When it comes to fitness attire, retailers have been playing catch up to provide the same high standard of gear for female athletes as they do for male athletes.

Female athletes have had to deal with ill-fitting kit and inferior equipment for far too long, but with women's sport now on the rise, the industry is looking to ensure female athletes can be the best they can possibly be. 

Sponsorships and lucrative broadcast deals have helped propel women's sport — particularly football — into the spotlight, but ensuring female athletes have the right resources to stay in optimum condition is just as important.

The ripple effect caused by one new unique product can be huge for women's football. STATSports is one of the latest companies to introduce a new game-changer.

The world's leading company in GPS performance data has launched the industry's first ever female GPS sports bra.

Arsenal and Republic of Ireland star Katie McCabe is an ambassador for STATSports and she sat down with GiveMeSport Women to discuss just how much this new product has changed the landscape for her as an athlete but also as a woman.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Katie McCabe of Arsenal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 5, 2022 in Borehamwood, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Who it's for and how it works

The new performance bra allows room for the STATSports GPS tracker to slot into the back, taking wearable technology to a new level.

It can track metrics including step count, high speed running, and maximum speed while allowing athletes to monitor intricate stats and manage recovery after an injury.

As a player constantly striving to improve, McCabe discussed how beneficial it has been to her training and how it brings a healthy sense of competitiveness.

"Preparing myself for games is something I pride myself on every single day. I like to train how I play with high intensity and high speed running.

"I like to have heavy outputs and through the data I can always keep an eye on how I'm doing but make sure I don't overdo it as well."

Fellow ambassadors Steph Houghton, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan all use the data to keep their performances at the highest possible level too.

There is also a consumer product for amateur players to use, so having access to game-changing stats is not just something elite level athletes can benefit from.

How it's changed the game for women

Both men and women would wear the unisex vest before the new product came out. As a result of STATSports listening to feedback given by female players, a new design was marketed just for women.

The bra is longer in length, providing the practicality, comfort and security for women, as well as removing the need to wear two types of sports bras. The cups can also be removed for personal preference, enabling a more accurate and comfortable fit.

McCabe reflected on the difficulties of wearing unisex clothing before the release of the new STATSports training bra, admitting she would usually wear the performance vest as well as a women’s sports bra.

Her experience showed just how important it was for STATSports to create a product designed specifically for the female body.

"When it comes to unisex products, yes we can wear them but are we actually comfortable if they're not great fits?" McCabe questioned.

"When you're going out to perform at the highest level, you need to be comfortable and it needs to be tight fitted and the new design of this bra can provide that.

"Yes, we're females, but why should we have to be any less comfortable than our male counterparts? I really think this new bra product is going to be a step in the right direction for other brands to listen to the female body.

"Women are active every day and they need the right support, no matter what sport they do."

Support from the stars

Olympic gold medallist and two-time World Cup winner Rapinoe stressed the importance of working with brands that "commit to improving women's sports" as a whole.

Thanks to her platform as a global superstar and household name, Rapinoe is well-known for her work promoting gender equality in sport. As well as fighting for pay parity, the USA international is also working to ensure female athletes have appropriate kit and facilities.

"Soccer is ever-evolving and it’s great to align with STATSports to develop the game," she said.

"We are proud to introduce our first women’s product, which players like myself, Alex Morgan, Stephanie Houghton and Katie McCabe have already put to the test."

 The new STATSports Ladies Seamless Sports Bra and apparel range is now available at www.statsports.com