Positional and Temporal Variability of Match Running Performance in Elite Women's Soccer

The aims were to: 1) characterize players' physical output during the matches; 2) compare match running performance across four qualification phases according to playing position; 3) compare position-specific running demands; 4) assess match-to-match variability; and 5) compare physical performance between halves. Data were collected via GPS and accelerometry from four professional teams during the 2024 season of the Brazilian Women's First Division League. Sixty-seven elite female players who completed full matches were included (n = 345 individual observations), representing central and external defenders, central midfielders, and forwards. On average, players covered 9138 meters per match, with high-speed running and sprinting comprising ≈4% of total distance. Total distance, high-speed running, top speed, and deceleration efforts peaked during the pre-break phase (p < .001-0.041). Central midfielders and external defenders recorded the highest total distances, high-speed running, and PlayerLoad values (p < .001), while forwards achieved the highest top speeds, sprinting, and acceleration/deceleration efforts (p < .001-0.003). Match-to-match variability was greatest for high-speed running and sprinting (CV: 37.6-69.0%), particularly among defenders. Most physical outputs declined from the first to the second half (p < .001-0.047), except for sprinting. These findings support individualized training and context-specific periodization in elite women's soccer.