Today, Leah Williamson is among the most beloved players in the women’s game — a two-time Lionesses captain and a Champions League winner with Arsenal. But her journey to that status was not guaranteed. At one point, everything could have shifted because of a single interview.

For much of the game, it looked as though Czechia would open their World Cup qualifying campaign with a victory, having led for the majority of the contest. But Wales refused to relent, and in the closing minutes Elise Hughes struck to make it 2:2.

Sport and politics have never truly existed in isolation — and the current AFC Women’s Asian Cup is no exception. Iran’s players underlined that reality with a powerful gesture during the national anthem.

Japanese women’s football is on the rise. Fresh off their SheBelieves Cup triumph, Japan arrive as strong favourites for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. One player to keep a close eye on is young midfielder Momoko Tanikawa, one of the brightest emerging talents in the squad.

There will be a brief pause in Missy Bo Kearns’ time on the pitch, but it comes with joyful news. The England international has shared that she and her partner are expecting a baby — meaning the Aston Villa family is about to grow by one very special new supporter.

The Olympic spotlight may have faded, but women’s football isn’t slowing down. With World Cup qualifying matches in full swing and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup now underway, the international break is packed with storylines.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicks off in Australia on March 1, with 12 teams competing for the title but also for a place at the World Cup. What else should you be watching out for?

As the international window kicks off, Iceland set out on their road to World Cup qualification — boosted by two new faces. Birta Georgsdóttir and Elín Helena Karlsdóttir have both received their first senior call-ups.

From working shifts at a bank to deciding a Champions League final — Fridolina Rolfö’s journey is anything but ordinary. By the time she signed for Barcelona in 2021 as the club’s first-ever Swedish female player, she was already on an upward trajectory. In Catalonia, she etched her name into history.