Iconic LGBTQIA+ power couples are always worth talking about. Whether you’ve been obsessing over them or not, we’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. No need to thank us, you’re welcome.
We’ve pulled together a line-up of our current fave queer and sapphic power couples – both on and off the pitch. Are we slightly obsessed with all of them? Maybe. But can you blame us?
This list covers couples from football, rugby, cricket, basketball and more, so whether you’re here for sporty vibes or scrolling icons, there’s someone to crush on. Think of it as inspo. On we go…
1. Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema
Our first duo are the ultimate on-pitch power pairing. Both are pros at the top of their game and somehow manage to keep their relationship drama-free even when the stakes are high. Speaking to the BBC, Mead explained, “We keep in contact, but when it gets closer to our games, we don’t talk football whatsoever” – a very sane way to keep work and love from crashing into each other.
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2. Leah Williamson & Elle Smith
Arsenal/Lionesses captain Leah Williamson appears to be in a relationship with Elle Smith, an American model / former Miss USA. They’ve shared quite a bit of public affection: Elle has posted birthday messages, they’ve been photographed together celebrating important wins (e.g. Euros 2025), Elle wearing Leah-themed shirts, paddleboarding, and holidays. Leah is very publicly one of the top footballers in the UK; Elle’s in the modelling/ pageant/ media space. Their connection is visible; Leah remains prominent in sport. It’s a strong match for a sports power couple (one in sport, one not).
They’ve also got an outrageously cute dog, and, let’s be honest, they’re ridiculously cute together. Each of them is a force in their own right, but together they’re the definition of a power couple.
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3. Alex Scott & Jess Glynne
Alex Scott (former footballer & current pundit/broadcaster) + Jess Glynne (singer) have been dating since the summer of 2023. They keep parts of their relationship private, but have made red carpet appearances together, shared public support, and been affectionate in photo-ops and events. Jess has spoken about feeling comfortable and happy in the relationship.
4. Celia Quansah & Megan Jones
Celia & Megan are rugby sevens stars (and teammates) who’ve taken “partners in sport and in life” to whole new heights. They met playing at Loughborough University, bonded over rugby, and have represented Great Britain together (hello, Tokyo 2020!). Quansah has talked openly about how rugby’s culture helped her to embrace her identity, how having someone who knows the highs and lows of the field makes everything just… more grounded.
5. Robyn Love & Laurie Williams
Robyn and Laurie are absolute legends in UK wheelchair basketball. Both represent Great Britain; both have been big figures in advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in disabled sport. They got engaged in 2020, and have navigated training, competition, and motherhood (they have a daughter, Alba) while being one of the most visible queer disabled couples in UK sport. Their presence isn’t just powerful – it’s proof that family, love, and competing at the top can all co-exist.
6. Kate & Helen Richardson-Walsh
Kate and Helen are retired hockey stars, but still too iconic not to include. They made history as the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic gold together for Great Britain in 2016. Their story’s been about more than medals: it’s about pioneering visibility, showing what queer joy in sport can look like, and continuing to be role models off the pitch.
7. Nat Sciver-Brunt & Katherine Brunt
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Katherine Brunt are both England women’s cricketers, married since 2022. They’ve been super visible as a couple in cricket, offering representation, speaking out, and doing things like reading bedtime stories on CBeebies together for Pride.
8. Maia Bouchier & Jess Grimson
Maia Bouchier is an England women’s cricketer (batter) who is openly gay. She’s in a relationship with Jess Grimson, a British international beach volleyball athlete and sports therapist. They met through sport / sporting spaces (at the 2022 Commonwealth Games) and live together.
9. Danni Wyatt & Georgie Hodge
Danni Wyatt (England women’s cricketer) married Georgie Hodge in June 2024. Georgie is a football agent, so while both are connected to sport, only one is an athlete.
10. GK Barry (Grace Keeling) & Ella Rutherford
Grace “GK Barry” Keeling (influencer/media personality) is dating Ella Rutherford, who plays professional women’s football (striker for Ipswich Town). The dynamic is one athlete + one non-athlete, but very sport-adjacent, and public.
11. Lauren Hemp & Ashley Hodson
England forward Lauren Hemp is in a relationship with former footballer Ashley Hodson. They have been together since 2023 and often share their relationship on social media.
12. Jess Carter & Ann-Katrin Berger
Chelsea players Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger began dating in 2017 and announced their engagement in 2024. Their relationship has been a significant example of LGBTQ+ visibility in professional football.
13. Casey Stoney & Megan Harris
Casey Stoney is married to Megan Harris, a former professional footballer and Stoney’s former teammate at Lincoln Ladies. The couple has three children together. Stoney publicly came out as a lesbian in February 2014. In July 2014, she announced that she and Harris were expecting twins, who were born in November 2014.
14. Anita Asante & Beth Fisher
Anita Asante is married to Beth Fisher, a former Welsh hockey player and sports journalist. The couple tied the knot in January 2023 and welcomed their first child, Gigi, in May 2024. They reside in Penarth, Wales, and have been together since 2019. Asante, a former England international footballer, has been open about her experiences as a lesbian in sports. She and Fisher have discussed the challenges faced by lesbian sportswomen, particularly regarding parenthood. They have highlighted issues such as the lack of support for same-sex parents and the need for better education on LGBTQ+ issues in sports.
15. Tara Moore & Khloe Cortrecht
Tara Moore is a British professional tennis player known for her doubles prowess and fierce on-court energy. In a heartwarming turn of events, Moore announced her engagement to Khloe Cortrecht on August 18, 2025. The couple shared their joy on social media, with Moore describing their love as “a love like this only comes once in a lifetime.”
16. Sarah Jones & Molly Deegan
Sarah Jones is a Welsh field hockey player who has made significant contributions to both the Wales and Great Britain national teams.
17. Lucy Bronze & Ona Batlle
As of 2025, Lucy Bronze is in a relationship with Spanish footballer Ona Batlle. While neither has publicly confirmed the relationship, their closeness and shared moments have led to widespread speculation. The couple has been seen spending holidays together, including a trip to Disneyland Paris during Christmas 2024 and a getaway to Switzerland ahead of the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro. Ona also shared photos from a birthday trip in 2025, captioned “Bday week,” which further fueled rumours about their relationship.
18. Jill Scott & Shelly Unitt
Jill Scott is a retired England footballer and midfield powerhouse, known for her incredible vision, leadership, and 161 caps for the Lionesses. She was a key figure in England’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 win and enjoyed a glittering club career with Sunderland, Everton, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. Off the pitch, Jill has been just as busy: she won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, co-hosts the podcast Stick to Football, and is a regular captain on A League of Their Own.
Her fiancé, Shelly Unitt, is the younger sister of former England footballer Rachel Unitt and works as a Community Health Officer. Together, Jill and Shelly also co-own Manchester coffee spot BOXX2BOXX. The couple, engaged since March 2020, are living their best lives blending sport, business, and love — a proper power couple both on and off the pitch.
19. Holly Aitchison & Hannah Botterman
Okay, so this has sadly come to an end, but they were a power couple, so get a shout-out from us all the same. Holly Aitchison and Hannah Botterman are no longer together; they reportedly split in 2025. The pair, who met at Hartpury College in 2015, had a rekindled romance starting around 2020 but have since separated, though they remain teammates for England.
20. Mackenzie Carson & Sarah Bern
Mackenzie Carson and Sarah Bern are a formidable duo in the world of women’s rugby. Carson, a Canadian-born prop, made headlines in 2023 by switching her international allegiance to England, becoming the first player to represent England after being capped by another nation. She currently plays for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premiership Women’s Rugby. Bern, an English prop known for her powerful scrummaging, has been a mainstay in the Red Roses pack. Their relationship blossomed during their time together at Bristol Bears, and they’ve since become one of rugby’s most inspiring couples. Both athletes are openly queer, using their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. Their partnership is a testament to love, strength, and representation in the rugby community.
21. Mel Reid & Carly Reid
Mel Reid is an openly gay English professional golfer. Born on 19 September 1987 in Derby, England, she has been a prominent figure in women’s golf, playing on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. In December 2018, Reid publicly came out as gay, becoming one of the few openly LGBTQ+ athletes on the LPGA Tour at the time. She cited a desire to be authentic and to support the fight for equality in sports as her reasons for coming out. Reid is currently married to Carly; the couple announced the birth of their son, Kai William Reid, in November 2024.
22. Stacey Francis-Bayman & Sara Francis-Bayman
Netball royalty, if ever there was some. Stacey Francis-Bayman and Sara Francis-Bayman are one of sport’s ultimate power couples – both legends of the England Roses who’ve now turned their talents to shaping the game off the court. Stacey spent years flying between the UK and Australia to star for West Coast Fever, while Sara captained the national side and has since stepped into coaching and leadership roles in elite netball.
The two married in December 2020 after years of managing a long-distance relationship and have been unapologetically visible about their love story ever since. They’re proof that you can smash it professionally and still make a marriage work under the pressures of elite sport. Together they’re raising the profile of netball – and LGBTQ+ athletes – by just being themselves: talented, driven, and completely in love.
23. Natasha Coates & Becca
Natasha is a ParaGymnast and has won 27 British elite gymnastics titles and 48 British medals. In December 2022, Natasha announced her engagement to her partner, sharing the joyous news on social media.
24. Meg Jones & Celia Quansah
Meg Jones and Celia Quansah are not just teammates; they’re a power couple redefining love and representation in rugby. Both England Sevens internationals represented Great Britain together at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and continue to shine on the field. Meg, a Cardiff native, plays for Ealing Trailfinders, while Celia, who transitioned from athletics to rugby, also plays for Ealing Trailfinders. Their relationship blossomed from teammates to soulmates, and they’ve been open about their love, using their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. Their journey is a testament to love, resilience, and the power of being unapologetically oneself.
Who have we missed? Drop us an email and we’ll have them added.
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
