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Katie Whyatt

@katiewhyatt.bsky.social

3.4K followers 220 following 26 posts

One of the women’s football writers at The Athletic | Ghostwriter |

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Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · 29d

If you’ve watched the Women’s Rugby World Cup, you’ll have seen England’s Abi Burton make the most extraordinary sporting comeback. Three years ago, she was in a coma and had to learn to walk and talk again, having also been mistakenly sectioned. Interview www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

From a coma to playing at a World Cup: 'I don't want to be known as this miracle'

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Aug 14

Wonderful evening in Wrexham for Kerry Evans’ book launch. Saw it in Wrexham Waterstones (even saw my other baby) and proud to hear how much the book has meant to those who have read it. Foreword & afterword by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Order: amzn.eu/d/i441ruC

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jul 27

Ahead of the Euros final today, @charlotteharpur and I collected messages for all 23 Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman and Arjan Veurink from special people: friends, family, former coaches, football royalty and some famous faces
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...

To the Lionesses with love... from Ten Hag, Hodgkinson, Renard and those who know them best

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jul 26

Ahead of tomorrow’s final, the parents of Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead and Maya Le Tissier on what goes into making of a Lioness: extra jobs, bank loans, four-hour round trips to training, emotional support and sleeping in meetings

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

The making of a Lioness - as told by their parents: Extra jobs, bank loans and sleeping in meetings

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jul 26

What goes into making a Lioness, and why do it when there was no pathway for your daughter?

Extra jobs, second cars, bank loans, four-hour round trips to training that leave you so tired you sleep in work meetings

The making of a Lioness – as told by their parents:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

The making of a Lioness - as told by their parents: Extra jobs, bank loans and sleeping in meetings

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jul 21

Why does football often look to Black players to solve racism through their emotional pain and labour? And when they have no control over the structures enabling racism? What powers do players have v social media companies?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

Jess Carter's statement is a reminder that Black footballers should not have to solve racism

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jul 21

All of the Lionesses were involved in boys’ football en route to the top

Mixed football has always been politicised in England, reflecting ideas around femininity and ability

It’s now seen as best practice & is more accessible: on its history and changing landscape

www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...

Special report: Girls, boys, and the thorny issue of mixed junior teams

Attitudes are changing around the rights and wrongs of girls playing with and against boys in age-group football

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · May 17

For #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek , I wrote a very personal piece about depression, anxiety, loneliness and how the community I’ve found following #bcafc this year, regardless of the results, has helped football become a place of healing

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

'Football became a site of healing' – How Bradford City helped me feel joy again

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Apr 21

18 years today since Jacqui Oatley was the first female commentator on Match of the Day. Oatley on her memories of that “isolating” time, and how it led to the founding of Women in Football and a lifelong mission to help more women enter the industry

www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...

Jacqui Oatley made Match of the Day history but the experience was ‘isolating’

The broadcaster recalls the stomach-drop moment when she realised that she had, in fact, become the story

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Apr 4

As someone who’s pretty shy and always struggled with social anxiety, anything with big groups is massively out of my comfort zone and I was low-key mortified at the thought of doing this but we had such fun 🎤🎶🎤🎵 Gearing up for performance two on TV next week

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Apr 4

If you were in Broadway at lunchtime today you’d have seen the #bantamoftheopera #bcafc #bantams choir’s first performance ❤️💛 singing Habanera to unsuspecting members of the public. You can see the videos on BBC Yorkshire socials

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Mar 26

A pleasant surprise!

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Mar 21

In the past few weeks, Arsenal and Manchester City Women have launched huge commercial campaigns around periods and menstrual care

The brains behind both campaigns on how and why they did it - including how Arsenal players created the adverts with them

www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Mar 21

In the past few weeks, Arsenal and Manchester City Women have launched huge commercial campaigns around periods and menstrual care

The brains behind both campaigns on how and why they did it - including how Arsenal players created the adverts with them

www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Once a taboo, periods are the new tool for growing women's football

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Mar 6

How do you scout players in the lower reaches of women’s football, where data and clips are scarce?

With LinkedIn, volunteers and goodwill

Meet the team building a scouting network for the lower reaches of women’s football - with help from 1/5 of Dragon’s Den

www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...

LinkedIn, volunteers, and reliant on goodwill. Scouting in women's football's lower leagues remains embryonic

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Mar 4

How do you scout players in the lower reaches of women’s football, where data and clips are scarce?

With LinkedIn, volunteers and goodwill

Meet the team building a scouting network for the lower reaches of women’s football - with help from 1/5 of Dragon’s Den

www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...

LinkedIn, volunteers and goodwill – beyond elite, scouting in women’s football remains embryonic

The WSL has welcomed its first $1million transfer, but the women’s game remains embryonic elsewhere.

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Feb 17

“Ref! Stop the game! They have a boy on their team! Not fair!”

Girls on this under 12s team received such aggression from opposition parents that they grew scared to keep playing

So they have started a campaign: ‘Girls can have short hair - get over it’

www.nytimes.com/athletic/613...

'Girls can have short hair, get over it': How a youth team campaigned against prejudice

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Feb 16

“Ref! Stop the game! They have a boy on their team!”

Meet the under 12s team conquering grassroots football with their campaign ‘Girls can have short hair - get over it’

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jan 14

Some people would have you believe women’s football would be better off without Barbra Banda

But they picked the wrong sport. The view inside the game is the reverse. Women’s football’s history of inclusion gives it a unique place in trans rights and gender debates

www.nytimes.com/athletic/601...

Women’s football’s history of inclusion gives it a unique place in the trans rights and gender debates

A long-standing record of acceptance means the conversation about transgender players' role in women's football differs from other sports

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Jan 7

Been beyond gutted all day, for a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and has carried them in the way Andy Cook has. Felt like the form he was in would last forever. Thinking of what every footballer would give to have what Cook has with #bcafc fanbase ❤️💛 Special connection and special goals

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Dec 28

We spoke to @gavindimmock.bsky.social for a piece on male fans in the women’s game and now he’s started a blog on following the Lionesses in Switzerland next summer, family and how he got into the women’s game. Enjoyed reading it. Have a look here:

gavindimmock.com/2024/12/28/d...

“Do they know it’s Euro time at all…”

This blog is intended to record a Dad and his Lad (in-law) as they travel to Switzerland to watch The Lionesses play at Euro 2025. As the tournament approaches, these early entries will – hop…

gavindimmock.com

Reposted by Katie Whyatt

Megan Feringa @meganferinga.bsky.social · Nov 29

Wales’ Euro2025 qualifying playoff final first leg is tonight. It’s huge - for the future of women’s football in Wales and for its past. So here’s Jess Fishlock telling you to enjoy tonight in the present, because she certainly is.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

Jess Fishlock: ‘Wales at a tournament would be the biggest achievement — and mean everything’

The Wales and Reign midfielder has served her country with distinction - a place at the Euros for the first time is within touching distance

www.nytimes.com

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Nov 29

Why do the big players in women’s football - in boardrooms and leagues - keep mentioning Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets and the Swifties?

What can the sport learn from the Eras tour and what does it mean for the future of women’s football fandom?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

Taylor Swift, the future of fandom and a dilemma facing women’s football

Powerful figures within the game have spoken about the opportunities for attrating new fans, but the comments have divided opinion

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Katie Whyatt

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 28

From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Some of the most powerful people in women's soccer have turned their attention to Taylor Swift. Specifically, the importance of capturing the "Taylor Swift fanbase" as a means of growing the game. nyti.ms/4i2BhYh

A photo of Taylor Swift fans holding up their friendship bracelets with a quote from Amelia, 26, a football fan: “One of the similarities between Swifties at the concert and women who enjoy women’s football matches is reclaiming it as your hobby and unapologetically enjoying it.”

Katie Whyatt @katiewhyatt.bsky.social · Nov 28

Why do the big players in women’s football - in boardrooms and leagues - keep mentioning Taylor Swift, friendship bracelets and the Swifties?

What can the sport learn from the Eras tour, and what does it mean for the future of women’s football fandom?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

Taylor Swift, the future of fandom and a dilemma facing women's football

www.nytimes.com