There will be at least 17 publicly out women – 15 players and two coaches – at the 2015 Women's World Cup when it tips off in Canada this Saturday, June 6. That is exactly 18 more out LGBT players than the men had at their World Cup a year ago.
Many of the women have been identified by Just A Ball Game, an organization that works to end anti-LGBT bias in soccer.
"While the men's professional game has been reluctant to be fully inclusive and supportive of anyone within the game who identifies as LGBT its generally regarded that football is much more accepting of women who are lesbian or bisexual," said Lindsay England, head of Just A Ball Game.
"In celebration of those women's players who have spoken to the media openly about their sexuality, here at JBG? we have produced a double sided poster of 14 players and a coach who will feature for their International sides in the tournament in Canada all of whom are OUT, PROUD and KICKING."
The current list of publicly out women at the 2015 Women's World Cup stands at 18. Please do let us know whom we missed, and we'll relay that to Just A Ball Game as well – you can tweet us @outsports.
Nadine Angerer, Germany
Ramona Bachmann, Switzerland
Lisa Dahlkvist, Sweden
Katie Duncan, New Zealand
Jillian Ellis, United States (coach)
Nilla Fischer, Sweden
Isabell Herlovsen, Norway
Michelle Heyman, Australia
Hedvig Lindahl, Sweden
Erin McLeod, Canada
Megan Rapinoe, United States
Trine Ronning, Norway
Lianne Sanderson, England
Caroline Seger, Sweden
Casey Stoney, England
Pia Sundhage, Sweden (coach)
Abby Wambach, United States
