Do Any Of The Lionesses Have Children

So, you’re curled up on the sofa, watching the Lionesses tear up the pitch. You see Leah Williamson coolly directing the defence, or Alessia Russo slotting home another goal, and you think, “Hang on, do any of them have kids?” It’s a fair question. After all, we’re used to seeing male footballers with toddlers running onto the field at trophy lifts. But for the women’s game, it’s a bit of a different story.

Well, grab a cuppa, because the answer is a wonderful, heartwarming yes. While most of the current squad are young and focused on their club careers, there are a few Lionesses who are absolutely nailing the parenting game alongside their football one. It’s like watching someone juggle a screaming toddler and a hot cup of tea without spilling a drop—except the tea is a World Cup quarter-final.

The trailblazing mum: Carly Telford

Let’s start with a legend who’s been open about her journey. Carly Telford, the former Lionesses goalkeeper, welcomed her daughter Raya in 2022. She’s spoken beautifully about how becoming a mum changed her perspective on pressure. Suddenly, a penalty shootout doesn’t feel like life or death—it’s just football. Raya is her “why,” but also her reminder that a save is just a save.

You can picture Carly at home, right? Trying to do nappy changes with the same dexterity she uses to palm away a curling free-kick. She’s shown that you don’t have to choose between being a top-flight athlete and being a mum. You just have to be really good at managing zero sleep.

The modern football mum: Demi Stokes

Then there’s Demi Stokes, the Manchester City defender. Demi and her partner welcomed their son Harlen via surrogacy. And honestly, seeing Demi post a photo of Harlen in a tiny Lionesses kit? My heart did a quadruple somersault. It normalises something that used to feel rare in women’s sport: the idea that you can have a kid and still fly down the wing at top speed.

Imagine being Harlen. Your mum is a professional footballer, and your nursery is basically a team training ground. You learn to crawl while she’s doing shuttle runs. That’s the kind of powerful role model every little kid needs—proof that mums are superheroes in football boots, not just in the kitchen.

Are Lionesses Good Mothers at Evie Wynyard blog

Why should you care? (Besides the cute photos)

You might be thinking, “Okay, nice, but why does it matter if they have kids?” Because it changes the entire conversation about women in sport. For decades, the message was: “Have a baby? Say goodbye to your career.” Now, these Lionesses are smashing that myth with a steel-toed boot. They’re showing the next generation of girls that you can be a mum and chase a ball, a dream, a trophy—all at once.

Think about your own life. Maybe you’ve had to juggle a work deadline with a child’s school play. Suddenly, seeing Demi or Carly do it on an international stage feels like a high-five from the universe. It says, “Yes, it’s exhausting. Yes, it’s chaotic. But it’s also glorious.”

The bigger picture: a team of aunties

Here’s the thing: even the Lionesses who don’t have children act like a massive, supportive village. When Beth Mead scored a goal, she’d often kiss her wrist—a tribute to her mum who passed away. And the whole team rallies around players who are parents. It’s like that friend group where one person has a baby, and suddenly everyone is an honorary auntie or uncle.

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So, when you see the team huddle, imagine the conversations: “Did your little one sleep last night?” “Have you tried the purple teether?” It’s grounding. It makes these world-class athletes feel like real people—people who also stress about nappy rash and bedtime routines, just like you and me.

The takeaway

Do any of the Lionesses have children? Yes. And it’s not just a fun fact. It’s a revolution. It’s a quiet, beautiful statement that a woman’s life doesn’t end when she becomes a mother—it multiplies. She gains new strength, new focus, and a tiny human in the stands screaming “Go, Mummy!”

Next time you watch a game, scan the sidelines. Look for a proud partner holding a small, squirming bundle. That little person is growing up watching their mum change the game—literally. And honestly? That’s way more inspiring than any goal celebration. Well, except for the robot dance. That’s also brilliant.