Let me set the scene. I found Fantasy Football somewhere along the way in my love of women’s football. For the last few years, it sets the hype ahead of every season. I’ve been just as excited than everyone else.
For anyone who hasn’t played it before, Fantasy Football is a game where you create your own team using real players. You pick your squad within a budget, choose your starting XI each week, appoint a captain, and then watch your players earn points based on what they do in real matches each week. You can also be part of leagues which adds that winning mentality.
I couldn’t wait to pick my team, join leagues with friends and become part of something big within the women’s game.
There was just one problem: I couldn’t play.
I’m blind, and I use a screen reader to access websites and apps. It reads out everything on the screen, and I couldn’t use my phone or computer without it.
Very quickly, I discovered that the Fantasy Football app wasn’t accessible. I fell at one of the first hurdles: I couldn’t pick my team. That meant I couldn’t continue.
And honestly, the fomo was real.
On the face of it, Fantasy Football might seem like another game. But it creates moments, and is a sense of community about a shared interest.
Not only couldn’t I take part, I couldn’t be part of the conversations, and extend my fun with something I love.
After a couple of years of missing out, I’m pleased to share that’s no more. Because along came WSL Fantasy, and it’s safe to say that I’ll be hooked. The game launched ahead of the 2026/27 season, bringing players from both the WSL and WSL2 together into one Fantasy player pool. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
I didn’t know what to expect when trying the new version of fantasy. I didn’t set any hopes or expectations. I knew the WSL app was accessible since I use it all the time, so all I could do was hope that that would be extended to fantasy.
From my first explore, the result was that it was indeed accessible! I was impressed.
It’s accessible using my screen reader, and I’ve heard from others about some good visual accessibility features too, like dark mode.
Whilst people are talking about scoring points within the game each week, for me, accessibility is scoring the extra points I need to be able to take part like everyone else.
Now, I can take hours overthinking my team, make transfers, and see how my team is performing.
Oh and I’ve created a private league for me and my friends. That feels huge. That’s inclusion right there.
What might seem like small things to the general day to day user are huge to me.
Having total use of the app, and ultimately having fun with my friends on fantasy is an exciting moment for me, and other disabled fans.
Now I get to play. I’ve made my choices, whether they’re good ones or not, only time will tell.
I don’t know how well I’m going to do. I might make some mistakes with transfers, might captain the wrong player, but that’s okay, because it’s all part of fantasy football.
What matters is I have the chance to make those mistakes.
I get to celebrate when a player from my team scores or when the points start to rank up. Most importantly, I get to play.
To most, it might seem like another app. To me, it’s a mark of inclusion in the women’s game. I no longer feel like I’m missing out on a part of women’s football that I once felt shut out from.
For years, I’ve watched women’s football become more visible, and continue to grow. I’ve also seen glimpses of accessibility, and had it dimmed the next.
That’s why this feels much bigger than downloading an app and playing. It’s an opportunity of participation for us blind and visually impaired fans. It’s more than trying to make the app accessible and hoping for the best.
It’s a real example of how accessibility and inclusion should be done. It’s making sure everyone can be part of the conversation and get involved. Accessibility isn’t just about the practical stuff. It’s about making sure everyone can participate. It’s about how it makes someone feel.
And right now, I feel full of excitement. This is a moment of joy that I want to shout about. One that deserves to be celebrated.
Even if I come last in my league, it’s the taking part that counts.
Here’s to an accessible season of Fantasy Football!
