Japan is the joint-largest market for the WSL outside of the UK, fuelled by EA FC, YouTube and the social media posts of the Japanese national team players playing in the WSL and one YouTube channel called Japarton (an amalgam of Japan and Everton) www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Soccer has become a key part of some sex workers' online brands. “I’ve never seen that amount of money, ever, in my life,” one woman said. nyti.ms/4q4LSFn

Lots of work went into getting this right: I wanted to speak without judgement or sensationalism to some of the sex workers who use football clubs to promote their OnlyFans pages What are their experiences, how did they get into SW and what role does football play? www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...

If you’ve watched the Women’s Rugby World Cup, you’ll have seen England’s Abi Burton make the most extraordinary sporting comeback. Three years ago, she was in a coma and had to learn to walk and talk again, having also been mistakenly sectioned. Interview www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Wonderful evening in Wrexham for Kerry Evans’ book launch. Saw it in Wrexham Waterstones (even saw my other baby) and proud to hear how much the book has meant to those who have read it. Foreword & afterword by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Order: amzn.eu/d/i441ruC

Ahead of the Euros final today, @charlotteharpur and I collected messages for all 23 Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman and Arjan Veurink from special people: friends, family, former coaches, football royalty and some famous faces www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

Ahead of tomorrow’s final, the parents of Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead and Maya Le Tissier on what goes into making of a Lioness: extra jobs, bank loans, four-hour round trips to training, emotional support and sleeping in meetings www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

What goes into making a Lioness, and why do it when there was no pathway for your daughter? Extra jobs, second cars, bank loans, four-hour round trips to training that leave you so tired you sleep in work meetings The making of a Lioness – as told by their parents: www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

Why does football often look to Black players to solve racism through their emotional pain and labour? And when they have no control over the structures enabling racism? What powers do players have v social media companies? www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

All of the Lionesses were involved in boys’ football en route to the top Mixed football has always been politicised in England, reflecting ideas around femininity and ability It’s now seen as best practice & is more accessible: on its history and changing landscape www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

For #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek , I wrote a very personal piece about depression, anxiety, loneliness and how the community I’ve found following #bcafc this year, regardless of the results, has helped football become a place of healing www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

18 years today since Jacqui Oatley was the first female commentator on Match of the Day. Oatley on her memories of that “isolating” time, and how it led to the founding of Women in Football and a lifelong mission to help more women enter the industry www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...

If you were in Broadway at lunchtime today you’d have seen the #bantamoftheopera #bcafc #bantams choir’s first performance ❤️💛 singing Habanera to unsuspecting members of the public. You can see the videos on BBC Yorkshire socials

A pleasant surprise!

In the past few weeks, Arsenal and Manchester City Women have launched huge commercial campaigns around periods and menstrual care The brains behind both campaigns on how and why they did it - including how Arsenal players created the adverts with them www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

In the past few weeks, Arsenal and Manchester City Women have launched huge commercial campaigns around periods and menstrual care The brains behind both campaigns on how and why they did it - including how Arsenal players created the adverts with them www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

How do you scout players in the lower reaches of women’s football, where data and clips are scarce? With LinkedIn, volunteers and goodwill Meet the team building a scouting network for the lower reaches of women’s football - with help from 1/5 of Dragon’s Den www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...

How do you scout players in the lower reaches of women’s football, where data and clips are scarce? With LinkedIn, volunteers and goodwill Meet the team building a scouting network for the lower reaches of women’s football - with help from 1/5 of Dragon’s Den www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...

“Ref! Stop the game! They have a boy on their team! Not fair!” Girls on this under 12s team received such aggression from opposition parents that they grew scared to keep playing So they have started a campaign: ‘Girls can have short hair - get over it’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...

“Ref! Stop the game! They have a boy on their team!” Meet the under 12s team conquering grassroots football with their campaign ‘Girls can have short hair - get over it’

Some people would have you believe women’s football would be better off without Barbra Banda But they picked the wrong sport. The view inside the game is the reverse. Women’s football’s history of inclusion gives it a unique place in trans rights and gender debates www.nytimes.com/athletic/601...

Been beyond gutted all day, for a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and has carried them in the way Andy Cook has. Felt like the form he was in would last forever. Thinking of what every footballer would give to have what Cook has with #bcafc fanbase ❤️💛 Special connection and special goals

We spoke to @gavindimmock.bsky.social for a piece on male fans in the women’s game and now he’s started a blog on following the Lionesses in Switzerland next summer, family and how he got into the women’s game. Enjoyed reading it. Have a look here: gavindimmock.com/2024/12/28/d...

Wales’ Euro2025 qualifying playoff final first leg is tonight. It’s huge - for the future of women’s football in Wales and for its past. So here’s Jess Fishlock telling you to enjoy tonight in the present, because she certainly is. www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

Why do the big players in women’s football - in boardrooms and leagues - keep mentioning Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets and the Swifties? What can the sport learn from the Eras tour and what does it mean for the future of women’s football fandom? www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Some of the most powerful people in women's soccer have turned their attention to Taylor Swift. Specifically, the importance of capturing the "Taylor Swift fanbase" as a means of growing the game. nyti.ms/4i2BhYh

Why do the big players in women’s football - in boardrooms and leagues - keep mentioning Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets and the Swifties? What can the sport learn from the Eras tour, and what does it mean for the future of women’s football fandom? www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

I give you Project Andy Cook #bcafc

Will get up to speed on here at some point, but ICYMI from last week, male and female players from across the divisions on the off-field reality of being a footballer: mental health, finances, motherhood & fatherhood, social media, families, houses, injuries t.co/3bKuyojYYn