Dawn Scott: the sports scientist shaking up women’s football performance

Described by one USA player as the secret to everything', the coach says female health needs more focus as the game grows

Megan Rapinoe cried when she heard sports scientist Dawn Scott was leaving the US women's national team. For almost a decade Scott led sports science innovation for the USWNT, as they won trophy after trophy. The Englishwoman departed the world champions in late 2019, with another American player describing her as the secret to everything".

In a strange way, it is testament to the growth of women's football that Scott is not at the 2023 Women's World Cup. When the tournament began last week, she was halfway around the world, working as the vice-president of performance, medical and innovation at National Women's Soccer League club Washington Spirit. The demand for Scott and her absence from the World Cup speak to the incredible advancement of the women's game over the past decade, with increased sophistication at club level and new figures driving innovation within national teams.