In today’s sporting world, female athletes are often judged for everything that isn’t directly related to their performance. Comments about their looks, hairstyles, clothing choices or even how loudly they speak are commonplace, and the backlash can be relentless. While the Lionesses defended their European title and the Red Roses lifted the World Cup on home soil in 2025, and individual stars such as Beau Greaves and Lottie Woad celebrated personal milestones, many women in sport continue to climb their ladders under a cloud of hostile commentary that extends far beyond the pitch. One striking example came from Wales and Saracens centre Georgia Evans during the Women’s Rugby World Cup last autumn.
Evans chose to wear two pink bows in her hair – a style she has sported since her first cap – and was instantly bombarded with derisive remarks on social media. A post that simply said “Georgia Evans is ready” was accompanied by a photo of her with the bows, and the comment section quickly filled with insults about her appearance, calling her “silly” and “childish.” Although Evans tried not to take the attacks personally, she noted that her teammates and family were also exposed to the negativity, leading to heated Facebook exchanges. After much deliberation and rewriting her response a thousand times, Evans finally posted a statement defending her right to express herself. She argued that sport should be a space where anyone, regardless of haircut, body shape or fashion choice, feels welcome.
"It’s not a rugby look," she wrote, "a rugby player is no longer defined by gender or appearance." She added that she was bringing a touch of "Barbie" to a traditionally male‑dominated game and thanked those who supported her while refusing to change who she is. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive; thousands of fans turned up at the next Welsh match wearing bows in solidarity, turning what began as an attack into a powerful statement of unity. Evans’ experience highlights a broader issue: a Women In Sport survey released earlier this year revealed that the proportion of girls dreaming of a professional athletic career has dropped to its lowest point since 2020 – just 23% compared with 53% of boys. The research indicated that teenage girls often feel they don’t belong in sport, worry about their bodies, and fear for their safety.
Additionally, 70% said they avoided sport when they were on their period, underscoring how personal concerns can deter participation. Former Wimbledon champion and Sky Sports pundit Marion Bartoli has witnessed these pressures first‑hand while coaching teenage girls.
She described how social‑media comments about body image can dominate a young athlete’s thoughts, eroding confidence. Bartoli herself was subjected to a sexist remark on live television after her 2013 Wimbledon win, when commentator John Inverdale compared her unfavourably to Maria Sharapova. "It should have been about my victory, not how I looked," she recalled, empathising with girls who feel constantly judged.
Despite the challenges, Bartoli praised players who stay authentic. She cited Aryna Sabalenka’s bold personality and Coco Gauff’s admiration for Serena and Venus Williams as examples of athletes who refuse to conform to narrow expectations. "We need more diversity in personality, style and body shape," Bartoli said, emphasising that a broader representation helps young girls feel they belong.
When criticism escalates into threats, the situation becomes even more alarming. A joint report from the Women’s Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation documented 458 instances of abuse in 2024 alone, including death threats and explicit images sent to top players such as Britain’s Katie Boulter, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and America’s Jessica Pegula.
Forty percent of the online abuse originated from disgruntled gamblers. Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini recounted receiving a WhatsApp message that included a photograph of a gun and threatened her and her family before a qualifying match at Indian Wells.
In another disturbing case, Emma Raducanu was forced to hide behind the umpire’s chair at the Dubai Tennis Championship after a “fixated” man entered the arena. The stalker later received a restraining order after following her from Singapore to Abu Dhabi and Qatar, leaving the British star feeling unsafe and wary of traveling. These incidents are not isolated to tennis.
A FIFA study found that one in five women’s World Cup players in 2023 received discriminatory, abusive or threatening messages, a rate 29% higher than that experienced by men’s World Cup participants. During the 2025 European Championship final, a UK‑based threat‑monitoring service, Moonshoot, identified 3,000 hostile social‑media posts aimed at the England women’s team.
Jess Carter even stepped away from her accounts after enduring a wave of racist abuse; the perpetrator was later sentenced to a six‑week suspended prison term. England cricketer Sophia Dunkley, slated for the upcoming home T20 World Cup, described how she and her teammates now limit social‑media exposure, using privacy settings and close‑knit support circles to shield themselves from negativity.
"It’s easy to get carried away worrying about what people think," she explained, "but staying tight‑knit helps us focus on the game." Legislative measures have begun to address the problem. The Online Safety Act 2023, which took effect in October 2023, imposed new duties on platforms to curb harmful content, yet experts argue it does not go far enough for female athletes. In June 2025, Sport England chair Chris Boardroom wrote to Ofcom, urging stronger action against the racist and sexist abuse directed at England’s women’s football squad.
Ofcom’s subsequent recommendations to tech giants included prompts encouraging users to reconsider harmful messages, blocking payments for misogynistic content, diversifying “For You” feeds, and enabling bulk muting of accounts. Meta has outlined several tools designed to protect users on Facebook and Instagram, such as comment filters, message restrictions, temporary comment hides, comprehensive blocking and a “Restrict” feature that quietly limits unwanted interactions. The company also claims to collaborate with women’s‑safety organisations to improve detection and removal of abusive behaviour. Not every athlete is deterred by online hate.
Charley Hull, currently ranked fourth in the world in golf, has long brushed off criticism, even after a viral video showed her smoking on the 2024 US Open course. "I don’t care what people think of me," Hull said. "I post what I want, I love the game, and if people don’t like it, that’s their business." The overarching message from athletes, coaches and advocates is clear: success should never require sacrificing personal safety, mental health or individuality.
As women’s sport continues to gain visibility, the conversation must shift from scrutinising appearance to celebrating achievement. As Georgia Evans summed up, the goal isn’t to point fingers but to stand together and reject any commentary that attacks a person’s look, livelihood or identity. When the line is crossed, the community must unite and defend its members. Sky Sports remains committed to fostering a respectful environment on its platforms.
Readers who encounter hateful comments based on race, gender, disability, religion, sexuality, age or any other protected characteristic are encouraged to report the content, providing the URL and a screenshot, via the contact link on the Sky Sports website. Stay tuned for the next installment of the "Beyond The Noise" series, featuring champion boxer Mikaela Mayer, coming Wednesday morning.