Latest news from QueenBallers

Ivana Andrés, former captain of Real Madrid Femenino and a World Cup champion, has made history in her first season with Inter Milan by helping the team qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time. Inter secured their spot with a 3-0 victory over Roma, positioning them second in Serie A behind Juventus. Ivana has been a key player in Inter's defense, playing nearly every match this season and showcasing her leadership and skill.

Her move to Inter last summer marked the end of a significant chapter with Real Madrid, where she was the first captain in the club's history. At Inter, Ivana's immediate impact has been evident, contributing to the team's historic achievement and solidifying her status as a pivotal figure in women's football.

Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2023 and 2024, became the 1st female footballer to have a plane named after her. Her voice will also welcome the passengers on board Vueling flights.

The company hopes to raise awareness of women's sport with this move and the collaboration with the Spanish footballer, to which it recently committed itself.

Manchester City defender Kerstin Casparij dedicated her goal she scored against Everton on Sunday to transgender women following a UK court ruling that restricts their participation in women's sports. Casparij's gesture was a response to the controversial decision, highlighting her support for inclusivity and equality in athletics. Her actions have sparked discussions about the rights of transgender athletes and the importance of representation in sports.

This incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding transgender participation in competitive sports. Casparij's dedication serves as a powerful statement against discrimination, emphasizing the need for policies that uphold fairness while respecting individual identities. As conversations continue, her stance contributes to the broader movement advocating for equal opportunities for all athletes, regardless of gender identity. 

Kerstin Casparij is one of the most visible LGBTQ rights advocates in women's sports. Last year on International coming out day, dated October 11, she expressed her support to all queer people who struggle with coming out. 

An ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury is one of the worst nightmares of a football career. Arsenal footballer Victoria Pelova, who was out of action for almost a year after being in treatment for an ACL, knows this.

She returned to the pitch for the first time on 22 March in Arsenal's match against Liverpool, when she was brought on in the 74th minute as a substitute for Marion Caldentey. The match was played at the Emirates Stadium when Pelova received a big applause from the home fans. In addition, Arsenal won 4-0.

She made her big comeback story on 15 April at the Emirates, scoring for the first time since her return, of course to great celebrations from her teammates and fans.

Arsenal, the club she has been playing for since the 2022/23 season, have now released a ten minute documentary to celebrate their important player, about what it's like for a footballer to return to the swing of her career when an ACL injury comes her way.

Watch it here.

Mary Fowler, a key player for Australia's national women's soccer team, the Matildas, has suffered a serious knee injury. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a match for Manchester City against Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup semi-final. This injury will keep her out of action most likely for the rest of the year. Fowler had been performing well this season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 17 Women's Super League matches. 

Fowler expressed her disappointment but remains positive about her recovery. She stated that she is committed to returning stronger after rehabilitation. The Matildas' interim head coach, Tom Sermanni, praised her resilience and talent. Fowler's injury adds to the challenges faced by the Matildas, who are already dealing with injuries to other key players. 

Arjan Veurink, the assistant coach of the England women’s national football team Sarina Wiegman, will leave his position after the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 to become the head coach of the Netherlands women’s team. Together with Wiegman, they won the European Championship with the Netherlands in 2017 and with England in 2022. Veurink said he always wanted to lead the Dutch national team and feels ready for this new challenge after more than eight years at the top level in England.

The upcoming Euro 2025 tournament will be held in Switzerland from July 2 to July 27. England and the Netherlands are in the same group, along with France and Wales, and will play each other on July 9 in Zurich. Veurink will finish his duties with England at the tournament before starting his new four-year contract with the Netherlands.

Unfortunately, we don't have good news today. A small private plane crashed in a field in upstate New York on Saturday, killing all six people on board. Among the victims were Karenna Groff, a former MIT football player, her parents, her brother, and their partners. The family was traveling for a holiday celebration when the crash happened. Karenna was a top student and athlete who was majored in biological engineering. 

The plane crashed quickly and with great force, but it was still whole just before hitting the ground. Authorities say the pilot may have been Karenna’s father, but this is not confirmed.

Back in 2022, Groff got the NCAA women of the year award. 

The national team's national break ended last week and they are slowly approaching their final part. Here are the top five news stories from last week that you shouldn't miss:

• Dream debut for the Lionesses for Michelle Agyemang
• Amanda Ilestedt makes national team debut for the first time after maternity break
• Skinner signs new contract with Manchester United Women
• Olympic Women’s Soccer expanding to 16 teams at LA28
• Two match suspension for Mapi Leon