Designed to spark curiosity, break down stigmas and empower women and girls to ask questions about their female health and wellbeing openly and confidently, the I Wish I Knew campaign marks a new chapter in England Netball’s commitment through NETBALLHer to tackle the female health knowledge gap that impacts participation, performance and long-term engagement in sport.
On a backdrop of the rapid continued growth in the visibility of netball and women’s sport more broadly, the launch of the I Wish I Knew campaign, designed to spark curiosity and normalise conversations around female health, sees England Netball reaffirm its commitment to influencing the health and wellbeing outcomes of women and girls across the country.
Netball is the most popular team sport for women in England, with 3 million players annually. Yet research by England Netball shows that 69% of women take a break from the sport at some point in their lives. This is often linked to key life stages: 41% of teenage girls drop out during puberty, 33% reduce activity during menopause, and 20% who stop due to pregnancy never return. These figures highlight the significant barriers that remain, many driven by knowledge gaps and taboos around female health topics such as periods, menopause, miscarriage, and fertility.
Launching today in collaboration with leak proof underwear brand NIXI Body at Style Of Our Own, the home of women’s sport on London’s Regent Street, the I Wish I Knew campaign aims to break taboos and spark curiosity about female health and wellbeing. By sharing authentic stories from across the netball community, from grassroots to elite level, the campaign gives voice to the things women and girls wish they’d known sooner, opening up conversations that are too often left unspoken.
Through refreshed content on the NETBALLHer website and England Netball’s social channels, including powerful reflections from the Vitality Roses, I Wish I Knew provides education, guidance, and support to help women and girls self-advocate with confidence. At its heart, the campaign empowers every woman and girl to share their own story and know they’re not alone. Uniting the whole Netball Family behind this important message, the Netball Super League will provide an additional platform to amplify the messaging and impact of the campaign, following the significant growth successes the League’s 2025 relaunch.
Kelly Gordon, Executive Lead for NETBALLHer at England Netball said: “I am delighted to launch the I Wish I Knew campaign, which is about taking real action to close the knowledge gaps in female health and wellbeing that impact women and girls in sport. Since launching NETBALLHer in March 2023, we’ve listened to and supported thousands of women and girls across the Netball Family and beyond but too many still face taboos and unanswered questions, and this campaign is a powerful step towards breaking those barriers.
“By sparking open conversations and sharing authentic stories, we can empower women and girls to speak confidently about their health and feel supported at every stage of life. Working with partners, health experts, and fellow sports National Governing Bodies, we will spark curiosity and awareness, provide education through the NETBALLHer website, learning offers, events and collaborations, and empower women and girls to self-advocate with confidence, knowledge, and support.”
Alongside the campaign launch, a new long-term strategic partnership has also been announced between England Netball and women’s health charity, Wellbeing of Women. The partnership will see Wellbeing of Women, who are the UK’s leading charity dedicated to improving women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, guide the creation of new NETBALLHer resources and collaborate with England Netball to bring women’s health information to the Netball Family and beyond in new ways. Bringing sport and health together to drive change, the partnership will see England Netball and Wellbeing of Women connecting with more women and girls in new ways, engaging with a wider audience through social media and by supporting the continued creation of educational content on the NETBALLHer website.
Janet Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer of Wellbeing of Women said: “Too often women’s health concerns are ignored or misunderstood – from pain being dismissed, to delayed diagnoses, to the silence and stigma surrounding menopause, heavy periods, or miscarriage. The cost of this knowledge gap is huge.
“By joining forces with NETBALLHer, we can change that. Together we will share our expertise, resources, and network to help every woman and girl to feel informed, supported, and empowered to stay active and thrive.
“This is a movement for everyone. We’re asking people to share their I Wish I Knew moments on the NETBALLHer website to help us tackle stigma head-on, spark conversations, and support women and girls in sport.”
England Netball want everyone to be part of this movement and are calling for everyone, from the Netball Family and beyond, to join the I Wish I Knew campaign. By sharing personal stories and reflections via the NETBALLHer website and on social media, and exploring NETBALLHer’s resources on the different female life stages, now is the time to spark more conversations, build understanding, and create better support for women and girls in sport and everyday life.
*According to research conducted by England Netball.
With thanks to England Netball
