DAZN drops women’s football pay wall calling for stakeholders to unite around a ‘new deal’
January 18 – Streaming platform DAZN has dropped its pay wall for all women’s live football broadcasts for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Women
Hermoso gives testimony in Spain as judge decide whether to take Rubiales case to trial
January 3 – Spanish World Cup-winning star Jenni Hermoso told a judge on Tuesday that the kiss forced on her by disgraced former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales was “at no point consensual” and that she had come under pressure to defend his actions.
Earps gets her hands on UK’s Sports Personality of the Year Award
December 20 – The growing popularity of women’s football in England was underlined Tuesday when national team goalkeeper Mary Earps was voted as the BBC’s sports personality of the year for 2023.
Atlanta to host 2024 SheBelieves Cup, opening at 89,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium
December 19 – Atlanta, the future home of the US national team training centre, will be the host city for the ninth SheBelieves Cup.
Azadi stadium opened to Iranian women for Persepolis-Esteghlal
December 15 – Female fans in Iran have claimed a moral victory after being allowed to venture inside the Azadi Stadium in Tehran to attend Thursday’s eagerly anticipated clash between Persepolis FC and Esteghlal FC.
Arsenal set new WSL attendance record of 59,000 for win over Chelsea
December 12 – Arsenal set a new Women’s Super League attendance record of 59,042 for their top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
English FA and government combine for £30m grassroots facilities fund for women’s teams
November 30 – A day after the English FA formally announced the breakaway of the top tier Women’s Super League, the governing body has announced a £30 million fund for grassroots women’s football in England.
Fifpro survey finds WWC 2023 players want more rest and mental health support
November 29 – Players at the recent Women’s World Cup felt that they did not have sufficient rest before and after the tournament and lacked mental health support, according to a survey by World Players’ union Fifpro.
Women’s Super League agrees breakaway from the FA
November 29 – Hailed as the start of a new era, the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship – the top two tiers of the game in the UK – have agreed to take over the running of the professional football in England from the 2024-25 season.
Earps gets hands on BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award
November 28 – Mary Earps has become the first goalkeeper to win the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award. Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí and Australia’s Sam Kerr finished second and third.
WSL’s planned divorce from the FA looks to be back in negotiation
November 27 – The on-off agreement by clubs in the top two professional tiers of English women’s club football to pool league commercial rights into a new company, which would see them away from the apron strings of the English FA, now appears to be back on track.
Ellis describes Hayes as a ‘phenomenal hire’ as US women’s game grows to new levels
November 16 – Jill Ellis, who coached the US Women’s team to two World Cup wins but swapped pitchside for back office to head the San Diego Wave in the NWSL, described the hiring of Chelsea’s Emma Hayes as a “phenomenal hire”.
Upbeat Rapinoe exits with an injury as Krieger’s Gotham lift NWSL Championship
November 12 – US superstar Megan Rapinoe had an early exit on six minutes from the NWSL Championship game at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego that signified the end of the global football icon’s playing career.
Spanish women want to return focus to football
October 25 – Spain’s women players want to start concentrating on matters on the field rather than the kissgate scandal that marred their World Cup-winning celebrations.
Saudi head of women’s game, Monica Staab, suggests hosting bid for WWC 2035
October 20 – Having already all but been assured of the 2034 men’s World Cup, Saudi Arabia has now expressed an interest in staging the women’s version a year later.