Dr Kasey Symons

Sunday arvo at the women being awesome aquarium 🏒🐠

2026 AWIHL Finals 🥇

💕 Attention sports romance readers 💕

We'd love to hear from you!

If you’ve just read one #SportsRomance book (maybe Heated Rivalry??) or have been reading them for years, we’d love you to complete our survey and please share with your networks!

swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Some ⚽️ themed 💅 for a special guest lecture I’m delivering next week - stay tuned!

Influx of influencers leaves tennis fans frustrated at Australian Open Many long-time tennis fans have levelled some frustration at the influx of influencers who have descended on Melbourne Park, as they battle long lines, overcrowding and increased ticket prices.

Thanks Marnie Vinall for speaking to me about the rise of influencer culture and changing sports fandoms at the #AusOpen.
This is a great piece looking at the nuances of this space and reflecting on new audiences, but also how we still maintain the heart of the sport 🎾
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

The Far Post Explains: Naara

Want some sports mascot chat, I got you 🦄

Loved joining ESPN's The Far Post Pod to discuss one of my obsessions, mascots!
We looked at the launch of Naara, the first ever mascot created for an AFC Women's Asian Cup - have a listen!
open.spotify.com/episode/3AK6...

Some #HeatedRivalry thoughts from me for @australia.theguardian.com - can’t stop thinking about this show!!!

Our book is out in the world 🎉

'Contemporary Literary Sports Journalism: Histories, Futures and the Contests in Between' has been published and I am so excited to share it!

Find out more here: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

The Australian Open #Pride Launch Party is just one of the most fun events 🌈🎾 #AusOpen

Thanks for sharing Jodi! 💕

Heated Rivalry and sports romance genre can teach lessons about queer inclusion Heated Rivalry has become a massive global hit, but can the steamy ice hockey romance, and other queer love stories, help create more inclusive spaces in the real sporting world?

Loved seeing Australian queer sports romances highlighted in this Heated Rivalry piece by my colleague @kaseysymons.bsky.social !

Heated Rivalry and sports romance genre can teach lessons about queer inclusion Heated Rivalry has become a massive global hit, but can the steamy ice hockey romance, and other queer love stories, help create more inclusive spaces in the real sporting world?

Another #HeatedRivalry piece! This one for ABC Sport 🏒

I connected with Australian romance writers for their reflections on what we can learn to make sport more inclusive.
I spoke to Darcy Green (After the Siren) and Clare Fletcher (Love Match) - check them out!
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

What Australian sport can learn from queer ice hockey hit Heated Rivalry The series challenges the hyper-masculine culture that often dominates men’s sport – and proves the power and potential of LGBTQI+ stories

More #HeatedRivalry content from me and Fi!

Here are some reflections for @theguardian.com on how Australian sport might be able to learn some lessons from the show to be more inclusive #SportsRomance 🏒
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

Could Heated Rivalry bring a whole new fanbase to ice hockey – and can the sport embrace them? Heated Rivalry depicts a sporting world where queer joy, acceptance and belonging is not only possible, but is enthusiastically embraced.

Have I been obsessing over #HeatedRivalry all summer? Absolutely!

Here are some thoughts by me and Fiona Crawford for @aunz.theconversation.com about the potential impact the show has to change sport and drive more diverse sports storytelling 📚 #SportsRomance
theconversation.com/could-heated...

Amazing! I cannot wait to read!

I love a red carpet ✨
Last night at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Gala representing Deakin University ✨

New book day 📚
Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one! Especially as we are hosting Dr Rohini Balram at Deakin University in a few weeks for a symposium on arts-based research in sport! So my jam!

Love! 💙💛💙💛

They’ve been super fun to watch right?! Can’t wait to see how they can continue to develop ☺️

Footy feelings quarter-by-quarter from today’s #AFLW Final between West Coast and Carlton 😅
Despite my Eagles falling to the Blues, I’m so proud of their historic moment in making it to finals and look forward to next season. Go Eagles 💙💛🦅 #AFLWFinals

Meeting #WomenInSport around the world at women’s sports bars. The dream! What a highlight it was to meet the amazing Dr @jessicawluther.com IRL last week while in Austin to chat all things sports media while also checking out the iconic @1972pub.bsky.social 💜 Love the women’s sports community!

Our new book has a release date!

You can get a copy of 'Contemporary Literary Sports Journalism: Histories, Futures and the Contests in Between' from 5 Dec! I can’t wait until this is out in the world 📚

For more info: link.springer.com/book/9783032...

Standing with FC St. Pauli: an examination of a reflexive autoethnographic account of a woman sports fan’s experience of German men’s professional football Purpose. The professional German football team Fuβball Club Sankt Pauli of Hamburg (FC St. Pauli) are renowned for their inclusive celebration of community alongside fervent fan-driven social and poli...

⚽️ New paper ⚽️

This paper is based on my experiences visiting Millerntor Stadion in Hamburg and discovering the ways that FC St. Pauli visibly signal their activism, advocacy and inclusion 🏴‍☠️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Co-written with the amazing Lee McGowan 📝

Read it here: www.emerald.com/edi/article/...

Looking to show some 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ love with your footy fandom - check out the merch that author Darcy Green has made. Very, very cool stuff!
darcygreen.com/shop

I’ll be on ABC Radio Melbourne’s ‘The Conversation Hour’ around 11.20am today talking all things footy finals and fandom - call in if you want to chat about fan access to finals 🏉📻 #AFLFinals

the story on The Flying Bats will air on ABC at 7:30pm AEST tonight! tune in to learn more about our amazing club, our 40-year history of creating inclusion in sport, and our battles against anti-trans activists. we’d love you to show support by using the hashtag #footballforall 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️⚽️🦇

Mitch Brown's announcement brings 'hope, pride and joy' to AFL fans Mitch Brown's history-making announcement he is bisexual has had an enormous impact on AFL fans, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

I should learn that when I share my cheesy fan photos that they can go anywhere! But I am thrilled that Marnie Vinall picked it up for ABC Sport to share the fan reactions of hope, pride and joy to Mitch Brown's powerful coming out announcement yesterday 🏳️‍🌈
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

Sport 🌈

I’ll be on ABC Radio Melbourne tonight at 7.30pm on Evenings with David Astle talking sports romance fiction - tune in 📻💖🏉 #SportsRomance #SportsMedia

Sporty spice: how romance fiction is adding a new dynamic to sports fandom Romance novels are on the rise – but what has that got to do with sports?

I'll be on ABC Radio North Queensland this morning at 9.35am talking all things sports romance fiction based on this article I wrote for The Coversation!
Tune in for some sporty spice 💖🏒🏀⛳️⚽️ #SportsRomance
theconversation.com/sporty-spice...

Another season of groundbreaking, history-making moments continues tonight. Merry #AFLW to all who celebrate 🥳 #SeeYouAtTheW