The Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton Drama, Explained
info@hypebae.com (Hypebae) Mon, 03 Nov 2025 Hypebae
If you're at all tapped into the world of women's soccer, the seemingly one-sided beef between Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton that erupted in the past week will definitely have caught your attention. Two of the best goalkeepers to ever play for the Lionesses, suddenly embroiled in a media-fueled scuffle. Everyone has chimed in, from coaches and journalists to the general public, but, like most entanglements that blow up online, things can get muddled quickly. Whether you're a connoisseur or a rookie when it comes to WoSo, allow us to paint the picture.
The drama started less than a week ago, as Earps kicked off the press tour for her autobiography All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me, but the root of the problem goes way back. In the days leading up to the book's anticipated release on November 6, The Guardian has been releasing small excerpts of pivotal moments in the autobiography. One of the first of these serials detailed Earps' disappointment in England boss Sarina Wiegman's decision to start Hampton in a Euro 2025 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland last year, saying that "bad behavior is being rewarded." If you're wondering what "bad behavior" she's alluding to, allow us to refresh your memory.
To set the scene, it's 2022 and England had just won the Women's Euros on home soil, and women's football's popularity was at an all-time high in the U.K. Hampton was only 21 at the time, a European champion and starting her second season at Aston Villa.
In September of that year, it had been reported that the young goalkeeper had been dropped by Wiegman ahead of England's World Cup qualifiers due to issues with her attitude and conduct. In All In, Earps says, "her behaviour behind the scenes at the Euros had frequently risked derailing training sessions and team resources." On top of that, Hampton had hit a rough patch at her club, being left out of the squad for similar reasons. Some said she would likely never play for England again. That, at least, has proven not to be true.
Fast forward to 2025, the Euros are just around the corner and England is preparing to defend their crown in Switzerland. Hampton has since become Chelsea's No. 1 keeper and is slowly entering her prime. Earps, on the other hand, is fading out of the spotlight after a rocky debut season at Paris Saint-Germain. Competition in goal is guaranteed for any team, and there was always going to be a power struggle for the Lionesses' starting keeper at Euro 2025. Another excerpt from Earps' book explains her decision to retire from international football just a few weeks before the tournament began.
When she announced her retirement, rumors were swirling online that it was because Hampton had finally dethroned her as England's first-choice keeper. The autobiography backs up this claim, with Earps taking readers through a conversation she had with Wiegman ahead of the tournament. Many thought the sudden departure of an experienced player just before a major tournament would derail the team. Instead, Hampton stepped up to the challenge and played a pivotal role in claiming the Lionesses' second European trophy.
Many have forgotten about the panic that ensued after Earps' retirement, with a more than capable replacement already working to fill the large gap the veteran keeper left in the team. So why all the drama? The manner in which these deeply personal feelings and moments have been revealed has been kindling for media fire. Hampton's club manager, Sonia Bompastor, has even added her two cents, claiming that she handled the situation with more class than Earps. And maybe Bompastor is right. Hampton only had kind things to say after Earps retired, whereas the extracts from the autobiography forced her to relive a period of her career that she admits took a toll on her mental health only a few years ago.
All of a sudden, the sport is split between two factions: Team Hannah and Team Mary. It's a classic The Substance-esque case of the younger star usurping the older icon, minus the body horror. Hampton has emerged as one of the best keepers in the world, with Earps symbolically presenting her with the first-ever Yashin Trophy for best women's goalkeeper at the prestigious Ballon d'Or earlier this year.
Despite the media actively trying to pit these two women against each other, Earps put out a reminder on social media that she is human, too, and the media's reaction to her words was affecting her. Hampton is yet to say anything about the situation, and perhaps it's best that way. With the full book being published in a few days, more tell-all chapters could push her to break that silence or turn this into a small, dramatic blip on the women's soccer radar.
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