WSL Oneshots

Changing The Face of Women's Football

Chloe Kelly sat alone in the locker room, the noise of the post-match celebrations still echoing in her ears. The walls of the stadium outside hummed with excitement as England’s Lionesses prepared to collect their hard-earned medals. The golden trophy glittered in the corner, a reminder of what they had just achieved—UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Champions. It was still surreal to Chloe. She had dreamed of moments like this for as long as she could remember, but it had never felt this real, this powerful.

Her mind wandered back to the moment it all changed. The game was tied, 1-1, in extra time against Germany. England had fought tooth and nail, every player on the pitch giving everything they had. The clock ticked past the 110th minute, and Lauren Hemp’s corner floated in with precision, giving Chloe just enough space to make her move. The ball glanced off the crossbar, but Chloe was there, at the right place, at the right time. She didn’t hesitate. She leaped, connected with the ball, and sent it crashing into the back of the net. The roar of the crowd was deafening, but Chloe barely heard it. She was consumed by the sheer euphoria of knowing that goal had sealed their fate.

In a blur of instinct, she tore off her shirt and swung it around in the air. The sight of her, shirt twirling above her head, became one of the most iconic moments of the tournament, her celebration going viral across social media and news outlets. Chloe Kelly, the hero of the final, a symbol of the triumph of an entire generation of women’s footballers.

As she sat in the quiet locker room now, the memories flooded back. She remembered her teammates charging toward her, lifting her into the air, their faces beaming with pride. The stadium was still reverberating with the energy of that moment, but it was only when the final whistle blew that Chloe allowed herself to fully realize what had just happened. They had done it. They had won.

But beyond the glory and the celebrations, there was something deeper that kept pulling Chloe’s mind back—the journey to get here, the challenges that led to that moment. The sacrifices she had made, the long training sessions, the doubts she had fought off. There had been times when she wondered if it was all worth it, if the heartbreaks and the setbacks would ever pay off. And now, here she was, living the dream of not just being part of a championship-winning team, but of scoring the winning goal.

Her phone buzzed on the bench, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from her mum, followed by a video. Chloe opened it to see her celebration, her shirt twirling above her head, over and over again, and her mum’s text: “That’s my girl! We’re so proud of you, Chloe! You’ll always be our champion, no matter what.”

Chloe smiled, tears threatening to blur her vision. The support of her family had always been the backbone of her career. They had been with her through every goal, every defeat, and every challenge. They were as much a part of this victory as she was.

She closed her eyes for a moment, imagining what the celebrations would be like when she finally reunited with them. But for now, there was one more thing she needed to do. She stood, made her way out of the locker room, and joined her teammates on the field. The bright lights of the stadium bathed them in a golden glow, the sound of the crowd still roaring as the medal ceremony began.

As she stood there, the weight of the gold medal finally sinking in, Chloe Kelly realized that this moment—this whole experience—was the culmination of years of hard work, of believing in herself and the team around her. She looked to the fans in the stands, to the millions watching at home, and allowed herself a quiet smile. She had always dreamed of this moment, but now, it was more than she had ever imagined. She was part of history.

And that celebration? It wasn’t just about winning. It was about everything that led up to it—the struggle, the dedication, the unwavering belief. The moment she took her shirt off and twirled it in the air wasn’t just a victory for her, but for every player who had come before her and every girl who dreamed of one day playing on this stage. She had just helped change the game forever.