The Telegraph Women's Sport team of Kathryn Batte, Fiona Tomas and Sarah Mockford come together to reflect on an epic year of women's sport.

The Telegraph Women's Sport team of Kathryn Batte, Fiona Tomas and Sarah Mockford come together to reflect on an epic year of women's sport. They also discuss the countdown of the 50 most influential women in sport in 2025, from the athletes who use their platform advocate for change, the coaches who develop elite sportspeople and the administrators who have the power to make things happen. And they hear direct from the woman at No 1.&nbsp;

The 50 Most Influential Women in Sport 2025

In this special episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast, we take a deep dive into women’s football. The Telegraph’s women’s football reporter Kathryn Batte is joined by former internationals, for England and Scotland respectively, Izzy Christiansen and Rachel Corsie as well as commentator Ellen Ellard to reflect on a huge year for the sport and look ahead to the future. From the Lionesses to Arsenal’s Champions League win to VAR, they have all bases covered.

2025 was a great year for women’s football – what’s next?

In this episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast, we're diving into the menopause and its impact on women's health and athletic performance. Join host Dame Laura Kenny as she welcomes a panel of experts and advocates dedicated to empowering women through this transformative life stage.Janet Birkmyre, a celebrated British cyclist with numerous titles, recounts her midlife journey into cycling and her experience with the menopause, both on and off the track. Dr Bella Smith, an NHS doctor who is also&nbsp;co-founder of The Well HQ and co-author of The Female Body Bible, explains what the menopause is and what women should expect. She sheds light on the issue of bone density loss during menopause too. Danni Tabor, a wellbeing coach and co-owner of Lift Studio London, shares her insights on the benefits of weight training, highlighting how it enhances sleep, mood and overall well-being.

Menopause

In this episode of the Telegraph Women’s Sport Podcast, we delve into the pervasive issue of sexism in sports. Join host Dame Laura Kenny as she opens up a crucial conversation with sport leaders and advocates who are championing gender equality.&nbsp; Our guests include Yvonne Harrison, Women In Football chief executive, and Dr Stacey Pope, a professor renowned for her work on gender and inequality in sports.&nbsp; Yvonne shares insightful perspectives on systemic sexism and the subtle language differences that perpetuate gender biases in sporting events. Stacey unveils her compelling research findings on entrenched misogyny among male football fans, emphasising the urgent need for cultural and institutional change. We also hear from England cricketer Tammy Beaumont, who recounts her personal encounters with subtle and overt sexism, from ill-fitting men’s gear to harsh social media scrutiny driven by online betting culture.&nbsp;

Sexism

In this episode of the Telegraph Women’s Sport Podcast, we’re tackling a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of sports: the impact of kit on female athletes. Hosted by Dame Laura Kenny, we’re joined by a line-up of guests who know the challenges all too well.&nbsp;Tess Howard, a pioneering England and GB hockey player, shares her journey advocating for rule changes that allow women to wear shorts instead of skorts, explaining the practical and symbolic significance of this change for female athletes.&nbsp;Olympic gold medallist&nbsp;Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill takes us back to her early career, outlining the discomfort she faced with ill-fitting sportswear, and discusses the positive changes brought about through athlete feedback and collaboration with kit brands.&nbsp;We also hear from Laura Youngson, co-founder of IDA Sports, and netball star&nbsp;Britney Clarke, who shares her personal struggles with kit sizes.

In this episode of the Telegraph Women’s Sport podcast, we’re talking about money. Host Dame Laura Kenny is joined by three guests to delve into the financial landscape of women’s sports.&nbsp;Dani Rowe, a former British cyclist, shares her experiences with the stark pay disparities in road cycling. In 2018, she earned just €30,000, while her male counterparts made more than half a million. She discusses the importance of investing not only in the top tiers of sport but also at the grass-roots level to create a sustainable future.&nbsp;Maggie Murphy, a champion for gender equality in sports, discusses the commercial opportunities that arise from athletes leveraging their multifaceted personalities. She talks about how integrating personal interests can make sponsorships more appealing and impactful.&nbsp;Jenny Mitton, women’s sport lead at M&amp;C Saatchi, highlights how younger sports fans value and reward brands that invest in women’s sports. She points out that these fans are motivated by more than just the games; they seek to support the overall growth and visibility of women’s sports.

Money

In this episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast, we're delving into the topic of body image. Hosted by Dame Laura Kenny, we bring together three women to share their stories and insights.&nbsp;Ellie Boatman, a Great Britain rugby sevens player, opens up about her journey through body image struggles and overcoming an eating disorder to develop a healthier relationship with her body and food. She emphasises the influence of social media on body perceptions and the importance of education around its dangers.&nbsp;Amy Truesdale, an Paralympic taekwondo champion, speaks about her confidence in competing in a male-dominated sport despite her disability. She highlights the necessity of focusing on performance over aesthetics, celebrating individual differences, and rejecting societal pressures.&nbsp;Kate Dale, campaign director of "This Girl Can" at Sport England, brings her expertise in promoting women's participation in sports, discussing the need for positive reinforcement and conscious behaviour around diet culture and appearance. She champions the importance of understanding female physiology in training to shift focus from appearance to performance.&nbsp;If you have been affected by an eating disorder, contact the NHS or Beat for help.

Body Image

In this episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast, we’re diving into the topic of inspiration. Host Dame Laura Kenny is joined by three trailblazers known for pushing boundaries. Carla Ward, a football player turned manager, discusses how the mentorship of Emma Hayes guided her through the pressures of the Women’s Super League. Highlighting the importance of visibility, Carla shares her vision for empowering young girls in sports. Zara Lachlan, a 21-year-old preparing for an extraordinary solo rowing journey from Europe to South America. Transitioning from BMX racing to ocean rowing, Zara recounts her intense preparation and the inspiration she draws from female role models. Sue Dorrington delves into her pioneering journey in women’s rugby, from discovering the sport at 23 to helping to organise the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. Sue touches on the growth of women’s rugby and the significance of representation in retaining young girls in sports.

Inspiration

In this episode of the Telegraph Women's Sport podcast, we're talking about activism. Sam Quek is joined by three women who have certainly made their voices heard.&nbsp;Alice Dearing is the first black female swimmer to represent Great Britain at the Olympics and has used her platform to both highlight the lack of diversity in swimming, and aim to increase it.Ali Donnelly founded scrumqueens.com - the leading women’s rugby website - and she has continually shined a spotlight on issues in the women’s game and helped to bring about change. Earlier this year she became CEO of More Than Equal, which aims to find and develop the first female Formula One world champion.In 2021 Stef Evans' #icare hashtag went viral as she inspired social media users to show their backing for women’s rugby. She also founded a rugby clothing range, called Ruggette RFC, which is defying traditional rugby clothing norms to provide women’s fit kit…&nbsp; For more Women's Sport news from the Telegraph:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

Activism

Welcome to the Telegraph Women’s Sport Podcast. We’ve all enjoyed seeing the rise of coverage in women’s sport in recent years, but there is undoubtedly still work to do. Join sportswomen from across the sporting world as they discuss the big issues and talking points. And of course there will be plenty of insights that you, the listeners, can apply to your own involvement in sport. The Telegraph's unparalleled Women's Sport coverage, now available on the move.

The Telegraph Women's Sport podcast

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