As the visibility of women’s sport continues to grow, so do its darker sides. Greater media attention, long overdue...also brings challenges, and for women in the public eye, that often includes sexism.

There were no competitive matches this week. Domestic leagues are on pause, players are away on international duty, and European teams are preparing for World Cup qualification, which gets underway in the coming days. That said, there’s still been plenty going on, so let’s take a look at the key stories from the week.

Women’s football is growing and gaining popularity fast. It’s also finding fans among celebrities. Whether through direct investment in clubs or public support for the women’s game, these high-profile figures are leading by example. Queenballers takes a look at some of them.

Our focus this April is on equity and equal opportunity: a conversation that remains at the very heart of women’s football. All too often, the women’s game is viewed solely through the lens of its male counterpart, ignoring a fundamental truth: the starting lines were never the same.

As Alexia Putellas recently pointed out with stinging clarity, men were competing on the World Cup stage while women were still fighting for the right to vote. Below, we examine the defining milestones that shattered barriers and shaped the modern era of the women’s football.

Carson Pickett is far more than the condition she was born with. It does not define her. And yet, her presence shows why representation matters — reminding thousands of children born differently that it doesn’t have to be a barrier.

The international break is here — but not before a week full of action worth catching up on. European competitions now know their semi-finalists and finalists, transfer rumours are swirling (and being shut down), and a new generation of young talents continues to emerge.

Sydney FC may not be in the best form right now, but their future looks incredibly bright. Their defence is being strengthened by a teenager who has already surpassed even Australian legend Sam Kerr in one remarkable way.

She is Poland’s captain and Barcelona rely on her goalscoring instinct — but she is not Robert Lewandowski. Women’s football is on the rise in Poland, which celebrated its first-ever major tournament appearance in the summer of 2025 and set a league Ekstraliga attendance record the season before. Ewa Pajor has undoubtedly played a major part in that growth.

Breaking into the England national football team setup is never easy - but Lucia Kendall has made it look exactly that. The 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder has quickly caught the attention of Sarina Wiegman with her energetic and composed performances in the Women's Super League this season. But while she looks like the complete footballer, it wasn’t always football for the youngster from Winchester.