8 lesbian power couples who play on rival sports teams

Women’s sports are full of heartwarming love stories between players, and while there are plenty of couples who are lucky enough to play for the same team, there are some who end up as rivals.

You may think that playing against each other in professional sports and for teams with fierce rivalries would be hard on a relationship, but these sapphics manage to make it work and are thriving in spite of having to compete against each other. Maybe competition even adds a little spice to their relationships!

There are players who were once teammates before being traded to different teams, athletes who have always played against each other, and multiple couples who are currently going head-to-head, but no matter what, their love for one another outweighs their competitive spirit.

Charli Jacoby (United States) and Lori Cramer (Australia)

Rugby stars Charli Jacoby and Lori Cramer are being forced to compete against each other on rival teams at the Women's Rugby World Cup. Jacoby is playing for the United States, while Cramer is competing for Australia.

Julia Schell (Canada) and Rachel Malcom (Scotland)

Rugby stars Julia Schell and Rachel Malcom may be in love off the pitch, but when it comes to their beloved sport, they’re fierce competitors who are currently going head-to-head. Schell is representing Canada in the 2025 Rugby World Cup, while Malcom is playing for Team Scotland.

Kelsey Jones (Wales) and Sarah Beckett (England)

While Rugby World Cup star Kelsey Jones and her partner Sarah Beckett are teammates when they are competing for Gloucester-Hartpury, they quickly become rivals in international competitions. At the 2025 Six Nations Championship, the two women competed against each other, with Jones playing for Wales and Beckett playing for England.

NaLyssa Smith (Las Vegas Aces) and DiJonai Carrington (Dallas Wings)

NaLyssa Smith and Dijonai Carrington are college sweethearts who played together on the Dallas Wings until Smith was traded earlier this year to the Las Vegas Aces. After years of playing on opposing teams, the WNBA power couple were finally playing together for the first time since they were both Baylor star athletes, until that all came crashing down, and now the happy couple will be rivals once again.

Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) and Racheal Kundananji (Bay FC)

Soccer stars Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji played for Zambia at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they both scored in the opening match. But when they are not representing Zambia, these partners in life play on rival teams in the National Women’s Soccer League. Banda is a striker for the Orlando Pride, while Kundananji is a forward for the Bay FC.

Beth Mead (England’s Lionesses) and Vivianne Miedema (Netherland’s national team)

Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema started dating back in 2022 when they both played soccer for Arsenal, but that only lasted until Miedema moved on to play for Manchester. In 2025, the lovers faced their biggest hurdle yet when they had to play against each other in the UEFA European Women's Championship (AKA Euro 2025). Mead played for England’s Lionesses, where she had to go head-to-head with Miedema, who represented the Netherlands’ national team. Ultimately, the Netherlands was eliminated when Mead's England Lionesses beat them 4-0 and then went on to win the Euro 2025 final.

Kristie Mewis (Chelsea) and Sam Kerr (West Ham United)

After going viral in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics when they were caught hugging on camera, and then subsequently announcing their engagement in 2023, soccer power couple Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr have been rivals on the pitch for years. They may have collaborated when they had a baby in May 2025, but Mewis is currently playing for Chelsea while her fiancé plays for rival team West Ham United.

Celia Quansah (Trailfinders) and Meg Jones (Leicester Tigers)

Rugby stars Celia Quansah and Meg Jones competed together on the same rugby team in the Tokyo Olympics and were once both playing for the Leicester Tigers together, but this year Quansah was traded to the Trailfinders and now the happy couple will be competing against each other for the first time.