Women's Football News, Players & Stories | Queenballers

Following the suspension of the Cantarrana Trophy due to the torrential rain in Viveiro, which badly affected the pitch at the stadium that was to host the match today, Real Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña played a warm-up game at the Abegondo Sports Complex in Abegondo. The Whites won 0-2, with goals from Eva Navarro and Oihane, in the last pre-season test before the league opener at home to Espanyol (Friday, 6 September, 8 pm CEST).

The first half was controlled by Madrid, with Olga finding space on the left flank but no clear-cut chances were made. The Galician side tried to attack on the counter and Misa saved well from Millene's shot in the 22nd minute. Athenea had the biggest chance with an effort that was well stopped by the opposition goal on the stroke of half-time.

Madrid rewarded for pressure
Toril reshuffled the pack in the second half. And in the 58th minute, Alba Redondo had a great chance from Olga's cross that was turned behind for a corner. In the ensuing corner-kick, Eva Navarro struck to make it 0-1. The Madridistas continued to press forward and in the 85th minute, it was 0-2. A wonderful cross from the left by Leupolz was headed home by Oihane. 

After decades lost to draconian bans implemented by morally bankrupt institutions that are still allowed to exist, women's football is unmistakably on an upward trajectory. This hard-fought rise is borne out in the increasing figures of registered players, watching fans and transfer fees.

Milene Domingues' move from Fiamma Monza to Rayo Vallecano in 2002 for a sum of €235,000 (at the time worth just under £150,000) stood as the world's most expensive transfer until 2020. Unlike Domingues, Pernille Harder did not boast the highest number of keepy-uppies ever recorded but still persuaded Chelsea to part ways with £250,000.

Over the following years, that high watermark has been shattered so frequently that Harder no longer ranks among the most expensive transfers of all time. Here's a closer look at the deals that have helped the women's game continue to grow.

1. Racheal Kundananji, Madrid CFF to Bay FC, 2024 - £685,000

2. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli to Orlando Pride, 2024 - £581,000

3= Ewa Pajor, Wolfsburg to Barcelona, 2024 - £425,000

3= Mayra Ramirez, Levante to Chelsea, 2024 - £425,000

5. Keira Walsh, Manchester City to Barcelona, 2022 - £400,000

6. Tarciane, Corinthians to  Houston Dash, 2024 - £384,000

7. Lena Oberdorf, Wolfsburg to Bayern Munich, 2024 - £339,000

8. Jill Roord, Wolfsburg to Manchester City, 2023 - £300,000

9. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Hammarby - Arsenal, 2023 - £297,000

10= Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns to Lyon, 2023 - £254,000

10= Geyse, Barcelona to Manchester United, 2023 - £254,000

Women’s football in England is undoubtedly still on the rise. From sell-out crowds last season, to guarantees of all home fixtures hosted at main stadiums. The Women’s Super League continues to enjoy a meteoric rise as the top tier of the FA’s Women’s Football Pyramid.

It is worth also casting an eye over the emerging successes in other leagues. Let’s have a look at Bristol Rovers in the National League Division One South.

One such example of a club being newly promoted is Bristol Rovers. For many fans of the women’s game, Bristol may be a city exclusively associated with former top flight club Bristol City. However, there is also movement on the other side of the city, over in BS7.

Bristol Rovers gear up for their first season playing in Division One South West of the FA’s Women’s National League. This will happen after being promoted from the South West Regional Women’s Football League’s Premier division.

To further the anticipation surrounding the 2024/25 season for the club, it has also been announced that the team will play their home games at Memorial Stadium. This is Bristol Rovers’ home ground this coming season.

Looking ahead to the club’s team for the upcoming season, they have retained many of their players. They were part of last season’s squad that helped them secure promotion, while also welcoming some exciting new signings.

One such signing is Daisy Ackerman. The forward brings experience from her time at Cheltenham Town and the Arsenal Academy to Bristol Rovers ahead of their first game of the 2024/25 season. They will face AFC Bournemouth, a strong side who finished second in the league in the 2023/24 season. Being interviewed on the Bristol Rovers’ official website, Ackerman said: “The team vision for further progression was impressive.”

This sentiment — that Bristol Rovers is a club with ambitious plans for the future and further progression — can undoubtedly be seen in their signings and their commitment to move the women’s side in line with the men’s, by playing home fixtures at Memorial Stadium. 

While the opening match of the season, set to take place on the 18th August, will undoubtedly offer the newly promoted team a challenge, it is one to watch closely to see how the club’s ambitions will begin to take shape during their first season in the fourth tier of the English Football Pyramid.