Hannah Cain Speaks Out on Ugly Social Media Abuse Harming Women’s Football Mental Health | OneFootball

The 27-year-old Leicester City forward, who has scored five goals in 22 appearances for Wales, shared her experiences of receiving abusive messages after nearly every game.

Speaking while with the Wales squad preparing for their Women’s World Cup qualifying opener against the Czech Republic, Cain explained how the growth of the women’s game has amplified platforms for negative comments, often anonymous, and urged greater responsibility online.

Hannah Cain Social Media Abuse Experiences

Cain posted on social media earlier this season declaring “enough is enough” after facing abuse from anonymous accounts.

The messages intensified during a difficult period for Leicester City, who suffered heavy defeats to Brighton and Arsenal in November.

Despite the team and her personal performances not being poor, certain individuals sent abusive content consistently.

She noted that the volume became overwhelming, leading her to question herself even while knowing the comments were unfounded.

Cain emphasized that abuse occurs regardless of on-pitch results and affects players’ lives beyond football, including family members.

Cain was also involved in an incident this season against Crystal Palace which saw Ruesha Littlejohn recieve social media abuse. 

Impact of Social Media on Women’s Football Mental Health

The Leicester forward described social media as a space where people say whatever they want, with the “ugly” side proving particularly harmful as the women’s game grows.

She pointed out that footballers are real humans, and constant negativity takes a toll on mental health.

Cain believes speaking out can prompt people to delete negative comments or think twice before posting.

While acknowledging that emotions can run high after matches, she stressed the need for reminders about the serious effects on well-being.

Her stance aims to encourage more thoughtful online behavior in women’s football.

Hannah Cain On Wales World Cup Qualifying Focus

With Wales hosting the Czech Republic in their opening 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifier, Cain is motivated for success.

Qualification would mark a step up after their Euro 2025 experience.

She reflected on the immense feeling from their first major tournament and the excitement of targeting the World Cup in Brazil.

Wales recently ended a 12-game winless run with a 3-2 friendly win over Switzerland in December, where Cain scored.

The team sits in Group B1, aiming for top spot to secure a strong play-off path, with the Czech Republic ranked just one place above Wales at 31st in the world.

Call for Change in Women’s Football Social Media

Cain hopes her comments spark small changes in how fans interact online. By highlighting the human cost of abuse, she advocates for empathy toward players dealing with pressure in an expanding women’s game.

As Leicester remain bottom of the WSL under manager Rick Passmoor, and Wales prepare for further qualifiers including Montenegro, her message underscores the importance of protecting mental health amid rising visibility.