Former England defender Alex Scott says the sustained success of the Lionesses and England’s rugby union side shows why the backing for women’s sport must continue, as the UEFA Women’s Champions League prepares to kick off on Disney+.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT at an event in central London to mark the start of this season’s competition, Scott said: “It goes back to investment. If you invest in a product, you get the rewards. For so long in women’s sport – football, rugby, cricket – we were kept to the side, but now you can see if you back it and do it in the right ways, and we’re not just talking about money, we’re talking about training facilities, physios, doctors, travel, everything that goes into making you an elite athlete. You are now seeing the rewards of that, and it’s been a long time coming.”
Recent results underline her point. The Lionesses have been crowned European champions in 2022 and 2025 and were World Cup runners-up in between, while England’s Red Roses lifted the Rugby World Cup last month.
Scott Insists Broadcast Deal is a Landmark Moment
The Regent Street launch mixed football and culture. Guests posed for pictures beside a fresh mural by street artist Mr Meana, who created the Leah Williamson artwork in her hometown of Newport Pagnell. Champions League shirts lined the store, while freestylers showed off their skills on the shop floor.
Scott, who lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy with Arsenal in 2007, called the competition’s broadcast deal a landmark. She said: “From the very start all the way to the very end, to highlight and showcase these different journeys of teams and players, it’s a big moment.”
She described Arsenal’s victory 18 years ago as a defining memory. “We managed to win it in 2007 and what I loved about that moment is, yes, we finally got our hands on the trophy, but no-one expected us to. It’s that underdog story, but also the impact it had on other teams in our league at that time. Sometimes it’s bigger than just you and your club, it’s about the impact that it can have.”
On English clubs’ prospects this season, Scott said: “Chelsea have got star-quality players, strength in depth and a great manager in Sonia Bompastor. They are the team everyone is tipping to maybe lift the trophy, but they’ve been tipped in many other years and haven’t done it yet. Arsenal, obviously the holders, will want to retain it, and Manchester United are in there for the first time too.”
Arsenal have started their WSL campaign with two wins and two draws, leaving them four points behind Chelsea. Scott said the standards are clear. “When you play for Arsenal, you know you’re expected to win and get trophies, and it’s a good pressure. Chelsea are absolutely formidable, winning back-to-back trophies the amount of times they’ve done this. Other teams need to step up and be like, ‘We’re going to be the ones to stop you this year’, but it will take a huge effort.”
She added: “It’s the same in the men’s game. When you saw that last-minute winner from Arsenal and how much it meant to them against Newcastle United, because they know if they drop those points, how far they’re going to be off Liverpool. It’s the same in the WSL.”
The UEFA Women’s Champions League begins on October 7 and 8 with every game live on Disney+ as part of existing subscriptions.