Latest news from QueenBallers

Ella Toone shares a heartfelt story about her close relationship with her father, who was her biggest supporter in life and football. From a young age, they bonded over car rides filled with Smooth Radio tunes and playful pranks. Her dad encouraged her passion for football, promising her ten pounds for every goal she scored in her first game—a challenge she met with ten goals. His unwavering support continued as she progressed through her football career, always offering advice and cheering her on from the sidelines.

Nick Toone died 3 days before his 60th birthday. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after watching his daughter score a goal in the Euro 2022 final. England beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley.

A few months after his death, Toone spoke to The Player's Tribune about her story and how she is dealing with her loss. 

Canada has launched its first professional women's soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL), in April 2025. The league features six teams from major cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. The NSL was created by former Canadian international Diana Matheson to provide local opportunities for female soccer players, so they no longer need to go abroad to play professionally. The league's first match took place on April 16, 2025, between Vancouver Rise and Calgary Wild at BC Place in Vancouver. The game attracted over 14,000 fans, and Vancouver's Quinn scored the league's first goal with a penalty kick.

The NSL aims to support players with fair salaries, maternity benefits, and housing assistance. Canadian women's soccer players have gold medals from the Tokyo Olympics, but most of them have gone abroad to pursue their careers.

Lotte Wubben-Moy, a 23-year-old defender, has signed a new contract with Arsenal Women. She joined the club's academy at age 13 and made her senior debut at 16. After playing college football in the U.S., she returned to Arsenal in 2020. Since then, she has become a key player for both Arsenal and the Lionesses. Wubben-Moy expressed pride in continuing her journey with the club she has supported since childhood in video she herself wrote and created. 'I feel a huge amount of pride,' she said. 

Her new contract includes a program focused on engaging with young girls in areas like reading, art, and the environment. She will collaborate with Arsenal in the Community to run this initiative in Camden, Hackney, and Islington. Wubben-Moy believes in giving back to the community that shaped her and sees this program as a vital part of her role at the club.

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.