‘My everything’: Matildas star heads home following mother’s rare cancer diagnosis

18 hours ago 4

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Skip to sections navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Matildas and Arsenal star Kyra Cooney-Cross has returned to Australia after her mother, Jess, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The 23-year-old left her club duties at North London club Arsenal to be with her family instead of playing in this weekend’s match against Manchester United, announcing the decision on her Instagram account.

Kyra Cooney-Cross at Allianz Stadium in Sydney in 2025 ahead of a friendly against South Korea.

“A few days ago, our world changed forever,” Cooney-Cross said. “My amazing mum, Jess, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). It’s a rare and aggressive cancer, and there is no cure.

“My mum is my hero, my best friend, my everything and the person who has shaped every part of who I am. She is the reason I am where I am today, her strength, love, and belief in me has carried me through everything. Trying to put into words what she means to me feels impossible.

“I’m now back in Australia to be with my mum, my sisters, and our family as we navigate what comes next. We are all still in shock and learning how to sit with the weight of this news.”

Cooney-Cross shared that her family had created an online fundraising page to help support the family and asked that their privacy be respected.

Kyra Cooney-Cross provided the sad news about her mother’s illness.

The announcement was met with support from her teammates at Arsenal, in the Matildas, and across the Women’s Super League. Players left hearts on the post and shared the link to the fundraising page.

Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, and Caitlin Foord were among those to leave comments on the post with Catley writing “love you”. Arsenal teammate and England forward Beth Mead, also left a comment saying, “we are all with you and your family”. Mead’s mother, June, passed away in 2023 after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright also shared the post and fundraising link to his 1.9 million followers. Wright is credited with scouting Cooney-Cross to join the club after watching her performances with the Matildas at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Cooney-Cross was due to begin the second half of the WSL season on Saturday. Arsenal are sitting in third behind Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter’s Chelsea and Mary Fowler’s Manchester City.

Cooney-Cross was voted player of the month for December by Arsenal fans and was next due back in Australia to join the Matildas camp in February for the start of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup on March 1.

She has spoken about her relationship with her mum in the past and, in June, told her Instagram followers that Jess was “the best mum in the world.”