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Women's Special Issue Series: Sports
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Women's Special Issue Series: Sports

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1020

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Brianna L. Larsen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD 4305, Australia
2. Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD 4305, Australia
Interests: female athletes; menstrual cycle; hormonal contraception; performance; thermoregulation
Dr. Anthea Clarke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Interests: female athlete; team sports; women; menstrual cycle; education; performance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are proud to lead this Special Issue that aims to promote and support the contributions of all scientists in the areas of sports science and public health, with a particular focus on highlighting the important role of women in these fields.

While progress has been made, there remains a gender imbalance within sports science that manifests in various ways. Recent reviews indicate that women are underrepresented in first and last authorship positions in sport and exercise science research, and that research participants in these studies are predominantly male. Additionally, women are less represented than men in editorial roles within sports science journals, as well as in elite coaching and sports performance support staff positions. Addressing these issues is essential, as studies have shown that an increased representation of women in editorial and senior authorship roles is associated with a higher proportion of women as study participants.

This Special Issue is part of the “Women’s Special Issue Series”, which aims to encourage and highlight the contributions of women to sports science research, in fields such as biomechanics, sports nutrition, sports injuries, sport psychology, sports medicine, public health, and more. All types of papers are welcome, including original research papers and review articles.

While the purpose of this Special Issue is to celebrate the achievements of women working in sports science and related fields. We welcome submissions from all authors, irrespective of gender.

Dr. Brianna L. Larsen
Dr. Anthea Clarke
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Women’s Special Issue Series

This Special Issue is part of Sports’s Women’s Special Issue Series, hosted by women editors for women researchers. The Series advocates the advancement of women in science. We invite contributions to the Special Issue whose lead authors identify as women. The submission of articles with all-women authorship is especially encouraged. However, we do welcome articles from all authors, irrespective of gender.

Keywords

  • sports performance
  • exercise performance
  • sports nutrition
  • sports psychology
  • biomechanics
  • sports medicine
  • sports injury
  • clinical exercise physiology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 901 KiB  
Article
Can Unilateral Strength Training Optimize Change of Direction Mechanics and Mitigate Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk in Female Soccer Players? A Preliminary Pre–Post Intervention Study
by Alice Rogalski, Ayrton Moiroux-Sahraoui, Maria Stergiou, Maxence Pieulhet, Maurice Douryang and Florian Forelli
Sports 2025, 13(5), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13050135 - 29 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a major concern in female soccer players, with change of direction (COD) movements being a key contributor to non-contact injuries. Traditional injury prevention programs have shown limited effectiveness in addressing individual biomechanical deficits. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a major concern in female soccer players, with change of direction (COD) movements being a key contributor to non-contact injuries. Traditional injury prevention programs have shown limited effectiveness in addressing individual biomechanical deficits. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 10-week unilateral strength training program on COD mechanics and ACL injury risk factors. Methods: Eleven female soccer players participated in a pre–post intervention study. Movement mechanics was assessed using the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS) at 45°, 75°, and 90° angles. The training program included unilateral lower limb strengthening exercises designed to enhance neuromuscular control and reduce biomechanical risk factors. Risk profiles were analyzed before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and effect size calculations. Results: Significant improvements in CMAS scores were observed at all COD angles (p < 0.05), with the largest effect at 90° (Cohen’s d = 2.1). The percentage of high-risk players decreased from 82% to 0%, while the proportion of low-risk players increased from 36% to 73%. Improved knee alignment, foot placement, and trunk stability were key contributors to the observed movement enhancements. Conclusions: Unilateral strength training may effectively improve COD mechanics and reduces biomechanical risk factors associated with ACL injuries in female soccer players. Our findings suggest that individualized training interventions can influence current injury prevention strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Special Issue Series: Sports)
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11 pages, 1442 KiB  
Article
Unilateral Exercise and Bilateral Vascular Health in Female Tennis Players and Active Controls
by Chanhtel E. Thongphok, Abena O. Gyampo, Elisa Fioraso, Anneli O. Ramolins, Elianna G. Hills, Claire E. Coates and Stephen J. Ives
Sports 2025, 13(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13040107 - 1 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Blood pressure (BP), interarm differences (IAD) in BP, and arterial stiffness (AS) are related to cardiovascular disease risk and are attenuated by exercise training. While active, tennis players (TP) experience bilateral differences in shear stress, and thus vascular function due to the unilateral [...] Read more.
Blood pressure (BP), interarm differences (IAD) in BP, and arterial stiffness (AS) are related to cardiovascular disease risk and are attenuated by exercise training. While active, tennis players (TP) experience bilateral differences in shear stress, and thus vascular function due to the unilateral nature of the sport. However, it is unknown if this translates into attenuated bilateral differences in peripheral blood pressure (pBP), estimated central blood pressure (cBP), and AS, which could provide insight into the local versus systemic effects of exercise training on BP in women. Purpose: to evaluate bilateral differences in pBP, cBP, and AS in Division III female college TP and healthy recreationally active (RA) age- and sex-matched controls. Methods: In a parallel design, TP (n = 10) and RA controls (n = 10) were assessed for anthropometrics, body composition, and bilateral BP measurements using oscillometric cuff technique. Results: TP and RA were well-matched for body weight, body fat percentage, and BMI (all, p > 0.69). Interaction of arm and group, and effects of arm, or group were insignificant for pSBP and pDBP (all, p > 0.137). IAD in pSBP tended lower in TP (p = 0.096, d = 0.8), but IAD in cSBP was lower (p = 0.040, d = 0.8). Augmentation pressure and index were different between arms (p = 0.02), but no interactions (group by arm) were observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In groups well-matched for age and body composition, TP tended to have lower BP and IAD in pSBP, but cSBP revealed ~50% lower IAD in TP. Thus, measurement site and exercise training matter when assessing arterial stiffness and interarm differences in BP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women's Special Issue Series: Sports)
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