Mary Earps reacting during an England women’s match after controversy over Hannah Hampton comments
Mary Earps has come out swinging after a storm of criticism surrounding comments she made about fellow goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in her upcoming autobiography, All In.
The former England No. 1 took to social media to clarify her stance after Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor accused her of showing “a lack of respect” toward both Hampton and Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman.
“I would never intentionally hurt anyone,” Earps wrote. “It’s gut-wrenching to be portrayed as someone you’re not. My comments were about protecting team spirit, not tearing anyone down.”
In an excerpt published by The Guardian, Earps revealed that she felt “uncomfortable” with Wiegman’s decision to recall Hampton to the England squad in 2023.
“I felt protective of the good energy we now had in goalkeeper training and the morale of the wider team,” Earps wrote. “Bad behaviour is being rewarded.”
At the time, Hampton had been left out of several squads following reports of poor conduct, though Wiegman cited “personal reasons” for her absence.
Earps went on to retain her starting spot through the 2023 World Cup, famously saving a penalty in the final as England lost 1-0 to Spain. But by 2024, Hampton had replaced her as England’s first choice — and went on to lift the Euro 2025 trophy that summer.
Earps retired from international football just before the tournament began.
The timing of Earps’ comments — just a day before Hampton’s clean sheet in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over London City Lionesses — did not go unnoticed.
Bompastor quickly defended her goalkeeper, saying:
“Hannah is fine, but it’s tough. She’s not just an athlete, she’s a person. That’s never nice to hear. Since joining Chelsea, she’s grown so much — a great professional and a great person. We’re all behind her.”
The Chelsea boss also came to the defense of England manager Sarina Wiegman, urging Earps to be more considerate with her words:
“It’s about respect. When you talk about someone who’s won three European Championships in a row, you should probably think before you speak. Hannah is the classy one here.”
Earps, clearly shaken by the response, posted on social media to express her disappointment over how her words have been received.
“It’s hurtful when people twist your intentions. I’ve always cared deeply about the teams I’ve been part of, and I only ever wanted what was best for the group.”
The feud has reignited discussions about the dynamics within the Lionesses setup during and after their Euro 2022 triumph. Earps’ honesty in All In is already stirring debate ahead of its release, with fans split between those praising her transparency and those siding with Hampton and Wiegman.
Regardless of which side one takes, one thing is clear — Mary Earps isn’t backing down from telling her truth.
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