Multidimensional Determinants of Performance in Women’s Football: A Narrative Review

Women’s football represents the convergence of the history of sport, the history of women, and the history of women’s participation in ball games. From Classical antiquity, literary and archeological evidence highlights a long-standing association between spherical objects and the female sphere. While ancient physical cultures primarily celebrated male athleticism, records from various Classical civilizations indicate that women occasionally engaged in ball games and recreational exercises. In ancient Greece and Rome, these activities were often socially framed around themes of youth, grace, and courtship rituals, rather than structured competitive sport. Over the centuries, women continuously negotiated their access to physical play, transitioning from these early symbolic associations to more organized activities by the late Middle Ages. It was only at the end of the nineteenth century, alongside broader movements for female emancipation, that women’s football began to emerge in Great Britain, marking the entry of women into an exclusively male sporting domain. In recent decades, women’s football has undergone substantial professionalization and global expansion, accompanied by growing scientific interest in understanding the determinants of performance. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the multidimensional factors influencing performance in women’s football, integrating physical and match demands, physiological and anthropometric characteristics, psychological and emotional components, menstrual cycle-related influences, and contextual variables. The literature published between 2008 and 2024 was examined across major scientific databases. Findings indicate that while total match distance has remained relatively stable (averaging 9500–10,500 m), high-speed running distances, sprint frequencies, and peak intensity demands have escalated by 15–30% over the tracked decade. Psychological resilience and team dynamics contribute meaningfully to performance outcomes, whereas menstrual cycle phases appear to exert limited and inconsistent effects on objective physical performance. Overall, performance in women’s football emerges from the dynamic interaction of multiple domains, underscoring the need for integrated and individualized performance management strategies.