England swept to unforgettable glory when they became European champions at a buoyant Wembley in 2022.
Chloe Kelly's winning goal against Germany sealed glory for Sarina Wiegman's side and a strong showing followed at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
There have been some key changes in personnel since, so how are the Lionesses shaping up for their title defence at UEFA Women's Euro 2025?
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Who are the Lionesses?
‘The Lionesses’ is the nickname for the England women’s national football team, officially formed in 1972.
Women’s football occupies an interesting status in UK sports history, as it was banned between 1921 and 1970 , with the game deemed “quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged”.
Unsurprisingly, the ban hugely hindered the development of the sport in comparison to the men’s game in the UK. This reflected the global picture to a large extent, with the first FIFA Women’s World Cup only taking place in 1991 – a huge 61 years after the inaugural men's competition.
The Lionesses only joined the international stage with their 1995 World Cup qualification, where they lost to Germany in the quarterfinals. Performances have improved steadily since then, most notably since the launch of the Women's Super League in 2011, and they are currently ranking fifth in the world by FIFA.
As well as finishing as runners-up in the 2023 Women’s World Cup – their most recent international competition – they are perhaps best known for their victory at Euro 2022, where they caught the attention of the British public with their iron determination and impressive skill.
A nail-biting final, where they beat Germany 2-1 in extra time, meant Leah Williamson became the first England captain – male or female – to hoist a major international trophy since 1966.
Off the pitch, the Lionesses continue to occupy a significant place in the public consciousness, as they leverage their public presence to influence the development and profile of women’s sport.
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After their win at Euro 2022, they sent an open letter to then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that asked for two weekly hours of P.E. and female sports teachers for girls. This preceded the government promising a £600 million investment over the next two years into primary school sport.
Who’s in the 2025 Euros squad?
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh.
Forwards: Michelle Agyemang, Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo.
What’s changed in the Lionesses squad?
Thirteen of the 23 named for 2025 were part of the victorious team in 2022 which, although still a significant proportion, means that the 2025 Lionesses’ dynamic is different.
Prior to head coach Sarina Wiegman announced the squad on June 5, several Lionesses unexpectedly retired or pulled themselves from the selection process, with goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby retiring and defender Millie Bright withdrawing due to mental and physical health reasons.
Although Wiegman did not have space for previous Lionesses’ Nikita Parris, Bethany England, Missy Bo Kearns or Laura Blindkilde Brown, the squad does have an influx of the next generation of female footballers, with seven players - Michelle Agyemang, Aggie Beever-Jones, Grace Clinton, Khiara Keating, Maya Le Tissier, Anna Moorhouse and Jess Park - all going to their first major tournament.
One of Wiegman’s more discussed choices was the call up of Chelsea star Lauren James, who has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury in April. Despite questions around James' fitness going into the tournament, Wiegman decided her rare attacking quality was worth the gamble.
Who will the Lionesses play at Euro 2025?
The Lionesses have been placed in tough-looking Group D alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales.
France beat England twice during qualification for this tournament and reached the Euro 2022 semi-finals before being defeated by Germany 2-1.
The Netherlands have proven tournament pedigree. They won Euro 2017 as Wiegman led her homeland to glory, before reaching the final of the 2019 World Cup and losing to the United States. Quarterfinal exits at the most recent Euros and World Cup show they have come off that curve.
Wales are making their major tournament debut and will be keen to spring a surprise or two as the lowest-ranking team in the competition.
England Lionesses players to watch
Alessia Russo
Arsenal’s goal scorer has been showered with acclaim recently, not only as part of Arsenal’s victorious squad in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, but also from being named England’s player of the year in the 2023/24 season and finishing joint top-scorer in the WSL with 12 league goals.
Russo recently reached 50 England caps and Wiegman needs her technically excellent forward play to come to the fore in Switzerland.
Beth Mead
The recipient of the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament at the last Euros in 2022, Mead has long established her ferocity and command of the pitch. Her portfolio is littered with records, from all-time most assists and second-most goal contributions in the WSL to the first-ever female footballer named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Mead did play at the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to an ACL injury.
Leah Williamson
Having captained the Lionesses to glory in 2022, Williamson also missed the 2023 World Cup as ACL woe struck.
The Arsenal defender is back on top of her game now, though, and was integral to her club stunning Barcelona in the Champions League final.
With her strong leadership, composure under pressure on the pitch and immaculate passing precision, Williamson is the heartbeat of the Lionesses team once more.
Michelle Agyemang
Teenage sensation Agyemang is the youngest member of the Lionesses’ squad and there is plenty of excitement around Wiegman's wildcard pick. Agyemang sprung into the limelight after she scored her debut goal for England against Belgium in 41 seconds, after being called up only two days earlier.
That's her only cap heading into Euro 2025 and there is intrigue over Agyemang's next steps on the biggest stage.
Hannah Hampton
Mary Earps’ retirement pre-Euros shocked the football world and made people wonder who would fill her legendary boots, but Hampton promises to be a strong replacement. Despite being dropped from the England squad after the 2022 Euros, her hard graft and tenacity earned her a place in both the 2023 World Cup squad and the upcoming 2025 Euros.
As the youngest player in WSL to make 100 appearances, Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper is accustomed to high-pressure situations - a trait that is sure to come in handy this summer.