The Emmy-winning comedy series “Ted Lasso” returned to Apple TV on August 5 with its fourth season, introducing a fresh chapter that centers on a women’s soccer team. After a three-year hiatus, the show shifts its focus from the Premier League men’s team to the female squad known as AFC Richmond’s Lady Greyhounds, a second-division team confronting challenges commonly faced in women’s sports.

Jason Sudeikis reprises his role as Ted Lasso, the affable and optimistic American coach who has left behind his high-profile job in England to return to Kansas. There, he leads a quieter life raising his son Henry and working a mundane job until former colleagues—including team owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), marketing chief Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), and director Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift)—persuade him to go back to London. This time, his mission is to coach the women’s team and help them believe in themselves amid a landscape of underfunding and limited resources.

The new season introduces fresh characters alongside familiar faces. Tanya Reynolds plays Alice Chilton, the women’s team’s assistant coach, who combines dedication with social anxiety, often coming across as brusque. Faye Marsay portrays Lizzie, a working mother balancing family and sports commitments. The creative team behind “Ted Lasso” engaged with figures from the women’s soccer community to accurately depict the realities female athletes face, including a tendency to challenge coaches more than male players might.

Meanwhile, Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent returns as coach of the men’s team, frequently appearing throughout the series and maintaining an ongoing “will they or won’t they” tension with Keeley. The show balances comedic elements—such as Roy’s blunt, foul-mouthed persona—with more nuanced explorations of gender dynamics in sports and society. According to Sudeikis, Ted’s approach to coaching women differs from his experience with men and boys, highlighting the uncertainty he feels about appropriate behavior and communication.

Keeley’s role this season involves navigating her support for the women’s team while confronting societal expectations and her own learning curve. Juno Temple described Keeley as enthusiastic about promoting women’s soccer but prone to missteps that require self-education.

Critics have noted that the fourth season starts with a slower premiere but quickly finds its stride, delivering some of the strongest episodes since the series debut. The mix of familiar warmth and new storylines creates a balance that preserves the show’s characteristic optimism without becoming repetitive.

Overall, the season explores themes of teamwork, inclusion, and perseverance while maintaining “Ted Lasso’s” signature blend of dry British humor and heartfelt sincerity, as it spotlights the ongoing challenges and triumphs within women’s sports.