The SheIs alliance of women’s sports leagues is a nice idea, but it’s a version of empowerment that puts the onus on women to change the landscape without holding men accountableWhen I saw Tuesday’s official launch of the SheIs initiative – a group of eight professional women’s sports leagues coming together to increase resources, viewership and attendance – I thought to myself: That’s sweet. But it didn’t move me. It’s not because I’m in disagreement with the movement. I’m all for women supporting other women. It’s needed and in step with the trend. I mean, girl power is everywhere, and we’ve somehow ended up with the terms “Shero” (get it? It’s hero, but with a she!) and She-EO (like CEO,...
Leah Williamson on Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea and how the club’s new manager inspired a turnaround in the side’s approachWhen Arsenal dismissed their manager of three years, Pedro Martínez Losa, four weeks into the new season it was a surprise. But the quick action to remedy a stuttering start was broadly welcomed and the club’s replacement, equally surprisingly, has worked wonders with a side leaking goals.Arsenal had conceded eight times in three league games before Joe Montemurro’s arrival from Melbourne City and a promising squad with four European Championship winners was quickly falling behind the pack. Related: Manchester City out of Women’s Champions League after Bronze’s strike Related: Chelsea lose to Wolfsburg and miss out on Women’s Champions...
History tends to overlook the incredible contributions of women in football, which is why it is important to tell the story of Fifa’s hijab ban and those who helped overturn itFootball is full of incredible histories, many that remain undocumented and unknown. In particular, women’s football history gets left aside. There are efforts by historians and football lovers to educate the public on the incredible contributions of women in football. On International Women’s Day I was at the National Football Museum in Manchester for a women’s football conference to present on football and the hijab to a room of academics and researchers. Although there is much to be celebrated, there is still a sordid past that, as footballers, supporters and...
The Netherlands midfielder, the reigning Fifa and Uefa player of the year, on life at Barcelona and the pressures of being a role modelThe girl playing football in the small Dutch town of Bergen in the late 90s did not know there was a women’s game. Instead her idol was Ronaldinho. Why? “Because I was a Barça fan,” says Lieke Martens. “He had long hair like me and great dribbles. I loved him. He was technical, made a lot of goals.”Watch the Netherlands and Barcelona midfielder now and one can tell why she is a fan of the Brazil great. Her Cruyff turn, back to goal, to take out two Belgium players, leaving one on the floor, as she drove...
The clubs head into their Champions League semis hampered by the demands of moving from a summer to winter seasonChelsea’s manager, Emma Hayes, is no stranger to pressure. She led the club to the WSL1 and FA Cup double in 2015 and won the 2017 Spring Series. Yet this season the pressure has mounted in a very different way – and that is not a reference to her pregnancy with twins. Making the switch from a summer to a winter season has taken its toll.With Chelsea fighting for trophies on three fronts, the business end of the season has become brutally congested. The switch was designed to fit better with the international calendar and help teams to maintain momentum in...