Hannah Hampton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce have been described as the world’s best goalkeepers by their respective coaches Sonia Bompastor and Marc Skinner, and here SheKicks ranks the two on various aspects of their game.
Manchester United host Chelsea in a top-of-the-table clash in the WSL on Friday night.
Both Hampton and Tullis-Joyce have played crucial roles in helping keep their sides defensively solid over the past 12 months.
Ahead of the game, Manchester United have very timely posted an article titled: “Why Phallon is the best goalkeeper”.
That is an argument which Chelsea and England fans will strongly disagree with after Hampton’s stunning 2025.
Here, SheKicks ranks the pair on various different aspects of their game and reveal what their managers have said.
What the managers have said about Hannah Hampton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner has repeatedly claimed that the Red Devils have the ‘best goalkeeper’ in Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Tullis-Joyce joined Manchester United in the summer of 2023 from Seattle Reign but was initially a backup to Mary Earps during her first season.
The USA international claimed the starting spot last season and recorded 13 clean sheets, contributing to United arguably having the strongest defence in the league.
Speaking ahead of United vs Chelsea on Friday night, Skinner was asked whether Hampton and Tullis-Joyce are the two best goalkeepers in the league.
He responded: “I can only speak for mine – I think she is. I think Hannah’s an exceptional goalkeeper, but that’s for her team to decide. But for us, I think we have an incredible goalkeeper, a pleasure to work with, always trying to learn, always trying to get better. For shot-stopping, I think we definitely have the best.”
Hampton also joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and has achieved tremendous success with the best team in the country.
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor spoke of her pride for the ‘world’s best goalkeeper’ Hampton.
Hampton played a huge role in Chelsea’s unbeaten domestic treble last season, as well as helping England retain their Women’s European Championship title.
She placed tenth in the Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings and walked away with the Yachine Trophy for best goalkeeper.
The stats are in and it's pleasant reading for @Phallon91 📚🔢
↔️ @TeamViewer
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) September 30, 2025
Hannah Hampton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce comparison
Shot-stopping and one-on-ones: Tullis-Joyce
Both Hampton and Tullis-Joyce rank among the top shot-stopping goalkeepers in world football.
The pair shared the Golden Glove award for the 2024-25 season with 13 clean sheets each, though Hampton conceded 13 goals compared to Tullis-Joyce’s 16.
Expected goal statistics show Tullis-Joyce conceding 23 goals, the best positive differential of any goalkeeper in the league.
Hampton, in comparison, had +2.1 goals saved above expected.
Since the start of this season, Tullis-Joyce has kept more clean sheets since her WSL debut on September 21, 2024.
Tullis-Joyce has secured three clean sheets this season compared to Hampton’s one. In Opta numbers published by Manchester United, Tullis-Joyce is the best keeper when it comes to save percentage in that time.
The United shot-stopper has saved 80 per cent of the shots on target she has faced, compared to Hampton on 79 and Daphne van Domselaar on 75.
Without Tullis-Joyce, United might not be playing Champions League football this season, highlighted by her stunning save to deny Kerolin during last season’s Manchester Derby.
For shot-stopping and one-on-ones, Tullis-Joyce holds a slight edge, though Hampton has shown in the early stages of this season that the gap is narrow.
Aerial command – Tullis-Joyce
When it comes to dealing with aerial balls, there is little to separate Tullis-Joyce and Hampton, despite the former’s height advantage.
Both goalkeepers made 16 high claims during the 2024-25 season and two each so far this campaign.
While both are among the league’s better goalkeepers at handling crosses, each has made notable errors.
In their last league meeting, Tullis-Joyce misjudged a ball, allowing Lucy Bronze to score from a corner in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in April.
Last season, Tullis-Joyce engaged in more aerial duels, winning 11 out of 12, compared to Hampton winning three out of three in the WSL.
At 6’1″, Tullis-Joyce holds a slight advantage over the 5’9″ Hampton in aerial command.
Distribution with feet – Hampton
Hampton is the stronger goalkeeper when it comes to distributing the ball with her feet and playing out from the back.
She had a markedly higher successful pass rate of 85.7 per cent compared to Tullis-Joyce’s 68.3 per cent last season.
That is despite the England No.1. attempting 962 passes compared to the American’s 543.
Tullis-Joyce’s short range passing was just as good as Hampton, however the American struggled when it came to her long-range passing.
Hampton completed 50 per cent of her attempted long-range passes, compared to Tullis-Joyce at 29.4 per cent.
That means Chelsea are better placed when it comes to playing out of the back or going long.
Chelsea star Hampton’s distribution also helped England win Euro 2025.Â
Big game ability – Hampton
Hampton has thrived in high-pressure environments for both Chelsea and England.
She anchored Chelsea’s unbeaten domestic treble last season, including a clean sheet in their 3-0 FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
Hampton also played a starring role for England at Euro 2025, helping the Lionesses defeat Sweden and Spain on penalties.
She saved penalties from Aitana BonmatĂ and Mariona Caldentey to secure England’s second consecutive Women’s Euros title.
While Tullis-Joyce earned a WSL Team of the Season nod over Hampton last season and is arguably the better shot-stopper, she has yet to prove herself in the biggest matches as Hampton has.
Hannah Hampton has saved penalties from Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Filippa Angeldahl, Sofia Jakobsson this year. pic.twitter.com/GBRqTixlOS
— Chelsea Women (@CFC__Women) July 28, 2025
Who is the better goalkeeper overall?
Hampton edges out as the better goalkeeper, though the margin between her and Tullis-Joyce is slim.
Tullis-Joyce has a slight advantage in shot-stopping, but Hampton clearly excels in ball distribution.
In terms of team success, Hampton has had a more decorated career with Chelsea, the country’s top team, and has contributed to England’s most recent international triumph.
Tullis-Joyce, with only three appearances for the United States, has not had the same opportunities at Manchester United.
However, if United emerge as title contenders this season, Tullis-Joyce could prove her manager Marc Skinner right.
