Off the Pitch

Salaries in women’s football remain one of the sport’s most frequently discussed topics. Across many clubs and leagues, players are still not fully professional, despite competing at the highest levels and, in some cases, representing their national teams. Yet, as in many other industries, the landscape is changing rapidly and for the better.

In 2021, the NWSL launched the Nationwide Community Impact Award, an annual honor given to a player for their work off the pitch. In 2024, the league announced that the award would be renamed to the Lauren Holiday Impact Award to honor former USWNT and NWSL player Lauren Holiday for her work on and off the pitch. Each year, one player from each club is nominated for their work with a community partner. 

Alexia Putellas is one of the biggest names in the world of football. On the pitch, the Barcelona Femení player has become a legend and one of the best players in the world after winning Ballon d’Or twice. She was the first Spanish woman to win a Ballon d’Or, a milestone she repeated a year later, alsoo being the first player to win two awards of this type in a row. Any trophy or individual distinction was too small for her: she won everything she could and more.

Women’s football is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity on the business market. The shift is visible not only in the transfer market, but also in club ownership. After Serena Williams, Natalie Portman, and Ed Sheeran, another major name is entering the scene. The GOAT himself.

We are seeing more brands than ever associating themselves with women’s football - from athletes and clubs to major tournaments. What was once a space with limited sponsorship is now a serious investment opportunity.

What Frida Maanum’s Collapse Revealed About Women’s Football. The Arsenal midfielder’s collapse during the 2024 League Cup final became part of a much larger conversation around pressure, visibility and mental health in the women’s game