Success from the Spot: Insights into Penalty Performance in Elite Women’s Football

This study analyzed penalty kick performance in elite women’s football, focusing on contextual, situational, and technical factors across the Spanish Liga F and the English Women’s Super League during the 2022/23 to 2024/25 seasons. Using an observational methodology, 240 penalties were systematically coded according to twelve criteria and fifty-five categories. Chi-square goodness-of-fit and independence tests were applied to examine distributions and associations. The overall conversion rate was 80.4%, with 15.4% of attempts saved and 4.2% missed. Home teams achieved significantly higher success than away teams (85.6% vs. 72.7%), while penalties taken when leading were less effective (69.9%) compared with those executed while drawing or losing (>84%). Temporal effects were also observed, with lower effectiveness around halftime (71.8%). Laterality and goalkeeper actions showed no significant influence, although some league-specific tendencies were noted. Shot placement emerged as the strongest determinant of success, with upper and central zones achieving near-perfect results, whereas medium-height shots were least effective. These findings extend existing knowledge by providing the first longitudinal evidence from elite women’s domestic leagues in Spain and England. Practical implications include emphasizing accuracy toward optimal zones, reinforcing psychological preparation when leading, and addressing performance drops during specific match periods.