Leah Williamson pauses, pizza in hand, her hair still damp from the post-match shower and a faint bruise on her lip, unable to wipe the grin off her face. “Not another one?!” I tease, mimicking her viral parody of the general election clip after England won the Finalissima. “Another one?!” she shoots back, still beaming.
I’m not the only one who remembers that moment. “NOT ANOTHER ONEEEE,” Lauren Hemp had commented on Williamson’s Instagram post.
At 28, Williamson has plenty to smile about—she’s making history again and again. The girl whose mum once parked the car at the edge of a pitch at 6 a.m., headlights on, so she could train in the dark before school is now the first England captain to lift two major trophies. She also helped secure England’s first tournament win on foreign soil, just two months after celebrating European glory with her childhood club, Arsenal.
Records are falling. Barriers are breaking. Doors are opening. Under Williamson’s leadership, this team—which briefly united a divided nation—is redefining what it means to be “proper English.” They’re vocal advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, fierce opponents of racism, defenders of the environment, campaigners against poverty, and warriors for women’s and girls’ equality.
Back in May, at Arsenal’s Champions League trophy celebration outside the Emirates, Williamson spoke about what that victory meant. “I always said, ‘A trophy for England over a trophy for Arsenal,’ because you don’t choose your country—it’s fate, it’s luck,” she said, emotion clear in her voice. “But now I feel almost ashamed because that moment was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I hope other Arsenal fans feel the same because I know I lived a dream.”
The thing is, Williamson doesn’t have to choose. She can have it all—and she does.
Reflecting on the showdown against Spain in Basel, she says, “The first half demanded a lot defensively. Things went our way—we were in the right place at the right time. I had that same feeling I did in the Champions League final: ‘Today is our day.’ To achieve this? What a year. If I think about it too much, I’ll cry. Looking back over the last couple of years since our 2022 win, I’m just proud.”
The Arsenal center-back was outstanding in Switzerland, quietly excelling amid the hype around England’s super-subs. She delivered consistently despite rotating defensive partners throughout the tournament—first Alex Greenwood, then Jess Carter, then Esme Morgan, then Carter again.
In the final, no player dribbled past Williamson or Carter. They blocked the most shots, and Williamson made more defensive actions and clearances than anyone else on the pitch. Crucially, her passing range was exceptional—her diagonal balls were key to England’s attacking play. She completed more line-breaking passes than any other defender at the tournament, a tally only surpassed by Spain’s midfielder Patri Guijarro.
Williamson thrives in big games—like her flawless performance in Arsenal’s Champions League final, where the defense didn’t concede a single foul. But she’s just as reliable in smaller matches, steady and unshakable.
Few were surprised when she was named England captain in 2022, succeeding Steph Houghton despite more experienced players like Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, and Ellen White being in the squad. With just 20 caps at the time, Williamson had already shown wisdom beyond her years. Former Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro once praised her “maturity, understanding of the game, and positional intelligence.”Chloe Kelly recognized Leah Williamson’s leadership qualities long before others did. “I remember joining Arsenal at 12 and telling my parents, ‘Leah’s going to be England captain one day,’” Kelly said. “She’s an incredible person—approachable, consistent, and a natural leader. Even with the pressure of captaining England at major tournaments, she never lets it show. She’s the perfect captain.”
At the 2022 Euros, Williamson thrived in her role, commanding the team on the pitch while advocating for the growth of women’s football off it. Her passionate speeches in press conferences and mixed zones highlighted her dedication to the sport’s development.
On the field, Williamson is a vocal leader, rallying her teammates with intensity—a contrast to her quieter off-pitch demeanor. She’s learned from Arsenal captain Kim Little, who leads more through action than words.
Ella Toone praised her during the tournament: “Leah’s amazing. She brings everyone together, leads by example, and lifts the team when it matters most.”
Williamson plays with emotional intelligence, often seen strategizing with coach Sarina Wiegman during breaks. After Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty secured England’s victory, Williamson immediately turned to console the heartbroken Spanish players—a true leader’s instinct.
The celebrations continued with an open-top bus parade and a reception outside Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, the Lionesses wasted no time pushing for progress, heading straight to Downing Street to advocate for more grassroots opportunities for women and girls.
For Williamson, the work never stops. When asked how winning everything at Arsenal motivates her, she replied without hesitation: “I haven’t won everything. There’s still a World Cup to win.” Now, she’ll take a moment to savor this triumph before setting her sights on the next challenge.
