Matildas star Kyra Cooney-Cross will miss the rest of Arsenal’s 2025-26 season after electing to stay in Australia to spend time with her mother.
Cooney-Cross’ mother, Jess, has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.
“She stayed in Australia to spend time with her family and we’re respecting that,” Arsenal manager Renee Slegers said.
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Kyra Cooney-Cross at Stadium Australia. Getty
“She won’t be with us for the rest of the season.”
Cooney-Cross, 24, played for Australia in the Asian Cup final, won 1-0 by Japan on March 21 in Sydney.
Two other Arsenal players in that Matildas lineup – Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley – got back to winning ways in the Women’s Super League at the weekend.
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Foord was disconsolate after missing multiple chances in the Asian Cup final but got back on track in a 5-2 north London derby demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
Foord came off the bench to score Arsenal’s fourth goal.
“I was super pleased to get in the game, get that last game out of the way now to move on, and to put the ball in the back of the net again,” the 31-year-old said.
“The girls have been great since I’ve been away at the Asian Cup. They have scored a lot of goals, got a lot of wins and it’s been exciting to watch them from the other side of the world.”
Matildas captain Sam Kerr also got rid of some frustrations as she found the back of the net in Chelsea’s 4-3 win over Aston Villa.
Kerr got a rare start for the defending WSL champions and then linked with Matildas teammate Ellie Carpenter in the buildup for Sjoeke Nusken’s winner on Monday (AEDT).
Sam Kerr of Chelsea celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal. Chelsea FC via Getty Images
It moved Chelsea above Arsenal into second place, behind Manchester City.
“A lot of joy and some relief,” Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said.
“We are fighting for Champions League places and this win is huge. You could see the celebrations after the winning goal reflected that.”
But there were no celebrations for another England-based Matildas player, Clare Wheeler.
The Everton midfielder joined her teammates and Liverpool players to form a guard of honour for the clubs’ Japanese players who tasted Asian Cup success.
Liverpool won 3-2 despite losing Grace Fisk to a second half red card.