Millie Bright’s recent choice to step away from her national duties with England’s women’s football team due to mental and physical exhaustion has been met with admiration and support. Her teammate Lucy Bronze commended Bright for the courageous move, emphasizing the importance of mental health.
Bright’s announcement comes ahead of England’s final camp before the Women’s European Championship, resulting in her missing the 6-0 victory over Portugal in the Nations League last Friday. She is also set to miss the upcoming match against world champions, Spain, in the same league on Tuesday.
The Football Association cited that Bright’s absence was due to her undergoing “an extended period of recovery” at the season’s conclusion. This was further elaborated by Bright in a recent podcast with her England teammate Rachel Daly. During the discussion, Bright expressed reaching her mental and physical limits and stressed the importance of valuing one’s mental health and physical well-being.
When questioned about the impact of Bright’s absence on the team, Bronze, who plays alongside Bright at Chelsea, remarked on the void left by her friend both on and off the pitch. She noted that the team has been in touch with Bright over the past week, ensuring their continued support during this time.
“We’ve assured Millie of our support and have stressed the importance that she takes the time she needs to recover,” Bronze expressed. “It’s been a taxing season for us all. Knowing Millie’s resilience firsthand, it’s commendable that she’s chosen to share this struggle. From a personal standpoint, I’m eager for her to restore her well-being.”
At 31, Bright holds a crucial role within the England team, contributing to their success at the Euros in 2022 and captaining them to the World Cup final in 2023. She also had a stellar domestic season with Chelsea, securing the Women’s Super League, FA Cup, and League Cup treble.
Looking ahead, England is set to commence its European Championship title defense against France on July 5.