When Millie Bright announced her retirement on Wednesday, her mother gave her a letter. But as the former England and Chelsea captain processes the emotions of that decision, she admits she hasn't been able to read it all.
Bright, 32, retired from international duty last year and has now left Chelsea after 294 appearances, eight Women's Super League titles, six FA Cups, and four League Cups. A Euros winner in 2022, she has returned to her family's farm in Sheffield, celebrating her father's 60th birthday—an event she would have missed while balancing playing and training.
Surrounded by family and her beloved horses, Bright says she is "at peace" with retiring after what she describes as the most challenging two years of her life.
"Both physically and mentally, I have been ready to say goodbye. The mental side of things for me, personally... life's been very difficult, and the amount of abuse I have dealt with has been too much to handle. I think over the past year I have lost myself as a person, and it has taken me a long time to rebuild myself."
Bright withdrew from England's Euros squad in 2025, feeling unable to give 100% mentally and physically, and says that announcement led to a significant amount of abuse.
"It was difficult because I was trying to do the right thing for me and the team. I didn't expect the abuse. I expected people to be like: 'Why are you making this decision?' I can tolerate that, but to question my integrity, my passion and dedication as a player... I can't ever accept that. We are still humans, we have a life outside of football and I think that is forgotten 99% of the time."
Bright's career spans two eras of women's football. She started at Doncaster Belles, playing in front of smaller crowds, before moving to Chelsea and gracing venues like Stamford Bridge and Wembley. Only the second England player—after Bobby Moore in 1966—to captain the national team in a World Cup final, she shared the Golden Boot at the Arnold Clark Cup in 2022.
She has faced numerous physical struggles, playing injured for the past six years. Bright hasn't played for Chelsea since February due to an ankle problem, and has undergone two knee surgeries. The prospect of entering another pre-season injured, after a rehab she calls "anything but smooth," contributed to her retirement.
She hopes the abuse she has endured will serve as a catalyst for change in how athletes are treated.