2025: A Watershed Year for Women's Sport in England

In 2025, England's women's football and rugby teams achieved unprecedented success by winning major trophies in the same year. The Red Roses secured the Rugby World Cup title by defeating Canada 33-13, while the Lionesses retained their UEFA Women's Euro title, triumphing over Spain in a penalty shootout. Additionally, Arsenal's women's team won the UEFA Women's Champions League, and golfer Charley Hull reached a career-high ranking of fifth in the world, marking the highest position for an Englishwoman since the rankings began in 2006.

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These victories have sparked a significant increase in grassroots participation and media coverage of women's sports across England. The Rugby World Cup final attracted a record crowd of 81,885, making it the best-attended women's rugby union game ever. The tournament also recorded a peak television audience of 5.8 million viewers in the UK, the highest for a women's rugby match. Following the success of the Red Roses, over 40,000 tickets were sold for their upcoming Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland, reflecting a growing interest in women's rugby.

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Alex Matthews, a key player for the Red Roses, noted the palpable excitement surrounding women's rugby, stating, “There has been an extra few hundred bums on seats each week, which is amazing.” She emphasized the importance of leveraging this success at the club level to further enhance participation. The increase in attendance at domestic matches, up 70.5% in the Premiership Women’s Rugby, underscores the positive trend.

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The Lionesses' victory at the Euros was marked by dramatic comebacks in the knockout stages, culminating in a thrilling final against Spain. Their homecoming celebration attracted 65,000 fans, a stark contrast to the 7,000 who celebrated their first Euro win in 2022. However, despite the Lionesses' success, average attendances in the Women’s Super League did not see a significant rise, attributed to the tournament being held away from home.

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Nikki Doucet, chief executive of the Women’s Super League, acknowledged the challenges of translating international success into domestic attendance, stating, “It’s different for it to be a home tournament versus an away.” Nonetheless, the league aims to build on the momentum generated by the Lionesses' achievements, with plans to enhance community engagement and participation.

The Guardian

The achievements of 2025 have not only elevated the profile of women's sports in England but have also inspired a new generation of athletes. With England set to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the European Athletics Championships in 2026, the momentum for women's sports shows no signs of slowing. The year has been characterized by record attendances, increased participation, and a shift in public perception, marking a significant turning point for women's sports in England.

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• “Compared to 2014 [the main difference] is people just knowing. Being at Battersea the following day after the final I had two men come up to me and say they had been to every men’s World Cup and this was their first women’s one. They said this one was the best they had been a part of. Hearing those comments you are like: ‘We are doing something pretty cool and special.’” — Alex Matthews, Red Roses Player

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• “The support that has been so visible for women’s sport in this country is honestly world-leading, in my opinion. It sets a massive standard for what we can do better back at home, [and] what the rest of the world can do better.” — Ruahei Demant, New Zealand Player

The Guardian

In summary, 2025 stands as a landmark year for women's sports in England, characterized by historic victories, increased visibility, and a promising future for female athletes across various disciplines.

The Guardian