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  "path": "/2026/05/07/this-womens-football-awards-mean-much-28258463/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-07T06:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Lionesses",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "Lauren James",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Lianne Sanderson is delighted the Women’s Football Awards have become such an impactful event (Picture: Getty)\n\nThere are moments in football that feel long overdue. Moments that make you pause and think: why did this take so long?\n\nThe Women’s Football Awards is one of those moments – and as we approach the 2026 ceremony, it feels bigger, bolder and more important than ever.\n\nThe event was established in 2023 and it was the first time any awards event took place to celebrate achievements in women’s football. Think about that. Generations of players, pioneers and game-changers and only recently did we finally create a stage dedicated entirely to them.\n\nI know that other awards events have taken place for the men’s game for decades, and so this was so welcome. Not just welcome – necessary.\n\nBut what makes these awards so special now is not just about correcting the past, it’s about celebrating the present and shaping the future in real time.\n\nYes, this event has rightly shone a light on figures who were overlooked for far too long.\n\nCarol Thomas, an England international who earned over 50 caps and was part of the Lionesses’ early rise, representing her country with distinction when the women’s game had far less visibility and support.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nGabby Logan will help hosts the ceremony alongside Jamie Carragher\n\nKerry Davis, a history-maker as the first Black woman to score for England, a striker who delivered time and time again while breaking barriers. Their stories matter. Their impact matters. And it’s been powerful to see them honoured on a stage they always deserved.\n\nMeanwhile, this event is packed with the stars of today’s game too. Players like Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Alexia Putellas – all recognised in previous years – show just how far the women’s game has come. These are global names, elite athletes, and role models inspiring the next generation every single day.\n\nAnd the future is just as exciting. Talents like Maya Le Tissier, Vivianne Miedema, Michelle Agyemang and Bunny Shaw are among this year’s nominees as well.\n\nHannah Hampton is in the running to win Player of the Year (Getty Images)\n\nWhat I love most about the Women’s Football Awards is that it doesn’t just celebrate what happens on the pitch. It shines a light on the people behind the scenes – the ones pushing the game forward every single day. People like Yvonne Harrison from Women in Football, who was recognised in 2024, for her incredible work to elevate the game and create opportunities for others. That kind of impact is priceless.\n\nAnd this year, the awards will celebrate Manchester Corinthians and their pioneering work as women footballers – a team that refused to let the women’s game fade away, travelling the world and keeping its spirit alive in the face of adversity. That legacy runs through everything we see today.\n\nA room full of talent. A celebration of excellence. A moment where the past, present and future of the women’s game all stand side by side.\n\nAnd let’s not forget the importance of those who believed in it from day one. This is more than an awards ceremony. It is a statement of intent. It is a celebration of how far we’ve come – and a reminder of how far we’re going.\n\nThis is a remarkable celebration of the game. Long may it continue.\n\n##  SHEIN Women’s Football Awards shortlist\n\n### Player of the Year\n\nLauren Hemp (Manchester City)\nBunny Shaw (Manchester City)\nKerstin Casparij (Manchester City)\nJess Park (Manchester United)\nElla Toone (Manchester United)\nKiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion)\nHannah Hampton (Chelsea)\nKirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)\nMariona Caldentey (Arsenal)\nAlessia Russo (Arsenal)\nVivianne Miedema (Manchester City)\n\n### Young Player of the Year\n\nTōko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur)\nLaura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City)\nMichelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion)\nFreya Godfrey (London City Lionesses)\nAlyssa Thompson (Chelsea)\nMaya Le Tissier (Manchester United)\nGrace Clinton (Manchester City)\nAoba Fujino (Manchester City)\nNelly Las (Leicester City)\nRuby Mace (Everton)\nLenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur)\n\n### International Player of the Year\n\nKlara Bühl (Bayern Munich)\nCaroline Weir (Real Madrid)\nAlèxia Putellas (Barcelona)\nRomée Leuchter (Paris Saint-Germain)\nPernille Harder (Bayern Munich)\nEwa Pajor (Barcelona)\nClaudia Pina (Barcelona)\nMelchie Dumornay (Lyon)\nTessa Wullaert (Inter Milan)\nLinda Caicedo (Real Madrid)\nVictoria López (Barcelona)\n\n### Club of the Year\n\nManchester City\nWrexham\nLondon City Lionesses\nManchester United\nChelsea\nGlasgow City\nTottenham Hotspur\nArsenal\nCharlton Athletic\nHearts\nBrighton & Hove Albion\n\n### Media Figure of the Year\n\nKelly Cates\nKaren Carney MBE\nLianne Sanderson\nLaura Woods\nReshmin Chowdhury\nAlex Scott MBE\nMina Ibrahim\nSuzanne Wrack\nKatie Whyatt\nFaye Carruthers\nMollie and Rosie Kmita\n\n### Best Marketing Campaign\n\nSports Direct & Fresh Base Productions – Legacy Starts Here\nAXA – Keep On Kicking\nLidl – Never Stop Growing\nAdidas & Intersport – Make Football Their Game\nChelsea & Here We Flo – We Don’t Bleed Blue. We Bleed. Period.\nPepsiMAX & Hope&Glory – Thirsty for More\nUnilever – Hellmann’s Russo Burger\nThe FA & Disrupt – Made For This Game\nWSL Football & Anomaly – Watch This\nNike & Wieden+Kennedy London – IIOME\nHeineken – Cheers to the Superstitious Fans\n\n### Best Grassroots Initiative\n\nLiverpool FA – She Inspires\nGoCardless – Grassroots Football Partnership\nTottenham Hotspur Foundation – Girls & Women Programme\nFlutter UK & Ireland – Cash4Clubs\nMcDonald’s – Fun Football\nSteven Gerrard Academy – Girls Football Programme\nElectric Ireland – Game Changers NI\nStarling Bank – Kick On With Starling\nOctopus Energy – Kits For Kids\nManchester City – City in the Community\nSP Energy Networks – Wrexham Partnership\n\n### Brand of the Year\n\nLucozade Sport\nAdidas\nEA Sports\nBritish Gas\nSkoda UK\nRexona\nBarclays\nAdobe\nThree UK\nVISA\nNike\n\n### Best Social Media\n\nJuventus\nThe FA – Lionesses\nChelsea\nNewcastle United\nAston Villa\nTottenham Hotspur\nBristol City\nManchester United\nRangers\nManchester City\nAdobe – Women’s FA Cup\n\n### Global Impact Award\n\nPlayStation\nVisitMalta\nVISA\nAdidas\nIberdrola\nPepsiCo\nBooking.com\nAmazon\nGoogle Pixel\nKynisca\nNike\n\n### Best Fan Engagement\n\nDisney+\nEA Sports\nChelsea\nLondon City Lionesses\nBirmingham City\nPanini\nGlasgow City\nHavas Play\nCharlton Athletic\nTikTok\nYouTube\n\n### Legal Team of the Year\n\nLinklaters\nRPC\nThackray Williams\nEvelyn Partners\nLawrence Stephens Limited\nPenningtons Manches Cooper\nTottenham Hotspur Legal Team\nCapital Law\nMills & Reeve\nPaul Robinson Solicitors\nBird & Bird\n\n### Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award\n\nAdmiral\nLidl\nAdobe\nUnilever\nDomestic & General\nXero\nApple\nRSK\nBute Energy\nThe Premier League\nDeloitte\n\n### Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award\n\nArsenal\nEE\nPixel FC Academy\nThe FA\nWest Ham United\nMastercard\nUtilita\nBrighton & Hove Albion\nVISA\nThree UK\nLiverpool\n\n### Community Impact Award\n\nSunderland\nCarpenters Group\nBristol City\nCrane Worldwide Logistics\nHer Game Too\nXero\nLondon City Lionesses\nDomis\nBrighton & Hove Albion\nE.ON\nGoals4Girls\n\n### Football Business of the Year\n\nORRECO\nMercury13\nWe Are Athlete\nCAA SPORTS\nGravity Media\nLiveScore Group\nFoudys\nEA Sports\nKynsica\nSportfive\nTwenty3\n\n### Football Agency of the Year\n\nWasserman\nCAA SPORTS\nCMG SPORTS\nGen Z Football\nIgnite Talent\nTongue Tied Management\nPLG\nA&V Sports Group\nGestifute\nLivida Sport\nQuantum Sport\n\n### Football Business Trailblazer\n\nKay Cossington\nAki Mandhar\nMaggie Murphy\nSarah Batters\nZoe Johnson\nJemma White\nSola Kasali\nCharlotte O’Neill\nLaura Downey\nLaura Montgomery\nLiz Ellen\n\n### Best Breakthrough Business\n\nE.l.f Beauty\nModibodi\nMercedes-Benz UK\nAirbnb\nBritish Gas\nGuinness\nAFTA Studios\nPLG\nRevolut\nSkechers\nCrocs EU\n\n### Women’s Football Champion\n\nRose Read\nNadine Kessler\nNikki Doucet\nJemma White\nMichele Kang\nEbru Köksal\nDebbie Hewitt MBE\nJoelle Murray\nRachel Pavlou\nSimone Pound MBE\nVic Akers OBE\n\n### Game Changer Award\n\nRachel Yankey OBE\nGillian Coultard MBE\nEartha Pond\nShelley Kerr MBE\nKelly Smith MBE\nNikita Parris\nEllen White MBE\nGilly Flaherty\nFran Kirby\nIni Umotong\nJess Fishlock MBE\n\n### Off The Pitch Award\n\nStephen Lansdown CBE\nMichael Williamson\nMatt Johnson\nBethan Woolley\nTammy Parlour MBE\nLungi Macebo\nRachel Pavlou\nLiz Ellen\nLola Ogunbote\nHelen Hardy\nJo Osborne\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "This is why the Women’s Football Awards mean so much"
}