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      Man Utd women’s star shuts down IShowSpeed with classy three-word response as fans call her the ‘GOAT’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED Women’s star Hannah Blundell offered up a brilliant response after a video with her EA Sports FC card went viral.Blundell, 29, is a left-back for the Red Devils Women team.
      Hannah Blundell offered up a brilliant response to IShowSpeedCredit: Getty
      Speed was shocked to pull Blundell from his EA Sports FC pack openingCredit: Twitter @HanBlundell
      EA Sports announced the next edition of their game, which changed it’s name from FIFA to EA Sports FC, would have both men and women players in their Ultimate Team game mode.
      Streamers of the game participating in “pack openings” are often seen reacting wildly when they pull a high-rated player.
      American streamer IShowSpeed, who was involved in the 2023 Sidemen Charity Match which sold out the London Stadium and raised £2.4million for charity, was seen reacting in this manner.
      The excitable viral star was streaming the new game when he pulled out an 83-rated English left-back card from Man Utd.
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      In past editions of the game, this would have pulled out Luke Shaw.
      But this year Shaw shares an almost identical card with Blundell, with Speed reacting surprised when the card was revealed as the former Chelsea star.
      While commentating over the clip, Speed said: “England. Left back. Oh my god, Man Utd,” as he became excited before the card was revealed as Blundell instead.
      Speed voiced his shock, yelling: “What the f***. Is that a girl?”
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      Blundell saw the funny side of the clip, replying: “Hahahaha made it ☝🏼🤣🤣.”
      Fans online loved her reaction, with one typing: “HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH MY GOAT.”
      A second wrote: “Put some respect on my girl Hannah.”
      “And this is why I shall forever be pledged to cheer on the queen that is Hannah Blundell,” declared a third.
      A fourth said: “Love this Hannah.”
      While a fifth added: “😂 This is brilliant!”
      Blundell played in 22 Women’s Super League matches last season, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
      She joined Man Utd from Chelsea in 2021.
      Fans had been left fuming after the Man Utd men’s team had their ratings revealed.
      Luke Shaw shares an almost identical Ultimate Team card to BlundellCredit: Getty More

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      Megabucks life of ‘world’s sexiest footballer’ Alisha Lehmann as she builds fortune with Prime deal & sizzling calendar

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      SHE’S the Swiss sports star who has been branded the “world’s sexiest footballer”.And it’s not just on the pitch where Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann is achieving her goals – thanks to a whopping 15.2million Instagram followers that have made her one of the most valuable stars in the women’s game.
      Alisha Lehmann has been branded the ‘world’s sexiest footballer’Credit: alisha-lehamann.com
      She reportedly earns £160,000 playing for Aston Villa but makes way more on the sideCredit: PA
      The 24-year-old is bagging extremely lucrative deals away from her sporting career, including partnerships with Boohoo, EA Sports and Adidas.
      Recently, Alisha was unveiled as the first female ambassador for sports drink Prime in a deal that PR expert Carla Speight could be worth up to £1million.
      And now she has just unveiled a sizzling 2024 calendar – selling signed limited-edition copies for £149.99 and normal ones for nearly £50.
      Carla tells us: “Alisha is the David Beckham of the women’s football world. She’s snapping up sponsorships with the likes of drinks, fashion and sportswear. 
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      “Like David Beckham, Alisha has realised football won’t last forever and she has to develop a lucrative career outside of it to secure her future.”
      Alisha’s latest deal is one of many money-spinning ventures that’s helping her to transcend football and live a lavish lifestyle – all while earning a tidy sum in the process.
      On her Instagram, there are scores of photos of the star soaking up the sun in exotic locations – on one occasion seemingly travelling by quadbike.
      Alisha regularly shares bikini snaps from her holidays abroadCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      The footballer is often pictured in fancy hotels and barsCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      Last year, she shared snaps from a break in Miami, Florida, where she swamp with dolphins.  
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      Alisha also took a trip to Brazil in 2022, where she visited animal sanctuaries, and high-end nightclubs, went fishing and played golf. 
      During these trips, she has been seen sporting branded merchandise from hotel chains including Waldorf Hilton London and Melia Hotel Resorts.
      Additionally, she regularly gives shout-outs to car rental companies while posing alongside flashy Lamborghinis. 
      Sizzling side hustles
      It’s reported that Alisha earns £160,000 a year playing for Aston Villa but it seems the star could be topping up her earnings with her side hustles. 
      PR expert Carla points out that if just one per cent of her 15.2million Instagram followers buy her cheapest calendar, it could earn her nearly £7.6million. 
      The footballer also shares photos and talks to followers on the subscription site FanTime, where she charges £67 ($84) for a year’s membership and just over £8 ($10) per month. 
      Carla adds: “If only one per cent of her followers subscribe at the lowest rate, she will be bringing in £1.2 million per month.
      Alisha has launched a 2024 calendar and is charged nearly £150 for limited edition copiesCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      She also has a Fantime account where she shares photos and talks to her fanbaseCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Given that we know her engagement rate is around seven per cent, she could bring in even more than that amount in calendars, subscriptions – and she can do that for brands too.”
      Alisha was audaciously approached to produce saucier content last year, when she was offered an £83,000 ($100k) signing-on fee from the adult site My.Club.
      Mike Ford, the company’s vice president, told SportBible that she could earn a fortune posting “training photos, thirst traps and personally field questions from fans”. Sadly for the executive, she did not take up the offer.
      According to sources, it was Alisha’s decision to showcase her “sexy side” that contributed to her break-up with Aston Villa men’s team star Douglas Luiz.
      Last year, we were told: “When asked to do a calendar, she jumped at the chance to show off her sexy side but he was not happy.
      “He didn’t think it was something she should be doing. They rowed a lot and in the end, Alisha simply had enough.”
      Alisha also has a range of products, including hot pink cushions for £29.99, journals for £20, water bottles for £30 and even mousemats for £10.99.
      Before her deal with Prime, Alisha collaborated with a number of companies including Adidas, Bootbag and EA Sports, who create the video game Fifa.
      She has appeared in multiple videos for the football game including one alongside the musician Big Zuu and another unveiling her own “Be Brave” kit.
      PR expert Jack Cooper, from Ed Hopkins PR, told us: “Collaborations with brands like Adidas, EA Sports, and Bootbag further highlight her appeal to diverse industries, from sportswear to gaming. 
      Alisha has worked with a variety of companies ranging from Coca-Cola to EA SportsCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Her diverse content – from football training videos to lifestyle and fashion showcases – means she can attract a broader range of brand partnerships.”
      Alisha has also worked with other companies including CocaCola Switzerland, Bootbag and Gisada.
      Carla says: “For longer-term deals, such as sportswear, lingerie, fashion and even fragrances, she could command six figures and receive commissions too.” 
      ‘Breaking the mould’
      Alisha is women’s football’s most followed star on Instagram and her fanbase is increasing regularly thanks to her daily posts.
      From July to September alone, she gained nearly two million followers and regularly gets more than one million likes on her posts.
      PR expert Jack says: “Alisha is breaking the mould, proving that today’s athletes are more than just players.
      Alisha has recently bagged a deal with Prime, which our expert claims could be worth £1mCredit: Instagram
      “With a robust following on Instagram, she’s more than just a footballer; she’s a digital influencer and brand in her own right.
      “Her collaboration with Prime, one of the largest streaming platforms globally, is indicative of the powerful confluence of sports, entertainment, and influencer marketing.”
      Pundit potential
      While Alisha has cultivated an engaged following on social media, she insists her focus is on football.
      Earlier this year, she told Sky Sports: “Obviously I have a lot of followers, but I never dreamed to have it. I just played and shared my life. It just became like this.
      “I don’t see myself as someone with loads of followers on social media, obviously I’m proud of it – alongside my football – but it doesn’t change anything.”
      Our experts predict she’s likely to capitalise on her knowledge of the game by providing match analysis, which could also earn her huge sums. 
      Carla says: “Alisha also has a fun and bubbly personality, which means she has the potential to take up a career in sports presenting. 
      “Sports programmes would snap up the chance to hire her as she has the potential to bring her 15.2 million followers and convert them into viewers for each programme she’s on. 
      “That’s a huge number for any show to get, so I expect she will be paid very well.”
      Alisha was part of Switzerland’s 2023 World Cup squadCredit: Getty
      Humble beginnings
      While Alisha lives a life many could only dream of today, her upbringing in Tägertschi, Switzerland, was very different.
      There she used to play “street football” daily from the age of five alongside her brother and cousins and credits them as “the main reason I play today”.
      Alisha started her career at Swiss club BSC YB Frauen, where she scored 25 goals in 52 appearances. 
      In 2018, she moved to the Women’s Super League after being signed by West Ham United and helped the squad reach the FA Cup final a year later.
      Alisha went to Everton on loan in 2021 before being signed by Aston Villa, where she has scored seven goals.
      She has also scored a combined total of 22 goals from 82 appearances for Switzerland’s youth and adult national teams.
      It’s clear there are big things in the 24-year-old’s future both on and off the pitch – but her main focus is staying humble and focused on her footballing career.
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      Last year, she told Sky Sports: “I don’t think that I’m better than anyone else, I come from humble beginnings with how I grew up with my family in Switzerland.
      “The people who know me always see the footballer. Every time I’m with my friends and family, I just speak about football.” More

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      Football bosses talk of aim to turn the WSL into a £1billion league in the next ten years

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      WOMEN’S football chiefs hope to turn WSL into the first £1billion domestic division in the women’s game within the next decade.And the tender for a new TV deal will start by the end of the year with the WSL’s current £8m-a-year agreement with the BBC and Sky Sports expiring next summer. 
      FA women’s football director Baroness Sue Campbell wants to see the WSL become a more “investable proposition”Credit: PA
      Football bosses hope to help the league become a division that is worth £1billion in the futureCredit: Reuters
      FA women’s football director Baroness Sue Campbell and WSL chair Dawn Airey were speaking ahead of the October 1 start of the new Women’s Super League term.
      Their on the future of the division comes three months after a finance firm Deloitte revealed a 60 per cent rise in revenue for top tier teams in the 2021-22 season.
      The combined revenue for WSL clubs had risen to £32m by the end of that season.
      Airey said: “One of the stated goals we have is to make this league the first billion pound women’s league in the world, that is league revenue, and club revenue. 
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      “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t do it.
      “Somebody quoted me an amazing statistic which is that the whole of women’s sport globally gets a billion dollars in revenues, from sponsorship and gate, a billion dollars in revenue globally. 
      “Men’s sport gets half a trillion, half a trillion, that’s an enormous difference. 
      “And it shows the enormous potential for women’s sport and women’s football in particular.”
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      This term will see the WSL enter the final season of its current domestic TV rights deal with the BBC and Sky Sports. 
      Following the boost in viewing figures of televised WSL games, the FA are eager to seal a more lucrative agreement. 
      This follows a summer that saw the Women’s World Cup final clash between England and Spain become the second-most watched event of the year in August.
      Airey added: “This (current broadcast) rights deal finishes at the end of the season.
      “We will be going to market (for a new deal) I would like to think before the end of the year.
      “The Premier League will be going to go to market (for their new deal) in the middle of October
      “It would be daft to put our rights into the market when they’re in because that’s going to get the primary attention.
      “We will go in after (then). It’ll be the end of this year. 
      “In terms of who’s interested – everybody is, as they should be.
      “It’s just a question of assessing the tenders.”
      From the start of the 2024-25 league season a company called NewCo will take over the running of the WSL and the Women’s Championship
      Bridging the gap and making competition fairer between WSL’s top sides, richest clubs and those lower down the league and in the second tier will be among the priorities for the firm. 
      And Baroness Campbell believes cost controls could be the answer. 
      She said: “There certainly needs to be a fair play approach to it, no question.
      “But what we’ve been talking to this group of (WSL and championship) CEOs about is how do you make this game a more investable proposition? 
      “So when you look down that league, and you talk to the chief executives at some of the WSL clubs to lower down, they’re nervous about investing any more, because they can’t see when it stops. So, cost control becomes really important.”
      With online abuse of female athletes becoming more prevalent NewCo will be working with players to help tackle trolling of WSL aces.  
      A BBC Sport study found that 30 per cent of sportswomen across 39 different sports including football had been trolled online. 
      The sports chiefs says the new company set to run the WSL will establish a players’ forum to feed policies on issues affecting women footballers.
      Baroness Campbell says cost control may be needed to help keep competition fairer between rich and top sides and those lower down the WSL and in the ChampionshipCredit: Reuters
      This includes measures for tackling social media abuse of WSL aces.
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      Baroness Campbell added: “You’ve got to keep listening to the players.
      “One of the things NewCo will do is set up a player group that will feed into policy and help keep us on our toes in terms of those issues that are worrying and troubling them.” More

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      Manchester United to battle Paris Saint-Germain in their first Women’s Champions League outing

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will face a potentially tricky test against Paris Saint-Germain in their first foray in the Women’s Champions League. The Red Devils and their French opponents are competing in round two of the qualifying stage of the contest.
      Manchester United will face Paris Saint-Germain next month in a round two duel to qualify for the Champions League group stageCredit: Getty
      PSG reached last year’s Women’s Champions League quarter-finals where they were knocked out by WolfsburgCredit: Getty
      Melvine Malard has joined the Red Devils on loan from PSG’s rivals Lyon until the end of the 2023-24 seasonCredit: Reuters
      This phase decides which 12 teams will go on to join the group stage alongside teams who have already qualified for this part. 
      These competitors include WSL champs Chelsea, last term’s contest winners Barcelona and French and German title-holders Lyon and Bayern Munich.
      United’s tie will see Marc Skinners’ aces go up against last year’s quarter-finalists at home on the 10th or 11th of October. 
      Their away leg against PSG, who have reached the Champions League final on two occasions, will be played on October 18 or 19. 
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      And the clash could see the club go up against ex-Red Devil Jackie Groenen in Europe for the first time since the midfielder’s move to PSG last September. 
      United’s draw against Paris Saint-Germain comes on a day which saw the club unveil Melvine Malard as their last signing in this summer’s transfer window which closed at 11pm on Thursday. 
      The France forward, 23, has joined Skinner’s side on loan from Lyon until the end of the 2023/24 season. 
      Her arrival completes a busy transfer window for United as they aim to compete across all fronts after a second place finish in last term’s title race.
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      This summer saw Alessia Russo, Vilde Boe Risa, Ona Batlle, Ivana Fuso and Martha Thomas among the players to leave the club. 
      Their new arrivals included Wales international Gemma Evans, Brazil forward Geyse from Barcelona and Japan ace Hinata Miyazawa who won the Golden Boot at this year’s World Cup. 
      Japan forward Hinata Miyazawa is among the international aces who have joined Man United this summerCredit: Getty
      Other players who sealed United moves ahead of deadline day include former OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and ex-Everton defender Gabby George. 
      And the club retained the services of England number one keeper Mary Earps despite a record bid from WSL rivals Arsenal. 
      The Women’s World Cup Golden Glove winner, who has been nominated for a Fifa best goalkeeper award, has one year left on her current contract. More

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      Sarina Wiegman concerned by ‘short turnaround’ for Lionesses between Women’s Nations League and World Cup

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      SARINA WIEGMAN admits to being concerned by the “tight turnaround” for her players between the World Cup and the Women’s Nations League. The Lionesses boss was speaking on Wednesday after announcing her squad for clashes with Scotland and the Netherlands this month.
      Sarina Wiegman wants to see more talks between coaches and Fifa and Uefa regarding match scheduling for international playersCredit: PA
      Keira Walsh has been left out of England’s squad due to a calf injury sustained ahead of their first two Women’s Nations League gamesCredit: Getty
      Bethany England is also unavailable for Lionesses duty with the striker recovering from a hip operationCredit: Reuters
      Keira Walsh and Bethany England, who featured for the team during the World Cup, will both be absent due to calf and hip injuries.  
      And Wiegman mentioned some players having just six days off in between the end of the tournament and the start of England’s training camp for the Women’s Nations League. 
      They include Arsenal stars Alessia Russio and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
      While Wubben-Moy did not play in the World Cup, Russo appeared in seven games for England at the tournament including their 1-0 loss to Spain in the final on August 20.

      Both are included in Wiegman’s 24-strong Women’s Nations League squad
      The team will play Pedro Losa’s Scotland side on September 22 at the Stadium of Light and the Netherlands in Utrecht on the 26th.
      Of her concerns about the short break for players between the contests, Wiegman said: “I was worried before the World Cup and we knew it was a short turnaround. 
      “We really have to get connected with Fifa and Uefa to make that better. 
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      “Next week they come in and some players have only had six days off which after such a high-pressure competition is not good for them.
      “We have major tournaments in the summer all the time (at the moment).
      “The urgency to solve it and make it better is really high. 
      “We all know the challenges have been addressed for a while now but we also know changes cannot be made overnight. 
      “But the conversations are going on and we just need to keep doing that and hopefully find a better solution to what we have.”
      Midfield ace Walsh will miss the team’s battle with Scotland in their first ever Women’s Nations League game on September 22 due to a “small calf injury”. 
      It follows the Barcelona and Lionesses star sustaining and recovering from a knee injury in July during the World Cup. 
      And Tottenham striker England is currently recuperating after undergoing surgery on September 4 to treat her hip problem.
      Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier has been included in England’s squad for their games against Scotland and the NetherlandsCredit: Getty
      Lucy Staniforth, Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park have all been named in the squad after being included on Wiegman’s World Cup standby list before the contest in Australia and New Zealand. 
      But Beth Mead and Fran Kirby have been left out with the duo needing more game time after returning to club action for Arsenal and Chelsea. 
      Wiegman added: “Beth (Mead) needs to take the next step to get games and get consistency.
      “Fran (Kirby) is really close. She played some friendlies already and did well.
      “Again it is a little too early. I am very looking forward to seeing them play.”
      England’s squad update comes 13 days after Wiegman dedicated her Uefa Women’s Coach of the Year award to World Cup winners Spain.
      The team saw their triumph overshadowed by former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales being slammed for planting an unwanted kiss on the lips of forward Jenni Hermoso. 
      This month during an interview with Piers Morgan he announced he had quit his role following the row.
      The ex-Spain football federation chief, who has been provisionally suspended by Fifa, will appear in a Madrid court on Friday.
      This follows Hermoso, who is her national side’s record goalscorer, filing a legal complaint against him. 
      And Wiegman hopes more attention will be paid to Spain’s World Cup triumph rather than the controversy surrounding Rubiales.
      Wiegman wants more attention paid to Spain’s triumph at the World Cup rather than the row concerning Luis RubialesCredit: Getty
      She added: “We would like to leave that now and celebrate those players.
      “Players need to be listened to and we need to move on. 
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      “The women’s game has improved so much but there’s still a long way to go, not only in Spain but everywhere.
      “We need to try and make the world better for those players.” More

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      Laura Woods opens up on her career highlight, her ‘power woman’ and ‘excruciatingly embarrassing’ live TV moment

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      LAURA WOODS has lifted the lid on the origins of her career in sport and revealed her ‘power woman’.The sports presenter, who recently joined TNT Sports, opened up on her inspirations and gave her take on the current landscape of women’s football in an interview with Karen Millen.

      Laura Woods has enjoyed a glittering broadcasting career so farCredit: Instagram
      Woods lifted the lid on her career inspirationCredit: Getty
      Woods, 36, was first asked where her passion for sports came from.
      In reply, she revealed: “Passion for sport for me started when I was very young.
      “I think it’s just something that my mum threw me and my brothers into all the time to get us to get out of the house.
      “We had so much energy. She [mum] was so busy and she needed to get us to make loads of friends, stay out the house, keep busy and it was just our happy place when we were younger.”

      Woods started off her career in the industry as a runner on Soccer AM.
      And while Woods also did work experience with the Croydon Advertiser, she admitted she fell in love with a “magical thing” with telly when she walked into the Soccer AM studio.
      She has enjoyed a stunning career so far, picking up a number of awards along the way.
      However, Woods admitted the last six to eight months, covering both the men’s and Women’s World Cup have been special for her.
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      Woods holds a particular affinity for the Qatar World Cup final between Argentina and France, a match she describes as the “best game of football I’ve ever seen”.
      She added: “You had Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and I don’t think you could have scripted a better final.
      “So to be there in person and watch it and work on it was just like at the time that was the pinnacle.”
      That’s not to say the Women’s World Cup was any less significant, with Woods insisting despite England’s heartbreak in the final, the rapid growth of the game over the last two years was great to see.
      But Woods also acknowledges the monumental challenges women’s football still has to overcome, as well as women wanting to work in the sports industry.
      Asked what advice she would give to women or girls looking to forge a career in sport, she said: “I always remember one of the first pieces of ‘advice’ I was ever told was from a producer.
      “He had heard I wanted to be a presenter, and back then there was a real ‘Oh you want to be a presenter’ and I was like ‘Yeah, I do’.
      “And he said: ‘One piece of advice for women is you have a much higher height to fall from, so you have to be better’.
      “And It stuck in my head at the time because I was like ‘Why? That’s really unfair’. But it is unfair, it’s not a level playing field yet.
      “The thing I took from that is, okay I will be better, I’ll work harder and do my research. What it actually did for me was it just made me a very good professional.”
      ‘DO YOUR HOMEWORK’
      She continued: “So I would say to anyone, it’s going to be very difficult because it’s very competitive but you have to back that you’re going to do all your homework and have your own ways of doing things and not try to replicate what someone else is doing because it doesn’t work.
      “And also don’t be disheartened if you’re really bad at it to begin with, because everybody is with presenting. It’s so unnatural and your job is to make the unnatural look natural. And that’s hard.
      “It just takes practice and you will fail and it will be excruciatingly embarrassing especially if it’s on camera. But guess what? You’re never going to do that again.”
      Woods has described the gender disparity in football as “exhausting”, referencing comments made by Fifa president Gianni Infantino saying women “have to pick the right battles” to “convince us, men, what we have to do” in the fight for equality.
      She believes there is more to be done to level the playing field due to rising interest being countered by what Woods’ describes as an “unbelievably narrow-minded attitude” at the top of football.
      Funding is one such example, with the Jamaica national team having to crowd-fund their path into the tournament due to a lack of funding from the Jamaican FA.
      INSPIRING GABBY
      That being said, former talkSPORT presenter Woods has drawn inspiration from BBC Sport host Gabby Logan.
      Woods labelled Logan her “power woman” as both a child and an adult.
      On Logan, she said: “I just watch everything she does and I just think she does it with such class and ease.
      “There is something about Gabby that is very rare I think in lots of presenters In that she has this authority.
      “You wouldn’t mess with her, but you also would go down the pub and have a pint with her and feel really comfortable in her presence.”
      The growth of the women’s game has been immense for all to see, with the World Cup semi-final between England and Australia the biggest-ever TV event for the Aussies.
      Woods believes the level of interest being shown means women’s football is going to explode even more over the next ten years.
      She explained: “I started working on Lionesses games with ITV two years ago, and we did a game at St Mary’s and the gate was 8000.
      “We actually had to close off some of the stands and make sure our camera didn’t face those stands as much as possible.
      “Two years later the Lionesses sold out Wembley and it was for the Finalissima. They played and beat Brazil.
      “It was honestly the most wonderful experience and just comparing the two different events, that’s how you can really gauge growth.
      “Watching them at the World Cup and seeing the level of interest and the fact boys and girls are looking at these sportswomen as superstars and they don’t really care what the gender is.
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      “Leah Williamson said something about that. She said: ‘If you don’t want to get behind it fine, but this is going to explode.’
      “Women’s football in a few years time is going to be everywhere and I’m all for it.”
      Woods slammed the ‘narrow-minded attitude’ at the top of footballCredit: Getty
      Woods said Gabby Logan was an inspiration growing up and nowCredit: Getty More

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      When does the Women’s Super League return and how can I watch it?

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      FOLLOWING England’s performance at the Women’s World Cup the nation officially has football fever.The Lionesses may not have won the FIFA tournament but they have sparked a huge interest in women’s football, leading many fans to question when the Women’s Super League will be back.
      Manager Emma Hayes of Chelsea won the FA Women’s Super League in May 2023 with players Magdalena Eriksson and Millie BrightCredit: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
      When does the Women’s Super League return?
      The Women’s Super League (WSL), also known as the Barclays Women’s Super League, was established in 2010.
      It is the highest league of women’s football in England.
      The FA has confirmed that the first games of the WSL 2023/24 season will take place on Sunday, October 1.
      The upcoming season is staring later than last year’s due to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which ended on August 20.
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      England made it to the final of the competition but lost to Spain 1-0.
      The matches taking place on October 1 are:

      Arsenal v Liverpool
      Aston Villa v Manchester United
      Bristol City v Leicester City
      Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur 
      Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion
      West Ham United v Manchester City

      The full set of fixtures for the 2023/24 season can be found on The FA Women’s League website.
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      The WSL will pause around a week before Christmas, after the weekend of December 16 and 17.
      Games will then resume in January 2024, with the first matches of the year scheduled for January 21.
      The season will then come to an end on the weekend of May 18 and 19.
      At the end of the 2022/23 season, Chelsea successfully retained their title by defeating Reading.
      The win marked Chelsea’s fourth consecutive – and sixth overall – WSL title.
      Which England Lionesses play in the Women’s Super League?
      A number of players who travelled to Australia and New Zealand as part of Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup squad play for clubs in the WSL.
      Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, Nikita Parris, and Lotte Wubben-Moy play for Arsenal while Hannah Hampton plays for Aston Villa.
      Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Frank Kirby and Bethany England, meanwhile, play for Chelsea.
      Manchester City boasts five Lionesses on its line-up, with Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, Demi Stokes, Chloe Kelly and Ellie Roebuck all on the squad.
      Rivals Manchester United have Mary Earps, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo on their team.
      How to watch the WSL
      Like last season, WSL matches will be available to watch on the BBC, Sky Sports or the Football Association website.
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      Sky Sports will show two games a week, while the BBC will broadcast one match live each week
      Any games not broadcast on TV will be available to watch on the FA Player for free. More

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      in Soccer

      I endured the worst sexism when I started out in football, I’m so proud of our Lionesses and how far we’ve come

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      WIN or lose in today’s World Cup final, we should all  say thank you to our heroic Lionesses for giving us reason to be so hopeful, happy and proud this summer.What a massive achievement to go all the way and put England’s women’s football on the global map in the process.
      Whatever happens in the World Cup final, Sarina Wiegman and the England Lionesses are heroesCredit: Getty
      A peak audience of 7.3million tuned in to see England beat Australia on Wednesday, the BBC revealed, even though the time difference meant an 11am kick-off.
      And their thrilling performance was worth the watch.
      The Lionesses are an exceptionally talented bunch and they play brilliantly to each other’s strengths.
      But it’s not just about skills and teamwork. Female footballers who have come as far as these girls must be particularly determined and tenacious.
      READ MORE KARREN BRADY
      And in the excellent Sarina Wiegman they have a coach worthy of their talents.
      Despite playing for the Dutch national champions and representing her country, for most of her own football career she had to work as a PE teacher to supplement her income.
      No seamless lucrative hop from multimillion-pound player’s contract to multimillion- pound manager’s deal for Sarina.
      She had to graft to make her way as a manager. But along the way, she became a gifted and in- spirational leader.
      Most read in Football
      Within three years of gaining her full coaching licence, she led the Dutch women’s team to victory at the 2017 Euros and the final of the 2019 World Cup. Sound familiar?
      Last year, she took the Lionesses to victory at the European Women’s Championship and now our women’s team is in its first World Cup final.
      No wonder the FA are considering her as a potential successor to Gareth Southgate for the men’s national team.But for all her success, she is in a minority.
      Spain, who England will play today, have a male manager, as do many other women’s teams.
      Just 12 out of the 32 squads in this year’s World Cup are headed by female coaches, despite clear evidence that women leading women in sport adds up to success.
      And you have to ask — why are there so many blokes in charge, given that no women manage men’s teams?
      I was the first woman to hold a top-flight role in English football at Birmingham City, after joining the club as managing director aged 23.
      When I started out, I was subjected to the most overt sexist chauvinism.
      A chairman of a fellow football club claimed that I would do a “Sharon Stone” in a football tribunal to get out of a Football Association fine.
      I was banned from boardrooms — which had a “no women allowed” policy — and was once chanted at by 30,000 football fans with words too rude to print in a family newspaper.
      It was a slog and, at times, depressing. I always say that the boardroom door was the first door I kicked down, and I have held that door open as long and as wide as possible to get as many other women as possible through it over the past 30 years.
      So, whatever happens today, I’m proud of how far we have come.
      Women’s football in England has come a long way and a World Cup win would take it to the next levelCredit: PA
      A nation is gripped. And proud. And excited. We are in the finals and bossing it!
      As a result, people are taking women’s football more seriously than they ever have. For which I give a giant hurrah.
      These women deserve to be celebrated, and I back The Sun on Sunday’s calls to give out gongs to the Lionesses.
      But there is still some major catching up to do when it comes to parity with men’s football.
      First, there’s the economics of it. Forget making a profit, or even breaking even.
      Every Women’s Super League club loses money.
      The interest in the game is there on a national level, which is obviously wonderful.
      FIERCE AND FABULOUS
      But it does not yet filter down to domestic leagues.
      So, the truth is that the men’s teams are funding the women’s game.
      Domestic leagues can’t even think about equal pay at this stage as the broadcast, sponsorship and gate revenue of the WSL doesn’t add up to a hill of beans. But this is expected to change.
      The latest figures from 2022 show that the 12 WSL clubs boosted their revenue by 60 per cent in one year — and that’s before the inevitable World Cup effect.
      Nike have not made Mary Earps’ England goalkeeper replica jersey available to fansCredit: AP
      So it’s a shame that sponsors Nike have yet to notice this team is breaking the mould, and they need to address that.
      How ridiculous that fans can’t buy a replica of Mary Earps’ goalkeeper’s shirt because the sportswear giant doesn’t think it’s worth manufacturing one.
      Then there’s the massive disparity in prize money.
      This summer is the ninth Women’s World Cup and each member of the winning team will get £213,000 from a total tournament purse of £88.5million.
      Meanwhile, the men’s purse has grown to £345million.
      In my view, it’s time for FIFA to take the lead. The women’s World Cup earns almost £1billion.
      They rake in SO much money from all these ever-expanding tournaments and yet, from their accounts, which I have studied, it’s hard to work out what they do with it all.
      It would be great if they made it their business to redress the balance by paying female footballers more money from their gate and broadcasting revenue.
      This is something domestic leagues can’t do because their revenue just can’t support it.
      After all, if FIFA can afford to pay their President Gianni Infantino more than £3million a year, surely they can afford to equal the women and men’s prize money?
      Unfortunately, as fierce and fabulous as the Lionesses are, when it comes to women’s football there is still too much uncomfortable mirroring with the world of regular work, where men run the show, get paid more and are taken more seriously than women.
      But the success of Sarina and her team is a great reminder that if you want something done right, get a woman to do it.
      After all, football could be coming home today.
      Read More on The Sun
      If it does, it’s the women’s team who will be carrying it.
      Come on England!
      Attitudes towards women in football used to be archaic, says KarrenCredit: Caters News Agency More