Promotion to WSL would be ‘unbelievable experience’ – Sunderland’s Mary McAteer

Sunderland forward Mary McAteer admitted it would be an “unbelievable experience” if the club earned promotion to the Women’s Super League.

The Black Cats sit top of the Championship table with 34 points going into the final four games of the season, but the race for promotion remains incredibly close.

Several teams are still in the running as Crystal Palace, Southampton and Charlton all sit just a point behind the Wearside outfit, while Birmingham are three points further back.

Only 4⃣ points separate the top 5 sides in the #BarclaysWC!

Who’s going to claim the title this season? pic.twitter.com/IMqay081iE

— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) March 22, 2024

It is a remarkable turnaround for Sunderland, who avoided relegation last season after finishing second-bottom, and McAteer believes this year has been the “most competitive season” as the club aim to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time since 2018.

She told the PA news agency: “It would be unbelievable (to be promoted), an unbelievable experience.

“I think it’s where the club belongs and as a group of players, it would mean the world to us, to do it together would be an unbelievable experience.

“I think it’s the most competitive season there’s been in a long while, especially Championship and WSL in the women’s game.

“It’s amazing to have so many teams up there competing and being that competitive, I think it just shows how far the women’s game has come to have five teams up there and within points of each other.

23/24 season coming up next