We’re super excited to announce that we’ve been shortlisted in the prestigious International Sports Convention Awards in the Fan Engagement category.
The awards recognise those that have made a significant contribution to women’s football through their coverage, initiatives, and community-building efforts.
Congratulations to all the nominees on making the finalist list!
We’ve been working hard at She’s A Baller over the past four months and have:
- Launched a brand new website housing free women’s football articles and job postings
- Re-branded – introducing new templates and fan-led content series including Fandom.Is.Everyone
- Launched a new LinkedIn page showcasing the results of our data insights work
- Launched a new Linktree allowing fans to more easily access our content
- Launched a new YouTube channel housing our long-form content
- Worked alongside adidas and Set Piece Social to host a first EVER WSL watch-along event
- Worked with EA Sports to deliver their WSL Ratings Reveal campaign
We’ve got lots of exciting plans still lined up…
We want to thank our incredible community, followers and audience for their beautiful support!
We launched a new series last month capturing the beautiful and very real essence of women’s football fandom.
It’s nights at the Bridge, Basil and blue flames. It’s a stellar start to the season and the French Revolution in full swing.
It’s all the cultures, languages and identities in one space. It’s young and experienced. It’s community, safety and acceptance.
It’s family, friends and solo-adventurists. It’s new and old friends.
It’s heartbreak and heart-felt joy. It’s stadium games and new chants. It’s long journeys and local clubs. It’s banners and cardboard signs.
It’s fierce rivalry and supporting both. It’s advocacy, campaigns and finally celebrating the winds of change.
It’s football fandom. It’s you.
Check out our beautiful collection below.
Money remains inextricably linked to conversations around the growth of women’s football and wages are no different.
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze recently sparked discussion during an interview with Sky News after she was asked whether female footballers can afford to retire after their football career.
“The one percent probably can. If you’re smart with your money and live a certain kind of lifestyle, then there’s potential,” the 33-year-old right-back responded.
“Probably 99.9% of women’s players… you have to think about life after football.”
The statement itself is far from controversial, or even surprising. While women’s football has grown exponentially in recent years, that does not mean wages have reached the exorbitant sums we see at the top of men’s football.
Yet, Sky News’ X post promoting the story has accumulated 8.5 million views largely owing to a swell of mock outrage on the platform. Some of the comments said:
“Get a second job then. Female soccer is subsidised by the male league. Makes zero money and never will.”
“People in lower english leagues prob cant retire too, but they play at higher level than her so? Whats the problem?”
While Bronze was just providing an answer to a question she had been posed, the usual misogyny swarmed to the headline with a determination to misconstrue the comments to their own agenda.
It is an all-too-common reminder that women’s sport continues to face a barrage of people that only want to diminish the progress and support that threatens their patriarchal hold over sport.
But, away from the negative attention the quotes have received, they point to a very real issue that has bubbled away in women’s football for decades. That is, the disparity of wages across the tiers.
Bronze indicates that “the one percent” in women’s football earn enough to live off their wages for the rest of their lives. But what about the other 99%?
Of course, the ability to live off wages earned during a short career should not be used as the barometer for success for the rest of the pyramid, or even that one percent, but it does speak to an inequality within the game that is not currently being given enough attention.
It was reported during the summer that Women’s Championship club Blackburn Rovers would pay each player a salary of £9,000 for a 16-hour a week contract, in line with minimum wage. Elsewhere, much of tier three remains semi-professional.
Meanwhile, at the very top of the game, sponsorship deals and wage packages are increasing. In doing so, it widens the gap between the top performing clubs and papers the cracks of a financial structure lower down the tiers that is still struggling to establish itself.
The one percent that Bronze refers to is likely only to be found at approximately three clubs in England – Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.
With the wages of some of the players in these clubs bolstered by international wages and possibly personal deals with brands e.g. Alessia Russo’s partnership with sunglass brand Oakley or Lucy Bronze’s partnership with clothing brand Aligne.
All of the above receive backing from some of the richest Premier League teams and those sides have claimed nine of the 11 WSL titles won since its foundation.
Those sides that can afford to pay and attract the ‘top one percent’ will continue to monopolise success as they can attract the best players, while other clubs in the league or further down the pyramid will struggle to compete both on the pitch, and financially.
While the recent takeover of the WSL and Championship by the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) signals the potential for further disparity between the top two leagues and the National League, it is also a juncture that could determine a better direction for women’s football.
It allows us to ask the question: what do we want to see going forward?
It might be reasonable to expect internationals at the top of their game to earn obscene amounts, after all it would be hard to find a profession where those at the top level don’t earn vast sums.
Most footballers also don’t have the luxury of playing past their mid-thirties and so perhaps wages should be commensurate with such a reality.
Yet it shouldn’t be reasonable to view the figures wielded in men’s football as aspirational nor a sign of success. Women’s football can take its own path that does not group a one percent of top earners versus ‘the rest’.
Growth inevitably is linked to more investment and that should be celebrated, but women’s football must push now rather than later for investment that is spread across the tiers.
If not just to improve competition in the game and raise the potential of a new winner, then to ensure teams like Blackburn have firmer foundations so their players get the pay they deserve.
We launched a new series last month capturing the beautiful and very real essence of women’s football fandom.
It’s red and blue scarves and beanies. It’s the Eagles and a history-making WSL debut season.
It’s all the cultures, languages and identities in one space. It’s young and experienced. It’s community, safety and acceptance.
It’s family, friends and solo-adventurists. It’s new and old friends.
It’s heartbreak and heart-felt joy. It’s stadium games and new chants. It’s long journeys and local clubs. It’s banners and cardboard signs.
It’s fierce rivalry and supporting both. It’s advocacy, campaigns and finally celebrating the winds of change.
It’s football fandom. It’s you.
Check out our beautiful collection below.
The WSL is back and the FA Cup is underway too this weekend!
Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!
Thornaby FC: From Axe to achievement
Thornaby FC, a club which announced in June that it had voted to drop its female teams following a “difficult year” reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time.
Thankfully the decision was reversed following uproar on social media, with a new board voted in to ensure better decision making at the top.
Just five months later, the women’s team took on Liverpool Feds, who are three divisions above. They lost the game 7-2 but what a huge achievement for a club on the brink of collapse over summer.
Manchester United milestones
It was a big weekend for Manchester United, facing Arsenal after the international break. United, who managed to keep their unbeaten run this season, finished the game 1-1 after a last-minute goal from Melvine Malard cancelled out Alessia Russo’s 63rd minute strike.
But it was a historic game for two other reasons. United manager Marc Skinner celebrated his 100th game in charge of the Red Devils and records a 62.6% win percentage.
Going 50 better, Millie Turner celebrated her 150th appearance for the club and picked up a Barclays Player of the Match award to top off the day!
Leah faces a tough part of her history
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson returned to Manchester United’s home ground, Leigh Sports Village for the first time since tearing her ACL there last season.
No doubt mixed emotions for Williamson who started the game yesterday. It was a beautiful moment to see her come full circle and appreciate how far she’s come since that fateful news just before the Women’s World Cup.
Khiara Keating’s first WSL start
There have been some big questions over the goalkeeper situation at Manchester City this season with new signing, Japan international Ayaka Yamashita being Gareth Taylor’s first choice keeper for all of the WSL fixtures so far.
Despite Yamashita’s impressive credentials, it’s had a lot of us wondering why Taylor had chosen to change things up when Khiara had secured the WSL Golden Glove and obtained her first England call-up last season.
But, Keating finally got her first league start of the season AND kept a clean sheet too!
Bompastor’s reign continues
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor joined an elite team of managers last night as her side defeated Everton 5-0. The win, which is the 5th win on the bounce, means Bompastor joins one of only three managers to win five games at the start of the season in a row.
Only former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall and former Birmingham City manager David Parker share this accolade.
There were a few concerns when Emma Hayes’ era came to an end but Bompastor has put all those concerns to bed.
Manchester United forward Grace Clinton will be the club’s most important player this season.
There are 23 United players who’ve been involved in the 2024-25 WSL season so far and none of them have scored more than Grace Clinton.
After an outstanding season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, in which the 21-year-old was voted PFA Young Player of the Year and named in the PFA Team of the Year, Clinton has made sure United have taken notice of what she can deliver on the domestic stage.
Her goal contributions have been worth four points to her parent club already this term. Manager Marc Skinner is still tinkering with his midfield composition with Brazil international Geyse returning from injury and Ella Toone struggling for form in front of goal, it makes sense that Clinton has been deployed further forward than we’re used to seeing her.
Clinton’s smartly timed runs proved fruitful against West Ham and Brighton whilst her frontfoot pressing brought about the winning goal against her former side Everton. As things settle down, we’ll likely see her moved back into a more familiar central-midfield role. This shift could see United have one of the most well-rounded midfield talents in Europe on their books.
So far this season, Clinton has had more touches in the final third (92), made more ball recoveries (35), had more shot-creating actions (15), won more tackles (12), completed more take-ons (8), won more free-kicks (7), played more through balls (4) and scored more goals (3) than any of her teammates.
Clinton is also responsible for carrying the ball into the final third (9) and the penalty area (4) more times than anybody else in the side. It’s worth saying that this is not a ‘best of a bad bunch’ set of numbers.
In fact, Clinton ranks in the top five players in the entire WSL in the majority of those metrics. Any player who can score more goals than Chelsea striker Mayra Ramirez whilst winning more tackles than Arsenal’s Katie McCabe is alright by us!
The most telling data point is the one concerning carries. Players who can carry the ball into the penalty area are very useful, but players who can carry the ball from deeper areas into the final third and from the final third into the penalty area are worth their weight in gold.
Clinton is one of those rare players and Skinner needs to find a system that allows her to get on the ball in deeper areas to support build-up play, while maintaining her influence in the final third.
United have other players who can go 1v1, beat defenders and create openings in the final third often enough for them to win the majority of the games that they would expect to win. But they don’t have other players with Clinton’s ability to orchestrate moves from deep and create a platform for the side to generate repeatable attacks.
Whether it’s playing a “free eights” system with Toone and Clinton dovetailing with a destroyer-type behind or a double pivot which allows Clinton to play as a deep playmaker with a more physical presence alongside her, finding a way to stretch Clinton’s influence through as much of the pitch as possible is key.
Doing this will go a long way to defining United’s season. Clinton’s three goals have come from just 8 shots and an xG of just 1.2 – she’s the second biggest overperformer in the division so far behind only Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
Based on those numbers, and the fact that she scored just four across the whole of last season, we might expect Clinton’s goal scoring to slow down a little as the season goes on. However, other characteristics of her game (the ability to carry through pressure, to force turnovers and enact defence-splitting passes) are much more sustainable.
United’s summer signing Elisabeth Terland got off the mark in style against Tottenham just over a week ago and she’s currently running at 0.51 xG p90, so there’s little doubt that United will still have firepower as Clinton’s role in the side evolves.
There will be some level of temptation from Skinner to keep a player who is scoring most weekends as close to the goal as possible, but United have to be smart. They have a serious chance at UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification this season but utilisation of Clinton will play a pivotal role.
Stats provided by RBREF.
Check out our exclusive interview with Alex Scott here:
The WSL is taking a minute so this week’s Top 5 Moments features the best bits from across the international stage.
Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!
Lionesses U17’s secure a spot in the World Cup Semi-Final
The U17 Lionesses have narrowly made it through to the World Cup semi-finals, hosted by the Dominican Republic.
Their match against Japan last night went to penalties after a 2-2 draw, with England securing the victory (penalties: 4-1). Watch the winning penalty here…
The win means they’ll face Spain in the semi-final on Thursday (11pm on the FIFA website). In the other semi-final, the US take on North Korea on Wednesday.
The final takes place on Sunday 03 November. Good luck to the semi-finalists!
McCabe doing McCabe things
It was a confident 6-0 win for the Republic of Ireland who faced Georgia in Tbilisi this weekend.
In the 67th minute, McCabe saw the Georgia goalkeeper off her line and fired an effort from around 40 yards out. The result….well, take a look.
Post-match, manager Eileen Gleeson was complimentary of the subs who made a “real impact” for the side as they head into the second leg of the play-off at Tallaght Stadium tomorrow night as the Girls in Green look to qualify for a first Women’s Euros!
The Reggae Girlz’s new recruit
Liverpool’s Taylor Hinds made her senior debut this weekend for the Jamaica Women’s National Team.
The 25-year-old, who has previously been a part of the England U17 and U19 squads, walked out with the Reggae Girlz in a friendly against France.
The match ended 3-0 to France with goals from Clara Mateo, Wendy Renard and Sandy Baltimore.
Hinds has made over 80 appearances from Liverpool since joining the side in 2020 from Everton. They currently sit 6th in the WSL on six points.
She’s A Keeper
The South Africa Women’s National Team played Eswatini on Friday, but this moment went viral with goalkeeper Jessica Williams scoring the second goal from the edge of the centre circle.
It was a big responsibility for Williams who is back in the national team after being in and out of the squad over the past couple of years.
South Africa take on England tomorrow night in a friendly in Coventry. This free-kick may well form part of the Lionesses analysis…
Bayern delivered at Wembley
The Lionesses took on Germany in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night but things did not go to plan…
German striker, Giulia Gwinn scored in the 4th minute, pouncing on a defensive error, but the goals didn’t stop there.
Gwinn doubled the lead in the 11th minute and teammate Klara Buhl scored in the 29th, leaving England in a state of shock with only half an hour played.
It ended 3-4 to Germany with five of the seven goals scored by members of the Bayern Munich team (Georgia Stanway, Klara Buhl and Giulia Gwinn).
Despite Sara Dabritz currently being at Lyon, she also spent a four year period at Bayern between 2015-2019 too!
We’re back again after another spicy WSL weekend. Another historic and record-breaking weekend for the players and the leagues!
Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!
Perfection from Parris
Take a look at this header.
You’d be forgiven for missing Parris’ part first time round, but take a look at the slow-motion replay. Watch the specific moment as Parris times her diving leap perfectly to catch a rapid strike from outside the box, redirecting the shot past Tullis-Joyce.
Parris, who was United’s top goalscorer last season (8) and currently sits fifth in the WSL goalscoring chart, has the highest goals per 90 minutes (0.56) out of any player in the top 5.
Roord Really Returns
Manchester City’s Jill Roord scored in the 70th minute against Aston Villa yesterday to secure the Citizens all three points (2-1).
It was Roord’s first goal after returning two weeks ago for the first time since suffering an ACL injury last season.
Lauren Hemp, who scored 12 minutes before, got the assist, delivering from the left wing for Roord who slotted home past Sabrina D’Angelo. Hemp picked up the Barclay’s Player of the Month.
City have now won their last seven games in all competitions.
Little’s BIG Achievement
Arsenal captain Kim Little recorded her 350th appearance for Arsenal this weekend against West Ham.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who retired from the Scottish Women’s National Team in 2021, marked the occasion with a fresh pair of special-edition adidas F50 boots which were printed with ‘Congratulations Kim’ and ‘350’.
Little is the fourth-most capped player ever, just seven games behind Jayne Ludlow. Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant lead the way with 459 and 403 appearances respectively.
Arsenal teammate Lia Walti also hit a milestone, making her 100th appearance for the Gunners. Walti becomes the 8th Arsenal player to achieve this.
Le Tissier is feeling 22…
Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier became the youngest player ever to make 100 starts in the WSL.
22-year-old Le Tissier lead her side out on Saturday to a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. United currently sit 3rd in the table with 10 points, behind Chelsea on 12 and City on 13.
Only United have conceded just one goal this season – Le Tissier runs a tight ship.
JRK’s GOAL of the season?
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur delivered some incredible late Sunday night drama with seven goals between them both.
We initially thought the biggest talking point was going to be the re-ignition of the goal line technology debate, after Spurs’ Amanda Nilden scored a controversial long-range effort against Hannah Hampton.
But then…up stepped Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a VERY early contender for goal of the season. The commentators described the goal as “utterly exceptional” and that it was. Watch this…
The 27-year-old set Kingsmeadow alight with the most perfect volley, but her entire night was pretty much flawless, bagging a further goal in the 90+1 minute too.
Needless to say, she picked up the Barclay’s Player of the Match.
Un-Bag-lievable
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley put in a performance of a lifetime to keep her side in the game against a fierce United side on Saturday.
The Seagulls helpfully put together a montage of the 27-year-old’s best bits…
United registered seven shots on target with Baggaley putting in a shift to keep six good chances out.
Baggaley is one of the most experienced keepers in the WSL, having had spells at Birmingham City, Bristol City, Manchester United and Brighton since 2014. Baggaley was also a part of the England U23 set-up until 2019.
Introducing our new series: Fandom.Is.Everyone x Arsenal Edition.
We wanted to capture the beautiful and very real essence of women’s football fandom.
It’s young and experienced. It’s scarves , beanies and concourse catwalks. It’s pints, Jamaican patties and burger vans.
It’s community, safety and acceptance. It’s family, friends and solo-adventurists. It’s all the cultures, languages and identities in one house.
It’s all abilities and taking care of one another. It’s new and old friends.
It’s heartbreak and heart-felt joy. It’s stadium games and new chants. It’s long journeys and local clubs. It’s banners and cardboard signs.
It’s fierce rivalry and supporting both. It’s advocacy, campaigns and finally celebrating the winds of change.
It’s football fandom. It’s you.
Check out our beautiful collection below.
We’re back again after another spicy WSL weekend AND the Women’s Championship. Another historic and record-breaking weekend for the players and the leagues!
Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!
Tooney becomes an all-timer
Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone became the first outfield player to appear in 93 consecutive WSL games for the same club (credit: Opta).
And what a 93rd game it was, with Yaanited securing all three points against Tottenham Hotspur in a confident 3-0 win.
The 25-year-old has been with United since 2018, making over 120 appearances and scoring 40 goals. Toone also spent five years with United’s youth team between 2007 – 2013.
It’s fair to say, she’s United through and through and those stats prove it!
From one Blue’s boss to another…
Former Chelsea manager and USWNT boss Emma Hayes was spotted in the stands this weekend, watching on, as her former side defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates.
Post-match, Hayes and current manager Sonia Bompastor took one of the most iconic selfies of the season so far…
Following the game, Bompastor was asked about Hayes’ presence at the game. She said: “We have a good relationship. She came because she had some players from the US. She’s maybe happy with the win because she feels like a Chelsea fan. She has a new job so maybe she has some advice for me?”
The Blues have won all three WSL games under Bompastor so whatever the advice, it’s working!
The Championship made waves
We’re six games into the Women’s Championship but this weekend delivered something special.
The Sunderland v Newcastle fixture, which took place at the Stadium of Light yesterday afternoon, attracted a record-breaking crowd of 15,387.
Newcastle picked up the points (2-1) much to the disappointment of home fans, but both sides provided a feisty battle.
The attendance figure smashed the previous 11,137 Women’s Championship record created in November 2022, during the Sheffield vs London City Lionesses fixture.
It’s Ramirez’s world. We’re just living in it.
Mayra Ramirez set the Emirates alight this weekend with a strong contender for Goal of the Month.
In front of 45,860 fans, the Colombia international pulled off a beautiful bicycle kick in the 4th minute to set the Blues fans alight.
Feel free to watch that again… To celebrate, Ramirez pulled off one of the coldest celebration so far this season.
Needless to say, Ramirez picked up Chelsea’s Star of the Match.
Bunny bags a brace
Manchester City’s Bunny Shaw dominated headlines yesterday, bagging two goals against Liverpool to secure a vital three points for her side.
After going 1-0 down before half-time due to a beautiful strike from Olivia Smith, Shaw went two better in the second-half, scoring in the 58th and 90+2 minutes.
Bunny picked up the Barclay’s Player of the Match award and ensured she maintained joint top spot in the WSL top goalscorer list with three goals and one assist in four games – on par with Brighton’s Kiko Seike and Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly.