After the men, the sixth season of the FIH Pro League for women is also over – with the Netherlands again on the top step. Five titles in six editions make it clear who is the boss in this Nations League. And those who still have doubts need only dive into the numbers.
We chose five roaring statistics that tell part of the Orange women’s successful season. With individual leading roles for Yibbi Jansen and Fay van der Elst, who dominate various rankings.
1️⃣ More goals than ever
This season, the Orange became the first team to break the 300-goal mark in Pro League history. After six seasons and 93 games, the goal counter now stands at 316 goals. This season, national coach Raoul Ehren’s team finished with 69 goals from sixteen games, a new goal record in one Pro League season. The previous record – achieved under Paul van Ass – was from the previous edition and stood at 63 goals.
2️⃣ Yibbi Jansen grosses in records
The production of Orange’s penalty corner specialist Yibbi Jansen is beginning to take on Maartje Paumen-like forms. For the third year in a row, SCHC’s cornerkanon became the tournament’s top scorer:
Jansen scored in fourteen of her sixteen games, made a hat-trick against Australia (8-1), and wrote history with five goals in one game against Spain (11-2) – a unique achievement in the Pro League. She now has five hat tricks to her name in the league. No player comes even close to that.
Yibbi Jansen cheers after her goal against Spain. Photo: Willem Vernes
3️⃣ Rarely behind
Ehren’s Dutch Team was only behind by a total of twenty minutes in the sixteen games of this Pro League season. Out of a total of 960 playing minutes in regular playing time, that is two (!) percent of all playing time. It happened during the 3-2 defeat against Argentina on December 15, 2024 (thirteen minutes), during the 5-1 victory over Australia on June 8 (six minutes) and last Sunday in the 2-2 in and against Belgium (one minute). Furthermore, the Orange cherished a lead in 66 percent of its playing time (639 minutes) and the score was balanced for 301 minutes.
Zoe Diaz opened the scoring for Argentina in the Dec. 15, 2024 Pro League match with the Netherlands. Photo: WorldSportPics/RodrigoJaramillo
4️⃣ Fay van der Elst razor-sharp
Not only Jansen’s corners produce goals. Fay van der Elst proved that with impressive numbers. Amsterdam’s striker became the Pro League’s top scorer in terms of field goals for the second year in a row:
In doing so, she kept talented Argentinian striker Brisa Bruggesser (six goals) behind her. In total, the striker stands at 15 goals and 4 assists after 23 international matches. Fay-nomenal numbers.
Hugs from Pien Sanders for Fay van der Elst (center) after another goal. Felice Albers also shares in the revelry. Photo: Willem Vernes
5️⃣ Almost everything won after Rio
The fifth final victory in six seasons of Pro League proves once again the supremacy of the Dutch women in global field hockey. Since the lost Olympic final of the 2016 Rio Games, now almost nine years ago, the Dutch women captured fifteen (!) of the sixteen top prizes to be awarded. Only the Pro League title of season 2021-2022 stayed out of Dutch hands: it went to Argentina.
by Hockey.nl
