12th April 2024: This Week in Women’s Football.
Seven top stories from the last seven days across your favourite sport.
Well, it’s certainly been a busy one.
Despite the international break which saw a pause in club action, news across the sport has continued to move apace. From transfers, to behind-the-scenes deals, to retirements, we truly have had it all!
Here are the stories you may have missed from this week.
1. TV Rights
Joey Barton is going to be fuming.
Much to his chagrin, eyes on women’s football are growing. Attendance at WSL matches is up 43% this season. 46.7 million people watched women’s sport on TV in 2023, with 74% of viewing time attributed to football, and audiences are booming on platforms like TikTok, who saw a whopping 268% increase in their WSL viewing figures over a year. Women’s football is also drawing more female viewers to the game, who traditionally may have felt more alienated from sport.
Women’s football is here, and here to stay.
So it’s little wonder that big-money broadcasting platforms like Sky Sports want to be involved. Having signed a 3-year deal with the BBC in 2021, Sky Sports have announced this week that they have extended this deal, giving them a license to show up to 44 games in the 2024–25 season. The BBC will remain contracted for up to 22 free-to-air games, with at least 18 of these aired on BBC1 or BBC2.
Fans will be hoping that, with a possible broadcast offer of 66 matches across both platforms, a broad range of fixtures will be available. This year has seen criticism surrounding frequent coverage for some teams, while others fail to get the media attention that might see their following grow.
One would hope that moving forward, media coverage was spread more evenly across the WSL. If the goal is to grow the game as a whole, all teams deserve a slice of the pie. The same applies for teams competing in the Women’s Championship, where the promotion battle this year has been deliciously competitive, but television coverage has been limited. Now that an audience for top-tier women’s football has been established, broadcast platforms arguably have a responsibility to increase exposure for teams further down the pyramid.
Some fans have maligned the barriers to access that coverage on Sky Sports presents. A paid platform requiring viewers to pay a monthly premium to access coverage, there are concerns that many may struggle to afford the subscription cost, particularly amidst a cost of living crisis. If women’s football wants to continue to grow its viewership, particularly among young people, this paywall poses a problem.
Coverage on Sky Sports certainly should boost the quality of coverage audiences can expect compared to online streaming services such as the FA Player. However, fans may not appreciate the hefty price tag attached.
2. Transfer Teasers
Goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has yet to feature for Manchester City this season.
Her absence from team sheets — where she often wasn’t named even as a substitute — has been a talking point throughout City’s campaign. Then recently, finally, some answers.
An occiptal infarct. A form of stroke, near the eye, and at just 24 years old. Luckily, for Ellie, no damage to her vision or brain function, and a road to recovery back between the sticks.
A medical issue, then. Not, as had been rumoured, a fall-out with coaches, a loss of form, or a desire for a transfer elsewhere.
And yet a move to Barcelona, home of Lioness teammates Lucy Bronze and Kiera Walsh, is still being speculated. First suggested in January, when questions about Roebuck abounded with no real answers, the recent news of Roebuck’s health problems seemed to put that idea to bed.
Until now. Sources in Spain suggest that “nothing has changed” in Barcelona’s plans to sign Roebuck; that they’ve been involved throughout her recovery, and that a deal is close to completion.
19-year-old Khiara Keating, who stepped up for City in Roebuck’s absence, has achieved the highest save percentage in the WSL this season, beating even England’s Number 1 Mary Earps. Also leading on number of clean sheets, it’s hard to imagine Keating losing her place to a recovered Roebuck, having proved her worth so convincingly.
It makes sense, then, that Roebuck would seek a new club in the summer transfer window, where she might be afforded more game time as she continues to recover and gain fitness. At Barcelona, she would be surrounded by the best in the game — an environment that would challenge her, even if she were to arrive as second choice to Cata Coll, who is established at the club.
Wherever she decides to play her football next season, news of Roebuck’s recovery and return to the sport is a relief to all.
3. Managers Incoming
With only weeks left of the domestic season, Emma Hayes’ departure from Chelsea looms large.
Reports this week indicate that Lyon’s Sonia Bompastor — arguably one of the most prolific head coaches in the women’s game — is close to agreeing terms with Chelsea to move to the WSL next season.
Bompastor’s glittering CV, including Champions League success and extensive experience working at academy level to mould young talent, means she is an exciting prospect for the Blues, but Hayes’ legacy at the club will be a tough one to live up to.
Read more here:
4. Managers Staying Put
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, reports suggest that Manchester United boss Marc Skinner is in the process of being offered a new contract.
Following a record second-place finish in 2022–23, United’s season this time out has been woefully underwhelming. Lagging 15 points behind noisy neighbours City, and struggling for any kind of consistency or cohesion, chants and posters demanding “Skinner Out” have been frequent at Leigh Sports Village for months.
United lost key players over the summer, including Alessia Russo on a free transfer to Arsenal, and Ona Batlle to Barcelona. There have also been concerns raised by The Athletic about management issues at a structural level holding the club back.
This is the second personnel decision made under 25% stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls football operations across the club through his company INEOS Sport. It follows Matt Johnson being named in March as United’s new Head of Women’s Football, replacing Polly Bancroft.
Big decisions are being made at United; time will tell if they’re the correct ones.
5. Managers Leaving
Championship side Birmingham City have announced the departure of manager Darren Carter from the club “to pursue other opportunities”, after two-and-a-half seasons at the club.
The Blues sit 5th in a relentlessly-competitive Women’s Championship after a solid season which still saw them as solid contenders for promotion until recently. Their 33 points from 19 matches, 7 points off the pace of top-of-the-table Sunderland with a game in hand, is certainly nothing to be sniffed at.
The Blues have three games to play to finish out the season, including an away fixture to second-place Crystal Palace on Sunday. Amy Merricks is poised to take over as head coach, but will not be in charge for this weekend’s fixture.
6. WAFCON Under Threat
The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations — WAFCON — is set to be held in Morocco in 2024.
All eyes should be on the 15th iteration of the tournament following an incredible performance from Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa which saw them through to the round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup.
The 2022 WAFCON — which was also held in Morocco — saw record attention and audience records as the tournament grew from 8 to 12 teams, with South Africa lifting the trophy.
However, the 2024 competition, slated for this summer, finds itself in danger of being cancelled.
Just months before the tournament is due to begin, dates have yet to be finalised. Now, the FA is warning that clubs could refuse to release players for a competition planned with such short notice.
The Confederation of African Football have had two years to plan for the tournament, with knowledge that the 2024 Olympics will impede scheduling. They have as yet been unable to provide answers as to when the tournament will take place. With Nigeria and Zambia having qualified for Paris, it seems unlikely that a tournament on two fronts would be feasible.
The game in African nations is growing at a rapid place, with much of the game’s top talent eligible to compete at WAFCON. Last week Morocco’s game against Zambia, through which Zambia qualified for Paris 2024, drew record crowds of 45,000. It’s likely WAFCON, if properly organised, would have a similar pull.
It’s a shame that the continent’s most prominent competition is being put in jeopardy.
7. Rachel’s Retirement
In a move that has shocked many, Rachel Daly has this week announced her retirement from international football, just hours after victory away to Republic of Ireland.
Rachel “Now a Striker” Daly has perhaps been a victim of her own versatility; able to play almost anywhere on the pitch, she’s struggled to establish a consistent role for herself under Wiegman. As a number 9, she’s been dropped to the bench more often than not in favour of Russo, whose own goal-threat is bolstered by wingers like Lauren Hemp and Lauren James.
Having played just 4 minutes off the bench across April’s international break, Daly’s international retirement reduces the Lionesses squad depth up front still further. Daly was England’s last remaining “natural” number 9, following the retirement of Ellen White. While Russo is played up front, she tends to favour dropping back to the midfield more. Sarina Wiegman has been left with some tough questions to answer ahead of the next international break in May.
Read more here:
What women’s football story caught your attention this week? Let me know!
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