Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze, one of England’s most successful footballers, has opened up about her autism and ADHD diagnoses, which she received in 2021. From a young age, she noticed she was different from others, often struggling with reading and spelling due to dyslexia and finding social interactions challenging. She masked her autism by copying her teammates' behavior to fit in, but she often felt uncomfortable with eye contact and physical contact like hugs. Despite these challenges, she believes that understanding her neurodiversity has helped her accept herself and improve her well-being.
Bronze credits her autism and ADHD for her deep focus and obsession with football, which has contributed to her long and successful career. Training every day provides structure and energy, helping her manage her condition. Now an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, she hopes to raise awareness and remove the stigma around autism. She encourages others to embrace their differences, emphasizing that a diagnosis doesn’t change who you are but helps you understand yourself better. Even after football, she is confident she will find something else to focus on, as her passion for the game extends beyond playing.
The growth of women's football is being hindered by inadequate infrastructure and poor pitch conditions. Recent incidents involving top teams like Chelsea and Manchester City have highlighted these challenges. For instance, during the League Cup final at Derby County's Pride Park, players expressed concerns about the subpar quality of the pitch and facilities. This issue is not isolated to England; players from clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal have also faced similar problems with poor pitch conditions.
Despite the sport's increasing popularity, with rising match attendances and lucrative commercial deals, women's teams often rely on men's club infrastructure and play in less accessible locations. Experts argue that for sustained growth, women's football should be viewed as an emerging business line, with clubs recognizing the value of their women's teams as independent assets. The lack of purpose-built stadiums and limited broadcast coverage further hinder progress, emphasizing the need for dedicated investment and strategic initiatives to fully realize the potential of women's football.
The World Sevens Football (W7F) is a new global seven-a-side women's soccer series set to launch with a significant $100 million investment over five years. The inaugural event will take place in Estoril, Portugal, from May 21-23, 2025, featuring a $5 million prize pool per event, with the winning team receiving $2.5 million. The tournament will include eight professional women's clubs, with roster selections at each club's discretion.
The W7F was co-founded by Jennifer Mackesy, a minority investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC and Chelsea FC, and entrepreneur Justin Fishkin. A player advisory council led by former U.S. international Tobin Heath, along with Kelley O'Hara, Anita Asante, Caroline Seger, and Laura Georges, emphasizes a player-centric approach. The tournament format consists of 7-vs.-7 games with two 15-minute halves, designed to provide high-intensity matches while minimizing player fatigue.
Chelsea's remarkable 31-match unbeaten streak came to an end in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City during the Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg. This defeat marked the first under manager Sonia Bompastor, who had led Chelsea to 28 games without a loss since taking charge. Vivianne Miedema's two second-half goals secured City's advantage, with Chelsea struggling to find their rhythm just days after their League Cup triumph over the same opponents. Defender Lucy Bronze admitted the team was "miles off" their usual standard, citing poor pressing and sloppy passing as key issues. The loss not only halted Chelsea's unbeaten run but also dashed their hopes of setting a new record for the longest undefeated streak by a Women's Super League (WSL) team across all competitions.
The match was part of a grueling four-game stretch between Chelsea and Manchester City within 12 days, including the League Cup final, WSL clash, and the Champions League return leg. Despite this setback, Bompastor remains focused on Chelsea's Champions League aspirations, with the team needing a strong response in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Bronze emphasized that the defeat was a learning moment, noting that every opponent now raises their game against Chelsea. With their quadruple hopes still alive, Chelsea will aim to recover quickly as they prepare for upcoming challenges both domestically and in Europe.
FIFA's report on women's soccer shows big differences in player salaries, contract lengths, and match attendances in different leagues. The average salary for female players is $10,900, but players in top teams (Tier 1) earn about $24,030. Some clubs pay over $50,000, with the highest salary around $120,000. In lower leagues (Tier 2 and 3), players make much less—$4,361 and $2,805 on average. Contracts are also different. Tier 1 players usually get one- to three-year deals, while Tier 3 players often have very short contracts, sometimes less than three months.
The report also looks at match attendance. Arsenal had a record 60,160 fans for a Women's Super League game against Manchester United, but the average attendance in Tier 1 is only 1,713. In Tier 2 and 3, it's even lower—480 and 380. There are also not many female head coaches—only 22% of women's teams have a woman as head coach. FIFA President Gianni Infantino says more needs to be done to improve women's soccer and give players better opportunities.
Arsenal manager Renée Slegers has called for improved pitch conditions in women's football following her team's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final. The match, held at Real Madrid's Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, was played under heavy rain, resulting in a waterlogged and muddy pitch that significantly affected play. Slegers emphasized that enhancing pitch quality should be the "next step for women's football," acknowledging that while weather is uncontrollable, providing better playing surfaces is essential for the sport's progression.
Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright also criticized the pitch, labeling it a "disgrace" and comparing it unfavorably to other recently criticized venues. The subpar conditions not only impacted the quality of play but also raised concerns about player safety, highlighted by an injury to Real Madrid's Melanie Leupolz, who appeared to catch her studs in the muddy surface. The decision to host the match at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, instead of the larger Santiago Bernabéu during the men's international break, has been questioned, underscoring the need for prioritizing suitable venues for high-stakes women's matches.
Czech brand Snuggs, producing period underwear, has partnered with the Manchester City women's football team, becoming the first global period underwear brand to officially collaborate with a professional football club. This partnership reflects the growing interest in women's football and emphasizes the importance of health and comfort for female athletes, contributing to the discussion about menstruation in professional sports.
The collaboration comes at a time when women's football is experiencing unprecedented growth, with increased investments, larger audiences, and sold-out stadiums. Snuggs' involvement aims to support players' well-being and performance, addressing topics often considered taboo, such as menstruation, and promoting open conversations about women's health in sports.
Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Mala Grohs made her first start since undergoing treatment for a malignant tumor, playing in a Women's Champions League quarterfinal match against Olympique Lyonnais. Despite Bayern’s 2-0 defeat, Grohs made a crucial penalty save, denying Lyon a third goal. The match saw goals from Tabitha Chawinga and Melchie Dumornay securing the win for Lyon.
Grohs was diagnosed with the tumor in October 2024 and underwent throat surgery in December. Bayern publicly announced her diagnosis in November and later extended her contract until June 2026 to support her recovery. Her return, highlighted by the penalty save, marks a major milestone in her comeback to professional football.
