In the final moments at London's Women's World Sevens, Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones threaded a rabona assist through the defence — a signature move of a tournament that celebrated audacity both on and off the pitch. With rolling substitutes, no offsides, and 15-minute halves, the seven-a-side format proved a canvas for creativity, turning what could have been a forgettable end-of-season competition into a showcase of joy and invention.
The creativity extended far beyond play. Everton arrived with a black suitcase for their semi-final walkout, hiding defender Hannah Blundell inside, while striker Katja Snoeijs mimed giving birth — her teammates acting as midwives "delivering" a football decorated with photos of injured players. Chelsea's squad pretended to be tenpin bowling pins. Defender Ellie Carpenter and midfielder Wieke Kaptein did the worm. Aston Villa teenager Rachel Maltby backflipped. Even the officials stole the show, pretending to be wheelbarrows, leading singalongs to 'Sweet Caroline', and performing penalty shootouts before matches kicked off.
The elaborate walkouts reflected something deeper: permission to play for its own sake. Tottenham boss Martin Ho wore a fluffy blue cowboy hat. Manchester United manager Marc Skinner arrived in a white dressing gown and sunglasses for a guard of honour. Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor was carried out by her players and flipped to the ground during the semi-finals — a moment she described with warmth. "I enjoyed it. It came from the players. I'm someone who is usually quiet and I don't want to get too involved but that was a good opportunity," she said. "We only practised it a little bit in the locker room. I made a joke that the players who didn't get enough minutes would have the opportunity to drop me!"
Chelsea's victory crowned a team that played brilliantly throughout, offering respite after a disappointing domestic season where they missed out on both the Women's Super League and Champions League titles. Their prize of $500,000 (£372,000) reflected the event's reduced financial scope compared to previous tournaments — organisers say the lower prize pool of $1.5m (£1.1m) overall reflects the all-England format and lower operational costs, allowing the competition to "sit comfortably" alongside established events like the Women's FA Cup.
Yet the format ensured broader benefit. Of the prize money for semi-finalists, 50 per cent went directly to players and staff, with the other half distributed by clubs as they chose. Each club received a $1,000 grant for a community project of their choosing. Tottenham fielded academy players alongside established stars, giving younger talent crucial experience and visibility. Even Leicester City, newly relegated to WSL 2 after losing a playoff five days before the tournament, found value in participation. "It's new, it's refreshing," said Leicester manager Rick Passmoor. "It just brings a completely different element, and everybody's here to enjoy it."
The competition also sparked broader conversation about player welfare at season's end. Several managers, including England boss Sarina Wiegman, defended the tournament as a useful way to keep sharp before June international camps — a counterweight to concerns about extra workload. There was one sobering note: West Ham's Tuva Hansen suffered what appeared to be a serious injury on day two and was stretchered off.
Yet the dominant feeling was one of celebration — a reminder that competitive sport and uninhibited joy aren't opposites. In seven-a-side format, with rabona assists and fake births and officials doing the worm, they became the same thing.