Millie Bright has sent a strong message about the treatment of female athletes, emphasizing that “nobody owns” them, after an unsettling incident involving Emma Raducanu at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Raducanu was left in tears when she spotted a spectator in the stands who had previously accosted her. The man, described by the Women’s Tennis Association as displaying “fixated behavior,” was removed by security.
This comes as Bright herself recently spoke out against fan behavior after experiencing verbal abuse following Chelsea’s victory over Aston Villa. After taking time to sign autographs and interact with supporters, she was met with criticism from a fan about her performance.
Reflecting on the incident, the England international expressed her disappointment. “Football is full of opinions, and everyone can have one. I wasn’t bothered by the opinion on my performance; it was more about the fact that I had just given my time to the fans and was then disrespected,” she said.
Bright emphasized that female athletes are human beings, not objects for public scrutiny. “We are somebody’s partner, somebody’s daughter. We are not items. Nobody owns us. We own ourselves, and that needs to be reminded and told,” she stated.
She also expressed relief that the incident had happened to her rather than to a younger teammate, recognizing the potential emotional impact. “Comments like that can really affect you. We go out and play for our fans every single game whether for club or country—and we want to make people proud,” she said.
Bright has heard of similar experiences from other players who felt unable to speak out. She hopes that by addressing the issue, she can encourage teammates to stand up for themselves. “You don’t deserve to be disrespected, especially when you’ve given your time and effort after a game. It’s a two-way street. I feel like this is something that’s creeping into the women’s game, and my post was just a gentle reminder,” she explained.
As England prepares for their upcoming Nations League matches, including a game against Portugal and a high-profile clash with world champions Spain at Wembley, Bright believes this international window has come at a good time. “It’s always good to get that time away and refresh mentally and physically. We’ve started the year with a really positive energy, and everyone’s thriving to be back and excited for two massive games,” she said.
Looking back on the past year, Bright described it as a rollercoaster, with performances not always meeting expectations. However, she acknowledged the progress of women’s football globally. “Football is very challenging on and off the pitch. We’ve learned some really good lessons, but we have a lot of good memories as well. Sometimes we forget that the rest of the world is also improving and training as professional athletes like us. I’m really proud that the game is growing so much and is even more competitive now,” she reflected.
Despite the looming European Championship, Bright is staying focused on the present. “I’ve not actually thought about the Euros just yet. It’s still a little bit too far away. Everything we’re doing now is to prepare for the Euros, but when we’re on a camp with two competitive games for the Nations League, I think it’s so important to stay present in the moment,” she said.
