"A critical and much-needed addition to the scholarship on soccer in general and women's soccer in particular. This book fills so many knowledge gaps that it is nothing short of a gift to either sports fan or sociologist." --Dave Zirin "sports editor, The Nation"
"With the 1999 Women's World Cup as her starting point, Rachel Allison traces the complex reasons why a glass ceiling exists on women's advancement in professional sports. She offers a sophisticated, rigorous, and engaging account of how women's sports leagues operate and how women's soccer has been sold in the U.S. Anyone who cares about the future of women's sports should read this book."
--Cheryl Cooky "author of No Slam Dunk: Gender, Sport and the Unevenness of Social Change""Kicking Center is an engaging, well-written book. Allison offers just the right mix of academic findings and pop-culture references and provocations. This original work raises important questions and then answers them with vim, precision, and rigor."--Jules Boykoff "author of Activism and the Olympics: Dissent at the Games in Vancouver and London"
"Engendering Fandom: Audience Building in Women's Professional Soccer" by Rachel Allison-- "The Society Pages - Engaging Sports"
"A Sociological View on Selling Women's Soccer: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Allison," by RJ Allen
-- "Backline Soccer""One of the most comprehensive books on women and sport to come out in recent years....Those working in sport--including and perhaps especially men--to pick up this book and read it with an open mind." -- "Gender & Society"
"Allison convincingly demonstrates the systematic marginalization of women's athletics and athletes, who nonetheless challenge the inequalities they routinely face. Recommended." -- "Choice"
"The sexism behind the 'controversy' over the U.S. women's soccer team's 13 goals," by Rachel Allison
https: //www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/06/14/sexism-behind-controversy-over-us-womens-soccer-teams-goals/?utm_term=.82bdd447ef0a-- "Washington Post"
"Allison's study reveals a complex field were women in sports have to navigate a thorny terrain - not be too feminine and sexy, not too butch, but still professional and gaining attention."-- "Idrottsforum"
"Despite growing audience, women's soccer still fighting for respect, says journalist," CBC "The Current" interview with Rachel Allison
https: //www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/despite-growing-audience-women-s-soccer-still-fighting-for-respect-says-journalist-1.5166142-- "CBC "The Current""