Portrait of Molly McElwee

Molly McElwee

Journalist

About

Molly McElwee is an award-winning sports journalist specializing in tennis, football, and women's sports.


She has contributed to major publications including The Guardian, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph, and the Financial Times.


Molly is the host of the podcast Off The Bench, where she interviews extraordinary women athletes, coaches, and leaders in sport.


Her book, Building Champions: Paths to Success in Women's Tennis, featuring a foreword by Billie Jean King, explores the diverse stories of Grand Slam champions from 2000 to 2024.


Molly also writes a weekly newsletter, But Do You Actually Like Sport?, offering her take on the sporting stories that capture her interest, along with insights into the world of sports journalism.

Recognition & Awards

  • 2024 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism - First woman to win the prestigious award from the International Tennis Writers' Association
  • 2021 British Sports Journalism Awards - Runner-up in Sports News Reporter category for investigation into abuse in British gymnastics and #MeToo in sport
  • British Journalism Awards - Finalist and highly commended for 2021 investigative work
  • Multiple SJA British Sports Journalism Awards - Shortlisted three consecutive years (2020-2022) in Feature Writing and Ones to Watch categories

Latest Book

Discover Molly's latest work exploring the journeys of women's tennis champions. Available now!

Order on Amazon

Featured Articles

'I'm outside. I'm going to hurt you': Katie Boulter on the hidden horror of success as a female athlete

Katie Boulter discusses the darker side of fame and the harassment faced by female athletes as she rose to become British No. 1.

The Guardian

Meet the 52 women breaking down coaching barriers at Paris Olympics

Highlighting the female coaches making strides at the Paris 2024 Olympics and challenging traditional barriers in sports leadership.

The Guardian

Land of the dinosaurs: baseline of sexism overshadows tennis in Madrid

Investigating the persistent issues of sexism within the tennis community in Madrid and its impact on the sport.

The Guardian

When news of Rebecca Cheptegei's death shook the athletics world

Examining the tragic murders of athletes Damaris Muthee Mutua, Rebecca Cheptegei, and Agnes Tirop by their partners, and the broader issue of violence against female athletes.

The Telegraph

Paris 2024: Why the 'most gender-equal Olympics' showed equality remains a distant dream

Despite claims of 50-50 male-female athlete quotas, events in Paris revealed that true equality requires more than just numbers.

The i Paper

Will 2024 be remembered for Jannik Sinner's greatness or the doping controversy?

After clinching back-to-back Davis Cup titles, Sinner faces an uncertain future as he awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision.

The Telegraph

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková's decade-long house-share near the All England Club

The reigning Wimbledon champion has lodged in a house-share just 300 metres from the All England Club for 10 years, staying close to the grounds while keeping costs down.

The Observer

Behind the scenes: Writing Building Champions

Molly shares insights into the process of writing her book about women's tennis champions, from interviewing coaches and players to uncovering untold stories.

But Do You Actually Like Sport?