25 h. ago Cricket World Cup: England players kept grounded as challenge begins

Head coach Charlotte Edwards emphasises pride in shirt and says team are in a great place mentally and physicallyCharlotte Edwards is drawing on her memories of playing “for nothing” as an amateur to keep England grounded ahead of their World Cup opener against South Africa in Guwahati on Friday.Edwards represented England between 1996 and 2016, playing 18 of those years before the arrival of professional contracts, and the England head coach joked this week that she could “write a book” about her tournament debut at the 1997 World Cup in India. There was also a serious point to be made to the current team, however, who were accused during January’s Ashes whitewash of having lost touch with reality following large pay rises in 2024. Continue reading...

Sport

25 h. ago England players kept grounded as Cricket World Cup challenge begins

Head coach Charlotte Edwards emphasises pride in shirt and says team are in a great place mentally and physicallyCharlotte Edwards is drawing on her memories of playing “for nothing” as an amateur to keep England grounded going into their World Cup opener against South Africa in Guwahati on Friday.Edwards represented England between 1996 and 2016, playing 18 of those years before the arrival of professional contracts, and the England head coach joked this week that she could “write a book” about her tournament debut at the 1997 World Cup in India. There was also a serious point to be made to the current team, however, who were accused during January’s Ashes whitewash of having lost touch with reality following large pay rises in 2024. Continue reading...

Sport

50 h. ago Emma Hayes: ‘I don’t think coaches are always thought about as human beings’

The USA women’s manager on the death of her predecessor at Chelsea, Matt Beard, and how managers need more support to navigate the modern gameEagerly with hands raised in the air, the children from Abbott Community primary school all want to quiz the United States head coach. The plan was for Emma Hayes to just take a few questions from the youngsters at the National Football Museum, but she wants to answer them all. Even her son, Harry, watching on, raises his hand. The tone is light, fun and educational as Hayes celebrates being inducted into the Hall of Fame.The former Chelsea manager, who is being honoured by the National Football Museum for her coaching achievements so far, not least her seven Women’s Super Leagues titles and Olympic gold medal, is quick to point to how glad she is that the “women’s game is in a better place in this country” compared to when she took on the Chelsea job in 2012. Alongside her smiles, though, there is a deep sadness at present. When later sitting...

Politics

3 d. ago Tragedy of the football manager 'Del Boy' who became an icon of the women's game: Ex

Known for not sitting at his desk at Liverpool FC without saying good morning to everybody in the building, Matt Beard's mantra was 'no one is above anyone'.

Sport

5 d. ago Mike Tindall congratulates England's Women's Rugby World Cup champions as he shares photo with wife Zara at the game and admits 'there will be some sore heads in the morning'

Mike Tindall was among those congratulating the England women's Red Roses team after they beat Canada to win the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening.

Sport

5 d. ago Women’s Rugby World Cup team of the tournament: Who makes our XV?

Who were the individual standouts of a transformative tournament for the women’s game?

Politics

7 d. ago Manager's double tragedy in space of six days: Boss who 'loved' and gave debut to ex

The death of 21-year-old forward Billy Vigar has rocked the footballing community. Perhaps none more so than Mark Beard, who lost his brother, Matt Beard last week.

Politics

8 d. ago What makes a good women’s football stadium? Everton point the way

Stadiums have traditionally catered for men but the growth of the women’s game is rapidly changing the landscape“It was a pitch in the middle of a park, basically,” Peter McFarlane, secretary of the Everton Women Official Supporters’ Club, says in describing Walton Hall Park, the 500-seat stadium that eventually held a further 1500 spectators before the team moved to Goodison Park.Walton Hall Park was the smallest stadium in the Women’s Super League, charming and nostalgic with its railed-off standing space, somewhat isolated outside of the city, and otherwise simply lacking food options and a bar. “It’s worlds apart compared to what Goodison offers us,” McFarlane says. “I mean, it helps we have a roof for the fans.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Scotland's women rugby plans unveiled as contract numbers emerge for upcoming season

SRU states it is committed to development of women’s game

Politics

1 week ago England boss Sarina Wiegman named women’s coach of year at Ballon d’Or awards

Wiegman felt the accolade was “recognition of the women’s game and of our journey”

Events

1 week ago Ballon d'Or 2025: How to watch for free, live stream, start time and ceremony details

The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday evening, September 22, with a number of awards to be handed out to the best players in the men's and women's game from the 2024/25 season

Politics

1 week ago Goodbye Matt Beard: the Del Boy of women’s football who took Liverpool to two WSL titles

Popular coach who believed in the women’s game when few did and cared for his players like they were his daughtersOn a tour around Liverpool’s revamped women’s training site at Melwood in 2024, of all the grand improvements to the building that Matt Beard could have pointed out with pride, one specific addition meant more to him than any other. It was a painting of his late father, done by a close friend, attached to the wall in his corner office, and his affection for that gift summed up his deep love for family, which is just one reason why the thoughts of so many people in the women’s football community turned immediately to his wife, children and all of his loved ones, after the shock news of his death at the age of just 47. The Beard family’s loss is being felt all across the sport on a deeply sad weekend for the women’s game, as he is remembered for both his ability to make people laugh and his ability to win football matches. Straight-talking in press conferences, but then ch...

Politics

1 week ago Megan Jones turns missing last World Cup into ‘superpower’ as England look to final

Centre does not carry 2022 final defeat ‘on my shoulders’Jones highlights team’s defensive work in semi-finalThe England centre Megan Jones has said not playing in the 2022 Rugby World Cup final is her “superpower” in this year’s tournament, as she prepares for Saturday’s final against Canada. England lost 34-31 to New Zealand three years ago but it was not a game Jones played in as she was not selected for the tournament.This final is being held at Twickenham and it is set to break the attendance record for a women’s rugby match, with the home of the English game sold out. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Tributes pour in for Matt Beard after former Liverpool, West Ham and Chelsea manager dies aged 47

Beard hailed as ‘giant’ of the women's game and ‘one of the best humans’ following sudden passing

Events

1 week ago Shaming of Meghan's billionaire 'bestie': Former colleagues of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd say she hit her boss, called one woman an 'anorexic b**ch' and used the N

Working on dating app Tinder from its earliest days, Whitney Wolfe Herd then co-founded the hugely successful Bumble, which sought to 'empower' women in the online dating game.

Economics

2 w. ago Football Manager 26 makes huge new addition in 'landmark moment in series' history'

In what has been described as a 'landmark moment' for Football Manager, women's football will be available in the hit game series for the first time ever

Culture

3 w. ago Grace Geyoro and Alyssa Thompson ready to take up Olivia Smith’s challenge in WSL’s £1m club

Women’s Super League’s new £1m players at London City Lionesses and Chelsea have a tough act to follow after Smith’s stunning Arsenal openerThe women’s game’s first £1m signing, Olivia Smith, wasted no time at all in demonstrating her worth as she scored a goal-of-the-season contender on her debut for Arsenal. As the Women’s Super League’s approaches its second weekend, the gauntlet has already been thrown down for the second and third players to command a seven-figure transfer fee to respond.Chelsea’s new signing, Alyssa Thompson, and the newest arrival at London City Lionesses, Grace Geyoro, are in line for their debuts on Sunday. Chelsea travel to Aston Villa and London City host Manchester United at midday. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Jaedyn Shaw moves to Gotham FC from North Carolina Courage in record $1.25m deal

Fee is the largest ever for an intra-league moveUS international just moved to North Carolina in JanuaryA record fee has been paid for a transfer between two NWSL clubs, after Gotham FC completed the signing of the United States midfielder Jaedyn Shaw from North Carolina Courage for $1.25m.The move is the sixth in the women’s game to surpass $1m US so far this year, with Naomi Girma’s move to Chelsea in January being the first to do so. Shaw’s move is not quite an NWSL record, falling just short of Orlando Pride’s $1.5m acquisition of Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle from the Mexican club Tigres in August, but it is a record for an intraleague player move in NWSL, and thus immediately becomes one of the most significant transfers in the sport’s history. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Man United scramble as boots vanish before Women’s Champions League game

Man United are playing SK Brann in their Women’s Champions League qualifier

Sport

3 w. ago Rehanne Skinner exclusive: West Ham manager sends WSL warning after 'out of control' transfer spending

There have been three big-money moves in the women’s game this summer

Events