2025: The Summer of Women’s Sport

09 Sep 2025

Summer 2025 is widely being recognised as “THE Summer for Women’s Sports”. As a female athlete, I am so proud to be playing just a small part in the promotion of women’s sport, giving women and girls the recognition and opportunities they deserve.

30 minute read

Football – UEFA Women’s EURO 2025

The UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, in Switzerland, broke records as the highest-attended women’s tournament ever (uefa.com). Across 31 matches played, attendance reached a total of 657,291, beating the 2022 tally of 574,875.

In the UK, 16.2 million people watched the final, making it the most-watched single programme on British TV in 2025. There was a cumulative live audience of over 400 million across the tournament (uefa.com).

The Lionesses: A Lesson in Resilience

The Lionesses (England) went back-to-back, having won the 2022 Euros, and fighting hard to a gold medal at the 2025 edition. Their journey through the tournament was inspiring to watch, displaying their resilience and grit. In their pool games, they won 2/3, losing closely to France, before comfortably beating Wales & the Netherlands, doing just enough to make it through the group stages, in second place.

In the quarter final, England faced Sweden, conceding in the 2nd minute, and again in the 25th. They remained 2-0 down until a determined Lucy Bronze scored late in the 79th minute. Shortly after, in the 81st minute, Michelle Agyemang, the 19 year old, slotted home the equaliser. The Lionesses went on to win 3-2 on penalties, with Lucy Bronze scoring the winner, ripping it straight down the middle just under the crossbar.

In the semi final, Italy took the lead in the 33rd minute, keeping the Lionesses at bay deep into added time. Michelle Agyemang (once again) saved the hopes & dreams of the England side, scoring at 90+6, sending the game to extra time. During this period, Chloe Kelley scored a decisive winner at minute 119, securing their spot in the finals.

True to form, England conceded first in the final against a strong Spanish side. Having already practiced this scenario in the 2 previous knockout games, being behind on the scoreboard didn’t phase the Lionesses, and everyone watching knew that they were capable of riding this out. The equaliser came in the 57th minute, and both teams fought through to the end of extra time, where England were victorious, winning 3-1 on penalties, after a masterclass in goal from Hannah Hampton.

The Lionesses have truly inspired a generation, displaying incredible resilience – a key skill to learn in sport and in life – showcasing this mental toughness for all the young women watching.

EURO 2025 Winners: The Lionesses [Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo]

Lionesses Key Characters

Watching the games, and supporting the Lionesses (a rare sight – Celts supporting the English!), I was inspired by many individuals within the team. The following are some names that stood out to me personally:

Firstly, an obvious choice; Chloe Kelly. On average, Kelly came on at around the 76th-77th minute, as a “super-sub” and clear impact player. Besides her backstory, of falling back in love with the sport and returning to the England squad with a point to prove, on pitch, this Euros was her tournament. Playing only 248 minutes off the bench throughout the tournament, she was directly involved in 3 goals across the knockout stages (theanalyst.com), and created numerous chances for the England team, bringing a contagious energy to the pitch.

Secondly: Lucy Bronze. Her middle name is literally ‘Tough’. If you needed any proof of nominative determination, look no further. I watched in awe every time she was defending, putting her body, and often her head, on the line without second thought. She scored key goals, including the winning penalty against Sweden in the quarter finals. Bronze has Autism and ADHD, to which she credits her sporting prowess, due to her hyperfocus on football, describing her diagnoses as her ‘superpower’. It is really exciting to see conditions like these represented in elite sport, moving beyond a deficit-based narrative of Autism & ADHD.

Michelle Agyemang will undoubtedly be a household name over the coming years. As another late sub, having scored two late equalisers in the knockout stages of WEURO 2025, I was inspired by her composure and self-confidence at only 19 years old.
She was an asset to the Lionesses team, and I was impressed by her impact. It takes a lot of mental strength to have the presence of mind to perform in key moments, particularly at a young age.

The final player that stood out to me was goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, facing multiple penalties across the tournament, and making critical saves at key moments. She is the picture of resilience, having an eye condition which affects depth perception – an ironic set of circumstances for a goalkeeper – and losing her grandfather soon before the tournament, using this as fuel to power her stellar performances throughout the tournament.
I am amazed by her strength of character.

[Photos: The FA via Getty Images, Getty Images, Maja Hitij – UEFA / Getty Images]

Female Managers in Football

With women in sport being the key theme of this sporting summer, it is an exciting fact that a record number of 7 female managers led teams at the Women’s EURO 2025.

England: Sarina Wiegman
Spain: Montserrat Tomé
Switzerland: Pia Sundhage
Wales: Rhian Wilkinson
Norway: Gemma Grainger
Belgium: Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir

It is important to see women in positions of power within sport, giving girls further role models to look up to, showing that women deserve to be respected as strong leaders and motivators.

Notably, the two teams in the final (England & Spain), were both managed by women, with Norway & Spain topping their groups (A & B), and Switzerland coming 2nd in group A, all led by women. Meaning that 4/8 teams to reach the quarter finals were female-led. It is exciting to see strong women reaching fantastic milestones and accomplishments like these.

Sarina Wiegman [Sebastien Bozon / AFP]

Cymru’s First Euros

As a proud Welsh hockey player, I couldn’t not mention Wales’ little piece of history, qualifying for the WEURO for the first time ever (wales.com).

Led by former Canadian Olympian, Rhian Wilkinson, the team scored historic goals against both France and England in the group stages. Despite losing all three games, the team did the country proud with strong defensive performances, proudly displaying the Welsh spirit.

NED 3-0 WAL
FRA 4-1 WAL
ENG 6-1 WAL

A key character to mention from the Welsh squad is Ffion Morgan. She inspires me from another angle, with her growing social media presence, bringing positive attention to Welsh sport, and displaying the ‘behind the scenes’ of professional football. Seeing her posts encourages me to continue to work on my own socials (like this blog), instilling the confidence to not worry about the opinions of others.

I hope to see more of the Welsh team in top-flight football in the future.

“The Red Wall” [Eddie Keogh/Getty Images]

Rugby – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

This year’s Rugby World Cup is currently being hosted in England. This gives the opportunity for everyone across the UK to watch top-tier rugby, played by the best in the world. As well as the increase in general viewership, the RWC gives the opportunity for lots of young girls across the UK, and the world, to see women playing a sport which promotes strength, power, and confidence.

England (the Red Roses) are heavy favourites to win this year’s World Cup, being ranked number 1 in the world, with Canada, New Zealand, and France all looking to beat the home side. England have been in the final in each of the last 6 editions of the tournament. New Zealand have won 6 of the last 7 editions.

In 2019, the Red Roses became one of the first international women’s teams to be given full-time contracts (keithprowse.co.uk). This has propelled them to success in recent years, as the sport is constantly evolving and growing, with new talent being nurtured in fantastic programmes such as this.

Ellie Kildunne [Getty Images]

Standout players in the English side, like the quick and talented Ellie Kildunne – World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year – bolster the side, and make for some exciting and fluid rugby.

With the pool games over, the next matches to be played in the 2025 Women’s World Cup are the quarter finals. England, Canada, New Zealand, & France topped each of their respective pools (A-D), with Australia, Scotland, Ireland, & South Africa coming in 2nd.

I look forward to watching the knockout stages of the tournament, which begin on the 13th of September, where New Zealand face South Africa for the first semi-final spot at 13:00 BST.
The Red Roses will play last – a historic ‘Auld Rivalry’ against Scotland – on the 14th of September, at 16:00 BST, for the fourth and final spot in a semi.

The Red Roses [allianzstadiumtwickenham.com]

Media Presence & the RWC

When comparing the media strategies for men and women’s rugby, men’s media coverage tends to focus on the skill of the players, and the rich history of the sport, whereas women’s rugby has taken a different approach to media and promotion, focussing on a personal connection to the audience. Historically, the men’s game has benefitted from a greater proportion of broadcasts, and commercial investment. In contrast, women’s rugby has chosen to go down the route of using specific media platforms to boost the popularity of the game. For example, the recent importance of social media platforms like TikTok, in promoting the game, and the players individually, cannot be underestimated.

Stars like Ilona Maher (USA), have done a fantastic job of bringing well-deserved attention to women’s rugby, by forging a connection with her fans, allowing people to see the ‘behind the scenes’ perspective. As part of the Olympic rugby 7s team, she recently transitioned to Rugby Union / Rugby 15s. Followers of Maher love her authenticity, and her unapologetic nature when it comes to being herself. She is keen to promote that girls can be big and strong, and still be feminine and beautiful. She also promotes her own brand image, and has increased her reach by taking part in brand deals like swimwear photoshoots, and partaking in (and placing as runner-up on) the show ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

I find her story inspiring, having heard her talk about her lack of ‘impostor syndrome’ – something which I have battled with throughout my own sporting journey. In an interview with CNN in early 2025, she says “I feel like I deserve what I have gotten, I think that I worked very hard… I put my whole personality and my whole everything out there”.
We can all learn from her mindset, reminding ourselves that we have worked hard to get to wherever we are – be that in sports, or in a professional career – and we don’t need to underestimate ourselves.

Ilona Maher is the most followed rugby player on social media, of either gender, with 5.2M followers on Instagram, and a further 3.6M on TikTok. Her role in bringing attention to the sport and supporting other women is key to the recent success of the women’s game.

Ilona Maher [Michael Steele / Getty Images]

Body Positivity & Rugby

Due to external pressures, as well as self-inflicted beauty standards, women are heavily critiqued for how we look, both by men and by other women. The pressure on athletes is considerable, with judgements being made about your fitness, even before any testing takes place. It can often feel overwhelming, like we need to fit a certain mould to be noticed.

Rugby breaks the mould. It is a sport in which strength is praised, and the variation of physical requirements across each position is vast. For girls who have always seen themselves as ‘too big’ or ‘too masculine’, rugby challenges this outlook, proving that strength is something to be celebrated, and not shied away from. Strong can be feminine, and strong is beautiful.

Sarah Bern is an England starting prop: a strong player, with explosive power, running and scrummaging. She plays for the Bristol Bears. I wanted to bring attention to the impact she is having on young girls and their attitude towards their bodies and sport. She is just one of many female rugby players who have a positive effect on the lives of girls and women. One particular video of hers stands out in my mind – one that I initially saw on TikTok. The video read:

“I used to hate the way my body looked, but then I remembered…
My body is built for this,
For my teammates,
For my country,
For power,
For speed,
For strength,
For rugby,
For purpose,
For beauty,
For the Red Roses,
This is what a female athlete looks like.
Girls get taught to look one way, but there is so much your body can do!
Strong is beautiful.
So when I remember all that, I don’t hate it at all”

This video (tiktok.com/sarahbern), and others like it, are so important in creating the inclusive atmosphere around rugby. Elite athletes shouldn’t all look one way. Bodies will be different depending on the requirements of the sport, and it warms my heart to know that the young girls of today will grow up in a world where they can see themselves reflected in professional athletes, no matter their body type.

Sport brings so much joy, and teaches life lessons – I hope that, in the future, everyone gets to feel the benefits of participating in sport and exercise that I am so passionate about: the mentality shifts, the core transferrable skills, and the physical benefits.

There is a home for everybody within sports, and rugby is at the forefront of promoting this ethos.

Sarah Bern

Other Sports

Cricket

Within the cricket world, the Hundred has been pivotal in bringing attention to women’s cricket. The Hundred is a professional franchise competition for men and women, with a draft to select players for eight teams: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, & Welsh Fire.

The Northern Superchargers Women won the Hundred 2025 – check out more here: thehundred.com

The Hundred has promoted women’s cricket by hosting double-headers: anyone who intends to watch a men’s game would have the opportunity to watch a women’s game in the same place, increasing the number of spectators, and allowing women to play at exciting venues in front of large crowds. Integrating the men & women’s teams by branding equally, increasing the support for the women’s game without outwardly promoting women’s cricket as a standalone event.

The Hundred has brought more women’s cricket to TV, increasing accessibility, allowing a wider audience to view the sport for free. It is thrilling to see yet another sport which can inspire a future generation of girls to get active. The more sports available, the better, widening the pool of potential ‘idols’ and superstars for girls to look up to.

The Hundred teams [BBC Sport]

Hockey

The minimal funding means that the vast majority of international hockey players have full time careers alongside their sporting commitments. The lives of hockey players make for some fascinating stories & profiles. Due to the lack of funds, hockey (or field hockey to some) often slips under the radar, and without a specific push in terms of women’s sports from the FIH, it hasn’t been able to jump on the wave along with women’s rugby, in terms of the huge growth seen over the past couple of years.

Along with the football women’s Euros this summer, the hockey euros (men & women) also took place, over July & August.

With women’s sport in mind, there is one team that must be mentioned: The Netherlands. They have been a dominant force in hockey for nearly 5 decades, winning the first women’s hockey World Cup in 1974, followed by a further 8 editions (1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022). The Tokyo 2024 Olympics marked their 6th successive Olympic final, having won gold in 2008, 2012, 2020, and going on to win gold in 2024.

In a period between losing in a shootout in the Rio Olympic Final in 2016, to winning the Olympics in 2024, the Dutch women kept an unbelievable win rate of 96% of matches played. Over the past year, since their Olympic win, they have won gold in both the Pro-League (5th title), and the EuroHockey Championship.

Their dominance can be partially attributed to one player: Yibbi Jansen. As well as being an exceptionally skilful and intelligent player, she is also considered to be the best drag flicker in the world, regularly scoring multiple goals for the Dutch side. She is in a league of her own, winning the FIH (world) Player of the Year, 2024. I look up to her, as a drag flicker myself; her technique is a dream to watch, and she is unparalleled in terms of in-game success. She is humble, but knows her worth as a player, adding value to every team that she plays in. I aspire to have the sheer impact that she does in world hockey.

Yibbi Jansen @ the Olympics [www.nu.nl]

From a personal standpoint as a female athlete, I had my own success this year, as a member of the Welsh women’s squad. We won a bronze and a silver medal in our 2 tournaments this summer, securing promotion to the EuroHockey A Division, meaning that, in 2027, we will face teams like the Netherlands, and get to feel their total hockey dominance first-hand. I could not be more excited.

For more details on Wales’ Summer of international hockey, see my previous post:
Recap – International Summer 2025

Wales, EuroHockey II [Polski Hokej na Trawie]

Tennis

On brand with a push for equality in sports, women have made a return to the Queen’s Club Championships after over 50 years. The Queen’s Club is a members club for sports, and an extremely expensive one at that. It is situated in a particularly affluent area of London: Barons Court, West Kensington. Now referred to as the HSBC Championships, Queen’s is a key warm-up event for Wimbledon.

Initially the tournament was a joint men & women’s event, from 1890 to 1973, but, due to a tight schedule and typically dismal British Weather, the women’s event was removed, to save time (nytimes.com). In 1973, the women’s event moved to Eastbourne, and the men’s moved to Nottingham, however, the men moved back to Queen’s shortly after, in 1977.

This year, Queen’s welcomed back a women’s event, challenging stereotypes of British Tennis, often seen as a male-dominated sport, showing equal treatment for male and female players. This year, Tatjana Maria won the tournament, defeating Amanda Anisimova, 6-3, 6-4.
British player Emma Raducanu made it to the quarter final of the Wimbledon warm-up tournament, later seeing her Wimbledon run come to an end in the third round, after a strong battle with world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka.

It is heart-warming to see major steps forward like this in sport at the moment, and I look forward to seeing further pushes for equality, where female players of all sports get the recognition that they deserve.

Queen’s Club [Adam Davy/PA]

Final Notes

As a female athlete, I am so proud to have been a part of this Summer’s sporting activities. It is a fantastic time to be a woman in sport, with opportunities opening up across all sports.

I am glad that the little girls of today get to grow up in a world where they can see themselves reflected in women, no matter the path they choose to go down: no matter the sport, and no matter the career. Role models are so necessary to allow girls to understand that they are capable of anything they put their minds to.

There is still a long way to go in terms of equality in viewership, media coverage, and therefore, pay. Women’s sport is fantastic to watch, bringing different perspectives to a typical men’s game.

The female athletes of today are challenging the definition of femininity. With strength being viewed as a typically masculine quality, today’s athletes are displaying a new age of femininity: Strong is Beautiful.
There are lots of outside opinions on women in sport, and it can seem overwhelming at times. Women are often harshly critiqued on their bodies, their sporting ability, and confidence can be misconstrued as being ‘cocky’ or arrogant. I am in awe of all the wonderful women that sacrifice so much for their sports, bringing media presence, development, and positivity.