amp;height=370" alt="" class="wp-image-506177" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/image-11.png 439w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/image-11-300x253.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure><figcaption>Wrexham Ladies are on the up.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>What did Rob McElhenney say?</h2>



<p>Nonetheless, there are still limitations on what upper-level female players could earn. “<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/why-americans-find-welcome-to-wrexham-so-compelling-20230113-WST-415264.html">Welcome to Wrexham</a>” Season 3 features McElhenney’s continued attempts to make sense of the situation. The previous season presented the squad to Disney+ subscribers.</p>



<p>There, they saw the players rise from the amateur league to the Adran Premier. During that period, the players disclosed that they didn’t get any compensation for their time on the squad. </p>



<p>They were able to start making money in the next season thanks to the team’s promotion. Nevertheless, McElhenney said that he and Reynolds are frustrated by the lack of action they can take.</p>



<p>“We asked last year when they were in the amateur status, could we pay them. The answer was no, by rule. In this league, you have limits on what you’re allowed to pay them. Just another one of the really fun U.K. regulations in football that hold you back from doing some of the things you want to do”, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/welcome-to-wrexham/id135061239?i=1000579399322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he says in Episode 9</a>.</p>



<p>In his list of lofty goals, he included providing competitive compensation to the women’s team. “We fully and wholeheartedly believe that this is a club that can become one of the best women’s teams in the world”, the 47-year-old added.</p>



<p>The episode featured the women’s squad discussing their experiences after being promoted. Even though they can now get money by playing, they still have to juggle various professions to make a living.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / News Images</p>

McElhenney: This key obstacle holds Wrexham Women back

The Wrexham women's team have the potential to become a world-class one, but Rob McElhenney identifies the obstacles standing in their way.

McElhenney: This key obstacle holds Wrexham Women back - World Soccer Talk


<p>Wrexham AFC Women would be interested in facing NWSL teams in friendlies in the United States if the opportunity presents itself in the future, a club executive told World Soccer Talk.</p>



<p>“We would absolutely love to be able to do something like that,” said Gemma Owen, Head of Women’s Football Operations at Wrexham AFC. “Not only for the players themselves to be able to experience the incredible atmosphere in terms of what women’s football particularly has in the States. It is a massive sport in America. For our girls to experience that first-hand would be very incredible for them.”</p>



<h5>Playing across the Atlantic</h5>



<p>As of press time, it’s a hypothetical. No discussions are currently happening. However, Owen said it would be an honor for Wrexham to play in the United States. </p>



<p>After all, Wrexham has been drawing in popularity and success for several seasons now. However, that is not exclusive to the men’s team. As part of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds taking over at the club, the development and progression of the women’s side of the club is a major factor. The Wrexham AFC Women <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/wrexham-women-smash-record-for-biggest-welsh-crowd-20230325-WST-425251.html">benefitted from promotion and popularity</a>. Now competing in the Welsh top division of women’s soccer, Wrexham has major possibilities. </p>



<p>Owen spoke to World Soccer Talk ahead of season two episode six in ‘<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/why-americans-find-welcome-to-wrexham-so-compelling-20230113-WST-415264.html">Welcome to Wrexham,</a>‘ titled <em>Ballers</em>, which focuses on the women’s team. Owen said the rise of the women’s team over the last three years has been remarkable to see. Still, the club is only getting started on its plans for the future.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="WREXHAM WOMEN: Interview with Gemma Owen" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6fZ48D6CCow?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h2>Wrexham Women in the Champions League</h2>



<p>Owen has other aspirations for the Wrexham AFC Women’s team, including the goal of reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League.</p>



<p>“That is something that is absolutely in our thoughts and has been since we started to put together a development plan for the club,” Owen said. “It is one of our ambitions, one of our aims. We want to represent Wales in the Champions League, that would be something absolutely incredible.”</p>



<p>The Welsh women’s soccer division, the Adran Premier, gets one spot in the qualifying rounds of the Women’s Champions League. Only three teams have ever won the division and played in the Women’s Champions League opening rounds. Those are Swansea, Cardiff City, and Cardiff Met. Owen wants the Wrexham Women to take it a step further. She wants Wrexham to be the first Welsh women’s club to make it to the group stage. </p>



<p>“It is something that has not quite happened yet. There have been some very good teams that have represented Wales over the past few years, particularly Cardiff and Swansea. We want to be that team that goes into the Champions League and breaks out through that first group of matches. There is no reason why we cannot be.”</p>



<p>If it were to play in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League, Wrexham would go up against the likes of Lyon, Barcelona, Wolfsburg, Arsenal, and Chelsea, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYxsKQKAeyI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">titans of women’s club soccer</a>. Those clubs all have experience playing in the United States as part of friendlies, much like the men’s teams do regularly. </p>



<p>Owen added that people come from across the world to watch the men’s team. On many occasions, those people stayed an extra day to watch the women’s team play on a Sunday.</p>



<p>Owen sees the Wrexham Women playing in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Women’s Champions League</a> as a legitimate reality for the club. It may be next year or in seasons to come, but she wants that to happen.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: FX</em></p>


Wrexham Women interested in playing against NWSL teams

Gemma Owen, the head of operations for Wrexham Women sees the Women's Champions League and NWSL clubs in its future.

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McElhenney: This key obstacle holds Wrexham Women back

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Wrexham Women interested in playing against NWSL teams