How understanding the menstrual cycle is breaking new ground for women’s soccer

Players' cycles, once deemed to be a minor inconvenience, are now seen as potential keys to unlock big gains in performance

In 1921, the English Football Association banned women's soccer, declaring the game unsuitable for females". The sport has reclaimed its place on the world stage over the subsequent century-plus, but another outdated notion persists; that the players' menstrual cycles are just an inconvenience rather than a key performance variable worth studying.

Now, a collection of researchers and medical professionals are lending their expertise to what could be the sport's next big evolution.