Strong Story

Although it had been rumored about for a long time, few could truly imagine it happening. But it did. On 26 May 2026, Alexia Putellas left Barcelona, her childhood club, after 14 seasons. Over that time, her persona became almost synonymous with Barcelona Femení. Whether you are a fan of hers or not, one thing is undeniable: she made countless people to love women’s football.

Five unsuccessful Champions League finals. Reaching the biggest match in women’s football so many times was already an achievement in itself,  yet the Polish star always walked away defeated. Until one May evening in Oslo in 2026.

Women’s football is growing. But especially in Europe, so much still depends on how clubs choose to treat their women’s teams. In some places, there is a genuine one-club mentality: women play at the big main stadium, have their own merchandise, and share facilities equally with the men’s side. Elsewhere, the reality is very different. At Dijon, despite the women’s team being more successful than the men’s side, the players are now facing the possible loss of their professional status.

On Friday, 1 May 2026, Elena Sadiku lifted the first-ever Europa Cup trophy together with her Häcken side, just months after taking over the team in December 2025. In her previous role at Celtic, she had already made history by delivering the club’s first-ever title in the Scottish Women's Premier League. Yet as a player, her own journey was cut short, forced to retire at just 23 after suffering her third ACL injury. What is the story of Elena Sadiku?

Women’s football has reached a point where motherhood no longer means the end of a career — and players no longer have to choose between having children and continuing to play. The story of Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, who played a major role in that shift, is one we’ll tell another time. For now, let’s look at the stories of mothers who have returned to the pitch.

As the visibility of women’s sport continues to grow, so do its darker sides. Greater media attention, long overdue...also brings challenges, and for women in the public eye, that often includes sexism.

Carson Pickett is far more than the condition she was born with. It does not define her. And yet, her presence shows why representation matters — reminding thousands of children born differently that it doesn’t have to be a barrier.