Sportsmanship was the best part of the 2023 Women’s World Cup

The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be remembered for many reasons including record crowds, unexpected results, and the early exits top-ranked teams such as the USA and Germany. However, one of the defining features of the tournament was the incredible displays of sportsmanship from all players.

Marta, one of the sport’s all time greats, shares a heartfelt moment with Bunny Shaw after Jamaica eliminates Brazil

The camaraderie and mutual compassion between players captivated viewers around the world, and the women’s football community was proud to see these values of respect and fair play showcased at the highest level of the sport.

Within our own grassroots community, the FA’s “We Only Do Positive” campaign is at the centre of creating a supportive environment where players can both develop their skills and grow as individuals. At Girls Super League, we believe an essential part of this personal development is achieved through learning to practice good sportsmanship. The Lionesses are incredible role models and we hope that players everywhere are inspired to follow their example, not only in their technical performance but also by approaching the game with kindness and respect.

Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable moments of sportsmanship from the World Cup.

Jonna Andersson (Sweden) consoles Maika Hamano (Japan)

One of the tournament’s most touching moments came after Sweden eliminated Japan in the quarterfinals. After a string of fantastic team performances, Japan were considered favourites to go all the way. Unfortunately, a defeat to Sweden brought their journey to an end.

Although Sweden would have been elated at securing a place in the semi-finals, they cast aside their competitive spirits to embrace their opponents. Sweden’s Jonna Andersson was one of the first to do so, as she hugged devastated Japanese forward, Maika Hamano.

Andersson later said, "I wanted to show her that I care about her, she's a fantastic person."

Chloe Kelly (England) supports Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)

The Lionesses were another team that led by example, showing the world what it means to be gracious in victory. After a nail biting penalty shootout, Nigeria were knocked out in the round of 16. After scoring the winning penalty, Chloe Kelly immediately went to comfort the Nigerian keeper.

Chloe was widely praised for her class, as she urged TV cameras to give Nnadozie some privacy and helped her to her feet. Her actions reflected an ethos established by England coach Sarina Wiegman, who instilled in her team the importance of remaining humble and respectful in victory.

Keira Walsh explained, "We all know the feeling of being knocked out of a World Cup and it's one of the worst feelings in the world.” Her comments show that being a good player is less about winning, and more about how you conduct yourself.

Millie Bright (England) shows respect for friend Sam Kerr (Australia)

Millie Bright and Sam Kerr are good friends who play together for Chelsea FC in the Womens Super League, but they faced each other in the World Cup as England went up against Australia in the semi-finals.

There could only be one winner, and tournament hosts Australia were knocked out after a 3-1 loss to England. After the final whistle Bright and Kerr shared an embrace and Kerr gifted Millie Bright her prized match-worn jersey.

Bright proudly wore the jersey in her post-match interviews, saying “In football, we always have huge amounts of respect for our opponents and some of our opponents are more than that, they are friends as well.”

Positivity and Respect Always Win

This World Cup has shown that players and teams that embrace kindness and respect are able to enrich not only their own experience but also make the football community a more positive and enjoyable space. Every individual plays a part in creating a supportive community, from players and coaches to referees and supporters. At GSL we ask everyone to work together to create a place where girls can thrive and grow their love of the game.

Coaches and managers are specifically responsible for teaching players values of respect and positivity. Players should understand that although everyone wants to win, it’s how you win that matters most. For the coming season, we hope to see these standards of sportsmanship shine through. We can only ensure an environment of positivity, respect and fairness when everyone agrees to uphold these values, so please review our Codes of Conduct which act as the foundation for implementing the “We Only Do Positive” campain.