Women’s soccer has made considerable strides in LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion over the past decade. High-profile players living openly have accelerated acceptance while providing invaluable visibility for young queer athletes.
Let’s celebrate some of the world’s most talented gay female footballers, who are boldly advancing LGBTQ+ visibility in the beautiful game.
Read also: the most beautiful female footballers in 2024.
Here are 40 gay female footballers in the world. But first, the top 10 famous gay female footballers in the world.
10 Best & Famous Gay Female Footballers in the World
Here are your first ten famous gay female footballers.
1) Rachel Daly
Daly is one of the most famous gay female footballers in England. Rachel was born on 6 December 1991. Daly previously dated Manchester United WSL player Millie Turner, born on 7 July 1996. She has also dated American midfielder Kristie Mewis.
Rachel Daly is currently in a relationship with Aston Villa teammate Sarah Mayling. Sarah, who plays as a defender, was born on 20 March 1997.
2) Sam Kerr
Sam Kerr, born 10 September 1993, is the captain of Australia’s Matildas. She dates American midfielder Kristie Mewis. She was previously in a relationship with former Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars teammate Nikki Stanton.
Kristie Mewis was born on 25 February 1991. She plays as a midfielder for Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.
One of the world’s top scorers, Kerr hopes her success inspires young queer players: “I feel like if I had someone like me when I was growing up, I would have been a lot more confident in myself and my sexuality.”
3) Jess Carter
Jess Carter was born on 27 October 1997. The English defender plays for Gotham FC, in a relationship with teammate and German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Berger was born on 9 October 1990.
The couple have been dating since 2021 and regularly share their love on social media. Carter takes pride in being a role model: “To be openly gay in the public eye, I think it’s so important,” Carter says.
4) Danielle van de Donk
Versatile Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk was born on 5 August 1991. She previously dated former Arsenal teammate and English forward Beth Mead.
She is currently in a relationship with Australian defender Ellie Carpenter, who plays with van de Donk at French club Olympique Lyonnais. Carpenter was born on 28 April 2000.
5) Magdalena Eriksson
Swedish captain Magdalena Eriksson was born on 8 September 1993. She now plays as a defender for Frauen-Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.
She has been openly lesbian since 2014 and is in a long-term relationship with Danish striker Pernille Harder, whom she plays with on Frauen-Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.
Pernille Harder was born on November 15, 1992. Eriksson hopes to inspire young LGBTQ+ athletes to embrace their identities.
6) Beth Mead
Beth Mead was born on 9 May 1995. Mead now dates Dutch star Vivianne Miedema, Mead’s attacking partner at Arsenal FC. Miedema was born on 15 July 1996.
Miedema herself was previously in a 6-year relationship with Dutch teammate Lisa Evans.
7) Marta
Marta Vieira da Silva was born on February 19, 1986. In January 2021, she announced her engagement to American defender Toni Pressley, her former teammate at Orlando Pride.
American defender Toni Pressley was born on 19 February 1990. She plays as a defender for Breiðablik in the Icelandic Besta deild kvenna.
Their openness continues to increase LGBTQ+ visibility in women’s football.
8) Bethany England
English striker Bethany England, born on 3 June 1994, plays for Tottenham Hotspur FC Women in the FA Women’s Super League. She is openly lesbian, and her girlfriend Stephanie supports her football career.
Stephanie Williams is a Welsh footballer and a midfielder for Oxford United WFC. She was born on 12 August 1992.
England takes pride in representing the LGBTQ+ community on the pitch: “I need to show that no matter who you are or who you love, you can achieve anything you want to.”
9) Alba Redondo
Alba Redondo was born on 27 August 1996. She plays as a forward for Liga F club Levante UD and the Spain women’s national team.
The Spanish midfielder currently dates Cristina Monleón, a sports scientist at the University of Valencia. The young couple proudly shares their relationship in public.
10) Katie McCabe
The Irish captain Katie McCabe was born on 21 September 1995. Katie was previously in a relationship with fellow national team player Ruesha Littlejohn before their amicable split in 2023.
McCabe came out publicly in 2019 and remains a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ athletes.
Top 20 Best & Famous Gay Female Footballers in the World
Your 20 famous gay female footballers are;
11) Lauren Hemp
Hemp is among the most famous gay female footballers in England. She was born on 7 August 2000. The English superstar Lauren Hemp dated semi-pro footballer Ellie Butler, who now plays for Rugby Borough.
Hemp is among LGBTQ+ female soccer players who live openly as gay athletes at the game’s top level.
12) Jess Fishlock
Jess was born on 14 January 1987. Welsh veteran Jess Fishlock knew she was gay at age 12 but overcame bullying to succeed.
She got engaged in 2022 to girlfriend Tziarra King, her fellow teammate at OL Reign. King plays as a forward, while Fishlock plays as a midfielder.
King was born on 24 August 1998. Fishlock is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ athletes to feel comfortable being themselves.
13) Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger was born on 28 July 1984. Longtime USWNT couple Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris announced their engagement in 2019 after years together. Ashlyn Harris was born on 19 October 1985.
Before retiring, Harris played with Krieger at NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2022. The two defenders married the same year in 2019 and have since adopted two children. Their public presence has furthered LGBTQ+ visibility. Krieger is retiring from football in 2023.
And even more bad news: there is a possibility of divorce after they have been together for four years. This is after Ashlyn filed for divorce from Ali Krieger on September 19 in Florida.
14) Tameka Yallop
Tameka is one of the gay female footballers from Australia. She was born on 16 June 1991. Tameka has been openly lesbian, the same as her partner Kirsty Yallop. Kristy, born on 4 November 1986, last played for Melbourne Victory in Australia’s W-League.
The two tied the knot in 2019 while together at Klepp, IL, in Norway. The couple proudly shares their relationship on social media.
15) Lisa Evans
After a 6-year relationship with Vivianne Miedema, Scottish player Lisa Evans is currently single.
Lisa Evans was born on 21 May 1992. She plays as a forward for West Ham United in the FA WSL, one of the top teams in women’s football in England, and for the Scotland national team.
She remains an important openly lesbian presence in the English WSL.
16) Teresa Abelleira
From Spain, we have midfielder Teresa Abelleira. She was born on 9 January 2000. Teresa dates former Deportivo La Coruña teammate Patricia Curbelo.
She lives openly as a gay athlete.
17) Megan Rapinoe
Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe was born on 5 July 1985. She is engaged to WNBA star Sue Bird, a Seattle Storm basketball player. Sue was born on 16 October 1980.
Rapinoe is one of the most famous gay female footballers. She uses her profile to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights on and off the field. She recently retired from representing the US women’s national team. Rapinoe says she hopes “we can live in a world where people don’t have to come out, where everyone is comfortable being themselves.”
18) Mapi Leon
Mapi was born on 13 June 1995. The defender of Spain’s national team and FC Barcelona openly came out as a lesbian in 2018 after being out privately for years.
She found support from her Barça teammates and fans. Since 2022, León has been in a relationship with Norwegian midfielder Ingrid Engen, her Barcelona teammate. Engen is among the gay female footballers in Norway. She was born on 29 April 1998.
19) Kelley O’Hara
Versatile USWNT star Kelley O’Hara, who was born on 4 August 1988 and is currently 35, resides with her partner, Kameryn Stenhouse, in Washington, D.C., during the NWSL offseason.
After five years together, the couple recently announced their engagement on New Year’s Eve 2022. O’Hara credits her family and national team for embracing and supporting her as she lives openly.
20) Caitlin Foord
Foord is among the female LGBTQ+ soccer players in Australia. I remember that the Australian National Women’s Team was named one of the FIFA Women’s World Cup teams with the most gay female players. You’ll see why. Back to Foord. Caitlin was born on 11 November 1994. She now plays as a forward for Arsenal FC Women in England.
She has been in a long-term relationship with Swiss midfielder Lia Wälti, her club teammate at Arsenal. Lia was born on 19 April 1993. The couple keeps their private life low-profile but has been photographed together in public over the years. I hope they’re still together.
Top 30 Best & Famous Gay Female Footballers in the World
Still going on our list of the 40 best and most famous gay female footballers in the world. Who are the top 30 gay female footballers in the world?
21) Hannah Wilkinson
Hannah was born on 28 May 1992. Wilkinson made history when she scored a goal in their opening match, beating Norway in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to achieve their first-ever Women’s World Cup victory.
The striker also made history as the first openly gay Kiwi Olympian when she came out publicly in 2021. She confirmed being in a relationship with her partner, Katie Martin, a police instructor. Wilkinson hopes to inspire young LGBTQ+ athletes in her country and be a role model.
22) Ramona Bachmann
Ramona was born on 25 December 1990. The Swiss icon came out publicly at the 2015 World Cup. She previously dated Swiss teammate Alisha Lehmann before marrying dancer Charlotte Baret. Bachmann aims to inspire young Swiss gay athletes.
Alisha was born on 21 January 1999. She plays forward for NWSL side Houston Dash.
23) Mackenzie Arnold
Mackenzie Arnold, born 25 February 1994, is among the best goalkeepers who stood out in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Australian and Portland Thorns goalkeeper has dated Scottish defender Kirsty Smith since 2022, when Smith joined Arnold’s club, West Ham United.
The Scottish defender, Smith, was born on 6 January 1994. The two live openly as gay athletes.
24) Alex Chidiac
Remember when we said Australia has the most gay female athletes? Here we are. Alex is a young Australian talent born on 15 January 1999. She is currently 24 years old and plays as a midfielder for Liga MX Femenil club Tigres UANL, on loan from NWSL club Racing Louisville.
Chadiac has been dating partner Erin Clout since 2019. Clout works in player relations for Professional Footballers Australia.
25) Katrina Gorry
Another Australian gay female footballer is Indigenous midfielder Katrina Gorry. Gorry was born on 13 August 1992. Katrina is engaged to Swedish club teammate Clara Markstedt. Markstedt was born on 20 August 1989. Clara plays for Vittsjö GIK.
The couple started dating in 2022 and have a daughter together named Gorry.
26) Alanna Kennedy
Alanna Kennedy was born on 21 January 1995. The Man City Defender dated wellness entrepreneur Sophie Cachia for several years before their 2020 split. Kennedy has kept her dating life private since.
27) Hayley Raso
Raso was born on 5 September 1994. Fellow Matilda was in a long-term relationship with national teammate Jenna McCormick before they amicably separated. Raso is currently single.
Jenna plays for the Australian A-League Women’s club Brisbane Roar. She was born on 7 September 1994.
28) Kyah Simon
Kyah was born on 25 June 1991. She is a striker for the Central Coast Mariners of the Australian A-League Women and the Australian National Team. Striker Kyah Simon is in a relationship with English defender and fellow teammate Faye Bryson.
The Central Coast Mariners couple live together when not with national teams.
29) Emily van Egmond
Another famous gay female footballer is star midfielder Emily van Egmond. She was born on 12 July 1993. She plays as a midfielder for San Diego Wave FC in the United States top-tier league, NWSL.
Egmond is engaged to influencer girlfriend Kat Thompson. The couple shares their relationship publicly on social media.
30) Cortnee Vine
Last but not least, from Australia, we have Cortnee Vine. Remember the player who took the last penalty for Australia to help them qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup semi-finals? That’s who I’m talking about. Vine was born on 9 April 1998. She plays as a forward for Sydney FC in Australia.
Cortnee and Charlotte McLean are dating. The Sydney FC couple went public about their relationship in 2021. McLean was born on 1 March 2000.
Top 40 Best & Famous Gay Female Footballers in the World
We will conclude with another ten gay female footballers before we call it a day.
Let’s dive right in!
31) Ivana Andrés
Ivana was among the team that took the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy. She was born on 13 July 1994. She plays for Liga F club Real Madrid, which she captains.
The Spanish defender keeps her private life relatively quiet. She married her longtime partner, Anabel, in mid-2022.
32) Lucy Bronze
Bronze was born on 28 October 1991. She plays right back for WSL club Chelsea and the England women’s national team. The Iconic English defender is known to be LGBTQ+, though she remains private about her personal life.
Some reports have linked her to Keira Walsh, her fellow teammate and midfielder, but nothing has been confirmed. Kera Walsh was born on 8 April 1997 and is currently 26 years old.
33) Leah Williamson
Leah is among the famous gay female footballers in England. She was born on 29 March 1997. She captains both her WSL side, Arsenal, and England women’s national team, playing in central defense or the midfield. Williamson previously dated swimmer Mason Childs.
Williamson has been in a relationship with fellow English midfielder Jordan Nobbs since late 2022. Nobbs was born on 8 December 1992. She plays as a midfielder for Women’s Super League club Aston Villa.
34) Sherida Spitse
Spitse was born on 29 May 1990. She plays as a midfielder for Ajax and the Netherlands national team. The Dutch legend married her longtime girlfriend Jolien van der Tuin in 2018.
The couple has two children together, and Spitse says her wife’s support has been invaluable.
35) Debinha
Debinha was born on 20 October 1991. She plays forward for the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League and hopes to inspire young Brazilian girls to embrace their sexual orientation.
The Brazilian attacker is openly lesbian and dates former NC Courage teammate Meredith Speck. Speck was born on 1 February 1993. The American midfielder plays for the North Carolina Courage.
36) Lina Hurtig
Hurtig was born on 5 September 1995. She plays as a forward for English Women’s Super League club Arsenal and the Sweden women’s national team. The Swedish striker married her former Linköpings FC teammate, Lisa Lantz, in 2019. The couple had a daughter together in 2021 and live openly.
She was born on 26 August 1987. Lisa retired from playing. Lisa adopted Lina’s name, Hurtig, and now goes by Lisa Hurtig.
37) Caroline Seger
Caroline is another famous gay female footballer from Sweden. She was born on 19 March 1985. She plays as a midfielder and club captain for FC Rosengård in the Damallsvenskan league. She is the current captain of the Swedish national football team.
Seger came out publicly in 2013, telling Swedish magazine QX she was proud of her girlfriend. Seger is currently dating her fellow teammate and defender Olivia Schough. Schough was born on 11 March 1991.
38) Thembi Kgatlana
Thembi is a 27-year-old South African star who was born on 2 May 1996. She plays forward for Liga MX Femenil side Tigres UANL and the South African women’s national team.
Kgatlana is one of the most famous gay female footballers in South Africa. She has been with her partner, Abongile Dlani, for over 8 years. The couple frequently share their love on social media.
39) Manuela Giugliano
Manuela was born on 18 August 1997 and is currently 26 years old. She plays midfield for Roma in Italy’s Serie A and the Italian women’s national football team. The Italian midfielder Manuela Giugliano is openly lesbian and dates 37-year-old futsal player Ambra Capotosto.
Giugliano aims to inspire young LGBTQ+ athletes in Italy.
40) Linda Caicedo
Last, we have the teen sensation Linda Caicedo of Colombia. Linda was born on 22 February 2005. She plays as a forward for Liga F club Real Madrid and the Colombia women’s national team. She made headlines after scoring a strike that saw Germany leave the 2023 FIFAWWC tournament early in the group stages.
Caicedo previously dated TikTok creator Luisa Osorio. Caicedo has been dating influencer Valentina Herrera since early 2023. At just 18, her visibility can encourage young queer players.
Here is a bonus, totaling up to the 41 best and most famous gay female footballers in the world.
41) Martha Thomas
You probably had no idea about this one. Yes, meet Martha Thomas, the talented English soccer player and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Born on May 31, 1996, and a striker for FA WSL side Tottenham Hotspur, rocking jersey number 17.
But there’s more to her story…
Martha is in a loving relationship with fellow footballer Ellie Leek. They crossed paths while playing for Le Havre, and their love story has been nothing short of beautiful. The icing on the cake? The couple announced their engagement on December 22, 2022. Ellie Leek, born on January 21, 1995, shines as a midfielder for Blackburn Rovers.
Final Whistle
There you have it! The 41 best and most famous gay female footballers in the world. The courage of LGBTQ+ female players today continues blazing a trail for the next generation. Their authenticity and excellence advance inclusion in women’s soccer and all sports.
They remind us that anyone should feel free to embrace who they are and pursue athletic dreams. Which couple do you love best? And is there a couple I missed?
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