With the FIH Hockey Pro League season 5 nearing its midway point, there has been action and drama aplenty that has led to major ups and downs for teams throughout. While we wait for the action to resume from Antwerp, Belgium on 22 May, here’s a breakdown of how things currently stand in the women’s competition as we head towards the business end of the tournament.
Standings
Defending champions Netherlands look like the favourites to retain their title once again. The Dutch women have played 12 of their 16 games already and have won all 12 of them, without being troubled too often. In the 2022/23 season, Netherlands bettered their own record of most points scored in a Pro League season, by scoring 46 points, with 15 wins and one draw! Their aim this season might just be to go one better with a perfect season that will need them to win all 4 of their remaining games.
The closest Netherlands have come to dropping points has been in their matches against China, who have continued to go from strength to strength over the past year. China are currently second in the league table with 5 wins and 3 losses, 2 of which came against Netherlands and one against Australia. With 15 points at the mid-way point of the season, China have already matched their best points total in thier Pro League history and sit 1 point clear of 2021/22 champions Argentina in third, and 3 points clear of Australia in fourth.
Germany are fifth in the league table, winning 3 of their opening 4 matches against Belgium and Argentina, and with 12 games to play still, including 2 against Netherlands, Germany might be the biggest rivals to Netherlands' attempt at winning a second Pro League title in a row. Germany are followed by India in sixth place, with 8 points from their 8 matches.
Three teams currently find themselves in the relegation battle. Great Britain and USA have registered 1 point each, but GB in seventh have played only 4 games so far, while USA, in eighth, are half-way into the season with 8 matches played. Belgium are yet to secure a point from their opening 4 matches of the season and are rooted to the bottom spot, but will have the opportunity to bounce back in their home mini-tournament in Antwerp, with senior members returning to the squad.
See the complete league table by clicking here.
Stats at a glance
A total of 122 goals have been scored through 32 matches so far with an average 3.8 goals per game, which is a slight increase on the average of 3.7 goals per game last season. If the scoring average holds through the season, the record for most goals scored in a season - 271 in season 4 - will be eclipsed in season 5!
Netherlands have scored 55 goals through 12 games so far. They hold the record for most goals scored in a season of the women’s Pro League, with 62, and need to score 8 goals over their final 4 games to beat their own record.
Of the 122 goals scored so far in the competition, 46 goals came from the penalty corners and 9 from penalty strokes. A total of 67 goals have been scored from open play across 32 games, accounting for over 2 field goals scored per game.
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Top Goal Scorer
Yibbi Jansen is the current holder of the FIH Pro League Top-Scorer Armband, with 15 goals scored so far. Jansen, who also led the league in scoring last season, with 14 goals, has already surpassed her own best figures, and is level with Olivia Merry - 15 goals in season 1 - for the most goals scored in a single season, with 4 games in hand to better that record!
Up Next
Women’s FIH Hockey Pro League action will resume on 22 May in Antwerp, Belgium, with Argentina, Belgium, India and USA playing in the first mini-tournament.
The complete schedule for the FIH Hockey Pro League season 5 can be found here.
