Latest news from QueenBallers

We recently reported that Manchester United would join the new World Sevens Football competition as the fourth club, joining Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Benfica, who were also confirmed at the time.

We now know all  participants in the brand new tournament, which will be played in Portugal from May 21 to 23. 

Manchester United will be joined by their biggest city rival Manchester City for the English clubs. The French clubs will be represented by PSG, while the Italian Serie A side will be represented by AS Roma. The seven competing teams will be completed by Sweden's Damallsvenskan in the form of FC Rosengård.

Learn more on worldsevensfootball.com

Manchester United secured a spot in next season's UEFA Women's Champions League after a 2-2 draw against Manchester City on May 4, 2025.

• Dramatic Comeback in Manchester Derby: Despite trailing 2-0, United rallied with goals from Grace Clinton and Melvine Mallard to level the match.
• Playing with Ten Players: United endured the final 20 minutes with ten players after Aoife Mannion received a second yellow card, but managed to hold off City's late pressure.
• League Standings: With one game remaining, United sit third in the Women's Super League with 44 points, four ahead of City and one behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
• Upcoming FA Cup Final: United will now focus on defending their FA Cup title in the final against Chelsea on May 18, 2025.

For more details, you can read the full article here: Reuters Article.

• The match featured a remarkable 25-yard strike from Isobel Goodwin, the league's top scorer, giving London City a 1-0 lead and thrilling the 8,749 fans in attendance
• The game was a title decider and marked the first Women's Championship match broadcast live on Sky Sports, highlighting the growing prominence of women's football.
• Under the ownership of Michele Kang, who also owns Washington Spirit and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, London City Lionesses have become the first fully independent club to reach the WSL. Kang's investment and vision have been pivotal in the club's success

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: The FA Article.

• Niamh Fahey Announces Retirement from Club Football: Liverpool FC Women captain and Republic of Ireland international Niamh Fahey has declared her intention to retire from club football at the conclusion of the current Women's Super League (WSL) season
• Final Matches Scheduled: Fahey's final appearances will be in Liverpool's upcoming league fixtures against Everton on 4th May and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 10th May
• Dream Club Career: Fahey has had a really successfull club career, featuring for top english clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and collecting five league titles and five Women’s FA Cups along the way.
• Legacy in Irish Football: In January 2025, Fahey retired from international football, concluding her tenure with 115 caps for Ireland, including participation in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Fahey's retirement follows that of fellow Ireland stalwart Louise Quinn, marking the end of an era for Irish women's football.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: The Sun Article.

The topic of transgender athletes has long been discussed, especially in relation to swimmer Lia Thomas. At the same time, transgender athletes are such a minority group that, especially in team sports, no official statement has been issued. The first to come up with something like this was the FA:

• FA Implements Ban on Transgender Women in Women's Football: Effective June 1, 2025, the Football Association (FA) will prohibit transgender women from participating in women's football across all levels in England, including amateur leagues.
• Policy Change Prompted by Supreme Court Ruling: This decision follows an April 16, 2025, UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defines "woman" under the Equality Act as a biological female, compelling the FA to revise its inclusion policies to align with the law
• Previous Inclusion Policy Overturned: The FA's earlier policy allowed transgender women to play in women's leagues if they met specific criteria, such as maintaining reduced testosterone levels for a designated period.
• Approximately 20 Amateur Players Affected: Currently, around 20 transgender women are registered in English grassroots football; the FA is reaching out to these individuals to explain the changes and discuss alternative ways to remain involved in the sport.
• Broader Impact on Sports and Public Spaces: The Supreme Court ruling has broader implications, influencing policies in other sports and public facilities, with organizations like the Equality and Human Rights Commission updating guidelines to reflect the legal definition of sex.
• Mixed Reactions to the Decision: The policy change has elicited varied responses, with some advocating for fairness in women's sports supporting the move, while transgender rights groups express concern over exclusion and discrimination.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: Sky Sports Article.

• Lucy Bronze's late header in 74th minute secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United, sealing Chelsea’s sixth consecutive Women’s Super League (WSL) title.
• New manager Sonia Bompastor remains unbeaten in the WSL this season, continuing Emma Hayes’ legacy with a strong defensive performance and mental resilience.
• With the League Cup already secured and an FA Cup final against United in May, Chelsea are chasing a historic domestic treble with already winning the Subway Women's League cup and playing the FA cup finale in May.

Read the full article on BBC Sports

• FIFA-Funded Study on Menstrual Cycle and ACL Injuries: FIFA is financing a groundbreaking study at Kingston University to explore the potential link between hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female soccer players.
• Research Leadership and Methodology: The study is led by PhD student Blake Rivers and a team of sports science experts. It involves collecting and analyzing blood samples and physical performance data from elite and grassroots footballers, including players from Chelsea and Fulham, over the course of a year.
• Focus on Hormonal Impact: Researchers aim to identify phases of the menstrual cycle that may increase injury risk by examining hormone levels—specifically oestrogen and progesterone—and their effect on ligament laxity and neuromuscular response during activities like landing after headers and rapid directional changes.
• Goal of Personalized Training: The ultimate objective is to develop individualized training adaptations to reduce injury risk, potentially allowing coaches to tailor training and injury prevention strategies according to athletes’ menstrual cycle phases.
• Context of Rising ACL Injuries: The study comes in response to a notable increase in ACL injuries among high-profile female soccer players, such as Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr, highlighting the urgency of this research.
• Potential for Broader Impact: If successful, the findings could inform training protocols and injury prevention strategies not only in soccer but across various sports, contributing to improved athlete health and performance.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here: FIFA funds study looking into correlation between menstrual cycle and ACL injuries.

The seventeenth week of 2025 brought a lot of things you definitely shouldn't miss. The Bundesliga title is decided, the Champions League knows its finalists and the transfer window is slowly approaching. Here are the 5 most important things you shouldn't miss. 

• Inter Milan made history with qualified for the Champions League for the first time
• Meet The Northern Super League. Canada starts its first professional women's football league
• Bayern become Bundesliga champions for the seventh time
• We already know the finalists of the Champions League
• Which clubs will participate in the new competition called World Sevens Football?