WSL Football and Nike launch Breaking Lines

22/10/2026

Written by:Ben Whybrow

A long-term programme to inspire the next generation

WSL Football and Nike have launched Breaking Lines, a long-term programme that will shift perceptions, encourage participation and bring young people closer to the women’s game.

Leveraging the experiences of eight Barclays WSL players, Breaking Lines will bring athlete stories into classrooms and football sessions across the country to inspire confidence, build aspiration, and change mindsets. Players who feature include Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Fran Kirby, Kosovare Asllani, Mariona Caldentey, Wieke Kaptein and Lenna Gunning-Williams.

The project, originated through Nike’s expanded role as official technical partner of WSL Football, was built as part of a shared commitment to deliver community engagement initiatives that help improve access and shift perception of football for women and girls so they see themselves in the sport.

The new six-week in-school programme, delivered by Football Beyond Borders (FBB) includes classroom learning alongside practical football sessions featuring drills inspired by the skills players demonstrate on the pitch. Each week focuses on a different theme, using players' experiences to encourage young people to reflect on their own lives. Themes include identity, self-expression, belonging, managing pressure and overcoming setbacks.

Participants will be in years 8 and 9 and will reach approximately 1,600 young people through 46 schools in London, 13 in the Northwest and 10 in the West Midlands.

Our

players

are

role

models

to

young

people

across

the

country,

not

only

because

of

what

they

achieve

on

the

pitch,

but

because

of

the

challenges,

values

and

resilience

that

have

shaped

their

journeys.

Our

expanded

partnership

with

Nike

means

we

can

introduce

programmes

like

this

that

can

make

a

difference

to

society,

while

working

alongside

Football

Beyond

Borders

helps

bring

these

stories

directly

to

young

people.

Using

football

to

start

important

conversations

around

confidence,

identity

and

belonging.

It

is

another

way

we

can

use

the

reach

of

the

Barclays

WSL

and

its

players

to

make

a

positive

impact

beyond

the

game.
Ruth Hooper, Chief Marketing Officer at WSL Football

Breaking

Lines

is

a

powerful

example

of

how

Nike

is

working

in

partnership

with

community

partners,

athletes

and

sports

leagues

around

the

world

to

create

a

future

of

youth

sport

that

is

accessible,

inclusive

and

fun.

Together

with

the

WSL

and

eight

incredible

athletes,

this

community

engagement

initiative

will

shift

perceptions

of

the

game,

and

inspire

more

young

people,

especially

girls,

to

play

football

and

build

a

lasting

connection

with

the

women’s

game.
Dan Burrows, GM, Future of Youth Sport at Nike

At

Football

Beyond

Borders

we

believe

in

the

power

of

sport

to

engage

and

motivate

young

people

in

the

classroom

and

on

the

football

pitch

and

we

are

incredibly

proud

to

partner

with

Nike

and

WSL

Football

to

bring

Breaking

Lines

to

schools

across

the

country

for

the

first

time.

By

showcasing

the

athletes’

personal

and

professional

reflections,

Breaking

Lines

establishes

the

players

as

powerful

role

models

both

on

and

off

the

pitch;

allowing

young

people

to

explore

the

connection

between

who

we

are,

and

how

we

express

ourselves.
Ceylon Andi Hickman, Deputy CEO, Football Beyond Borders

The programme will culminate in a public celebration of the young people's work, inspired by their identities and experiences throughout the six weeks.