top of page
Search

Best WLW Women’s Football Books | LGBTQ+ Soccer Romance Reads

Updated: Sep 28

“You can’t win without gay players.” – Megan Rapinoe

And honestly? She’s right. Here's a list to celebrate that fact.


If you’ve been searching for the best women’s football books that celebrate love, identity, and the beautiful game, you’re in the right place. This curated list brings together WLW / sapphic romance novels, lesbian soccer love stories, and queer sports fiction that put women’s sport at the heart of the narrative. Whether you’re after an inspiring YA sapphic football romance or a slow‑burn adult lesbian sports novel, these titles showcase the passion, drama, and joy of women’s football, both on and off the pitch.


I am optimistic this might just be the most comprehensive list of books about women’s football with WLW relationships, because frankly, I've already spent hours scouring the internet, consolidating the various lists that are already out there!


Young Adult WLW Football Books


Cover of WLW women’s football romance You Don’t Have A Shot by Racquel Marie, which is an illustration of two girls glaringng at each other in front of a football pitch (Her Boots, Her Books)

You Don't Have a Shot

At a high-stakes summer soccer camp, Vale Castillo-Green must partner with her long-standing rival Leticia Ortiz to lead a team of underdogs. As their teamwork deepens into unexpected romance, Vale begins to rediscover both her passion for the sport and her sense of self.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Training ground by Kate Christie, which is an image from behind of two girls sat on bench with their hands touching (Her Boots, Her Books)

Girls of Summer series

Over the course of the Girls of Summer series, soccer prodigies Jamie and Emma grow from ambitious teens into elite athletes chasing spots on the U.S. Women’s National Team. As their careers evolve, so does their relationship.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Girl Crushed by Kate Henaey, which is an illustration of two young women looking over their shoulders at each other (Her Boots, Her Books)

Girl Crushed

Quinn Ryan starts her senior year heartbroken after being dumped by her best friend and girlfriend, Jamie Rudawski, leaving her adrift in both love and friendship. As she grows closer to Ruby Ocampo, a charismatic lead singer with her own romantic baggage, Quinn must navigate messy emotions, shifting loyalties, and the lingering pull of first love.


(New) Adult WLW Football Books


Cover art of WLW women’s football romance Florrie by Anna Trench, which is a greyscale drawing of a girl chasing a football on a green background (Her Boots, Her Books)

Florrie

A poignant graphic novel that uncovers the hidden history of women’s football through the life of Florrie, a young player navigating love, identity, and societal constraints in the early 20th century. Told through discovered letters and photos, it’s a tender story of queer love, friendship, and resilience against the backdrop of the FA’s 1921 ban on the women’s game.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Beautiful Game by Kate Christie, which is a photo of a football in the foreground on grass with a goal in the background (Her Boots, Her Books)

Beautiful Game

Set in early 1990s Southern California, Camille is a college soccer player navigating identity, ambition, and the complexities of queer love. When she falls for Jess, a star tennis player with a seemingly perfect life, Camille must decide how much she's willing to risk for a chance at something real.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Never Mine by Bryce Oakley, which is a modern illustration of a woman with a pink face and blue hair (Her Boots, Her Books)

Never Mine

Sage Carson, a rebellious soccer star recovering from injury, agrees to a fake relationship with sweet, organised Willa Bellamy to secure a crucial endorsement deal and help Willa save face at her ex’s wedding. But as sparks fly and their connection deepens, the line between pretend and real begins to blur, challenging them both to confront what they truly want.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Cleat Clute by Meryl Wilsner, which is an illustration of a brunette and redhead looking at each other (Her Boots, Her Books)

Cleat Cute

Grace Henderson, a seasoned soccer star battling injury and self-doubt, clashes with rookie Phoebe Matthews, whose playful energy and childhood crush on Grace spark unexpected chemistry. As their rivalry turns into a steamy friends-with-benefits arrangement, both must decide if love is worth risking their spot on the national team.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Playing for Her Heart by Melissa Terezd, which is a photo of the torso of a woman holding a football (Her Boots, Her Books)

Playing for her Heart

Dom Simmons, a football star known for her charm and commitment to the game, collides, literally, with Blair Harrington, a newly divorced single mother seeking a fresh start. As their unexpected connection deepens, both women must confront past wounds and decide whether love is worth the risk of rewriting their futures.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Hotshot by Clare Lydon, which is an illustration of a woman in a tracksuit holding a whistle, and another kicking a ball on a football pitch (Her Boots, Her Books)

Hotshot

Sloane Patterson, a U.S. soccer superstar fresh off a World Cup win, escapes to England to rebuild her life after personal betrayals and media scrutiny. As she bonds with Ella Carmichael, her team’s performance coach, their friendship deepens into a slow-burning romance that could upend everything when Sloane’s contract ends.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Finding a Keeper by Nicole Pyland, which is the silhouettes of two people kicking a ball with a rainbow drop shadow (Her Boots, Her Books)
Finding a Keeper

Sloan Rossi, a talented striker returning to the U.S. for college soccer, unexpectedly finds herself filling in as goalkeeper after an injury sidelines the team’s starter. As she grows closer to Marley Nichols, the sidelined goalie, their friendship deepens into a tender romance that challenges Sloan to explore her identity and open her heart.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Take Her On by Emily Weight, which is an illustration of two women back to back in a football stadium (Her Boots, Her Books)

Take Her On

Maya’s final year at university is thrown into chaos when her arch rival Jamie Mellor joins her struggling football team, forcing them into an uneasy alliance. As championship pressure mounts and personal secrets surface, their fiery rivalry begins to shift into something far more intimate.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Game Changers by Jane Cuthbertson, which is a picture of a football as a meteor on a blue starry background (Her Boots, Her Books)

Game Changer

Rachel Johnston, a reclusive writer grappling with lifelong depression, finds her world upended when she meets Jaye Stokes, a vibrant professional soccer player who’s determined to build a life with her. As their relationship deepens, a tragic accident forces Rachel to confront her fears and decide whether love and healing is truly possible.


The Senator's Wife series

Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance The Senators Wife by Jen Lyon, which is a photo of a woman in a red dress looking at a football pitch with a red bridge in the background (Her Boots, Her Books)

In this slow-burn, high-stakes romance trilogy, professional soccer player Alex Grey rescues Catharine Cleveland, a powerful CEO trapped in a loveless marriage to a U.S. senator. As their connection deepens across The Senator’s Wife, Caught Sleeping, and Whistleblower, both women must navigate political scandal, personal sacrifice, and the courage to choose love over legacy.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Onside Play by Liz Rain, which is an illustration of two players chasing a ball (Her Boots, Her Books)

Onside Play

Keeley McGee, a bold Australian soccer star, reunites with her cool-headed ex Christine Delacourt, now a U.S. striker, under the high-stakes spotlight of the World Cup. As past heartbreak collides with present-day rivalry, their second-chance romance unfolds through alternating timelines of college love and international competition.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance Endgame by Zoe Reid, which is a line drawing of someone with a multicolour football in front of their face on a light blue background (Her Boots, Her Books)

Endgame

Audrey Caplan is laser-focused on becoming captain of her college soccer team - until Morgan Bailey, a charming and unpredictable new teammate, throws her plans off course. As their rivalry shifts into a slow-burn romance, Audrey must decide whether letting someone in is worth the risk to her carefully structured world.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance The Princess Match by Clare Lydon, which is an illustration of someone in a pink dress and crown, and another in football kit holding a football (Her Boots, Her Books)

The Princess Match

Princess Victoria has mastered the art of royal perfection, complete with a fake boyfriend and flawless public image, until a spark with England’s football captain Ashleigh Woods turns her world upside down. As their secret romance collides with tradition and tabloid frenzy, both women must decide if love is worth rewriting the rules of royalty and sport.


Cover of WLW women’s soccer romance The Game Changer by Finley Chuba, which has a big pink heart over a chess board. The hands of two people can be seen (Her Boots, Her Books)

The Game Changer

Harper Wright, a board game café owner with a longtime crush on her sister’s friend, agrees to a no-strings fling with soccer star Elena Torres, who’s navigating life after divorce and a recent autism diagnosis. As their connection deepens beyond casual, both women must confront past heartbreak and decide if they’re ready to play for keeps.


Cover of WLW women’s football romance Loving a Keeper by Liz Lincoln, which is a photo of someone’s torso in a white tshirt with a football under their arm (Her Boots, Her Books)

Loving a Keeper

Rose Olivieri, a soccer player nursing years of unspoken love for her teammate Cassie Dickinson, invites the newly divorced goalkeeper to move in, hoping proximity will extinguish lingering feelings. But when their platonic dating pact turns into a steamy friends-with-benefits arrangement, both women must decide if love is worth risking their friendship.


If you’re looking for the best women’s football books, sapphic sports romances, or lesbian soccer novels, this list is a great starting point to explore queer love stories in sport.


Want to discover more women's football books? Visit the main list here.


Disclaimer

I’ve done my best to ensure this list is accurate, inclusive, and representative of books that feature both women’s football and WLW relationships. The level and type of representation varies: some stories focus more on romance, others on the sport itself, and some explore both in equal measure. This list is intended as a resource, not a definitive authority, and I welcome thoughtful suggestions, corrections, or additions. Please note: any views expressed by the authors, whether within their works or in wider public discourse, are not my own. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement of any author, publisher, or viewpoint. My aim is simply to highlight and celebrate queer stories in sport, because visibility matters.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page