England women news: Leah Williamson warns players could strike over scheduling concerns
England women's captain Leah Williamson has refused to rule out the possibility of players taking strike action if concerns over scheduling and player welfare are ignored.
Speaking ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, Williamson highlighted the pressures on players, warning that fixture congestion is contributing to rising injury rates in the women’s game.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Liberty Nicholson-Hulse takes a closer look at why female footballers may feel forced to take a stand against a packed calendar.
England’s injury crisis after gruelling schedule
Williamson, 28, has returned to the Lionesses squad for the first time since Euro 2025 after undergoing knee surgery.
She had missed the first three months of the WSL season due to the injury.
She is not alone in her struggles. Following the Lionesses' Euro 2025 victory last summer, the squad has been plagued by knocks and muscular issues that have kept players out of action for significant periods.
Several England stars have spent notable time out this season due to injury, including Hannah Hampton, Ella Toone, and Lauren James.
The conversation around fixture congestion and injuries has been ongoing in both women’s and men’s football.
Williamson has long been outspoken on the issue, after her own ACL tear in April 2023 ruled her out of captaining England at the World Cup.
That year, 37 players missed the Women’s World Cup due to ACL injuries, highlighting that the busy calendar may be a contributing factor.
Considering the team’s long list of injuries, Williamson was asked in a press conference earlier this week about the causes and if the players would consider taking further action to bring attention to the issue.
Williamson praised efforts by the FA to ease the strain on players, noting that those called up to the squad had been given a 10-day break from competitive games ahead of the Ukraine fixture.
However, she believes that more can be done to protect players’ fitness and welfare, saying that women’s football is “still in a phase where we can all collaborate and listen and educate.”
READ MORE: England women squad news: Who’s in and who’s out for the World Cup qualifiers?
Will England’s Lionesses go on strike?
England’s captain said that while there is still an opportunity for governing bodies to tackle fixture congestion, she would not dismiss the possibility of drastic measures if players’ health continues to be at risk.
“I would never rule out further action from the players because if it needed to happen for people to protect themselves, I wouldn’t blame anybody,” Williamson said, making clear that player welfare remains non-negotiable.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has warned that while the women’s game is evolving rapidly, growth and calendar expansion “cannot come at the expense of player welfare.”
The PFA emphasised that the expectation to move between domestic and international competitions has consequences for “performance, recovery, mental wellbeing, and career longevity.”
As the Lionesses return to action, Williamson’s remarks serve as a reminder that player health must remain a priority, even as the women’s game grows in profile and commercial importance.
