The Welsh women’s football team isn’t just showing up to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 — they’re showing out. With a record-breaking nine out LGBTQ+ players on the roster, Wales isn’t just playing football, they’re making queer history.
It’s the team’s first major tournament appearance, and they’re already making waves before kickoff. Placed in Group D alongside France, the Netherlands and England, Wales enters the tournament with more than just their cleats laced tight — they’ve got rainbow laces, wedding rings, and Instagram-official girlfriends too.
Leading the queer charge is striker Kayleigh Barton, who made headlines by switching her surname after marrying former teammate Kirsty Barton. “The name means a lot to me and my family,” she said. “It’s something I can look back on with my kids and show them shirts and photos with our family name.” Barton’s not just scoring goals — she’s coaching the next generation too.
Then there’s Jess Fishlock, a veteran of the game with 47 goals in 162 caps, who has traveled the globe with her boots and pride intact. “There’s a stereotype that everyone [who] plays a women’s sport is gay, which is an obscene stereotype,” she once said. “It shouldn’t be why someone doesn’t play, and it certainly shouldn’t be why someone gets abused.” Married to fellow Seattle Reign star Tziarra King, Fishlock’s very presence is a middle finger to that nonsense.
Elise Hughes, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James-Turner, Hayley Ladd, Ffion Morgan, Rachel Rowe, and Lily Woodham round out the dazzling rainbow squad. Each has proudly stepped into the limelight with their own love stories, Instagram dedications, and engagements — often with fellow footballers.
Woodham, who came out at 17, shared that she’s never experienced abuse in women’s football — a stark contrast to the toxic culture plaguing the men’s game. “I’ve never been made to feel uncomfortable,” she said. “Hopefully, it will become like that in men’s football.”
A New Era for Representation in Sports
Wales isn’t just fielding players. They’re fielding a message: visibility matters. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across many countries — including in sports institutions — this team’s open queerness is more than a statement. It’s a revolution in shin guards and studs.
While many men’s teams still tiptoe around the subject of queerness, women’s football has long been a haven for authenticity and self-expression. But even in this safer space, Wales’ full embrace of LGBTQ+ players is refreshing and powerful.
By wearing their queerness on their sleeves — or in some cases, their wedding rings — these athletes are not just pushing back against silence, they’re opening doors. For every queer kid watching from the sidelines, Wales is a beacon. For every closeted athlete stuck behind the fear of homophobia, they are hope.
So as the tournament kicks off in Switzerland, we’re not just rooting for goals. We’re rooting for love. For truth. And for the gayest damn team in the game.