Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will be filled with supporters when midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross takes the pitch this Sunday to face Crystal Palace. Yet one cherished presence will be absent from the stands: her mother, Jess, who died from cancer two months earlier.
The Australian international will compete at the venue for the first time since her mother's death in July. Cooney-Cross has described her approach to this moment as taking things "one day at a time."
I know mum would want me here playing and training. And I want to play for the fans as well, to say thank you to them. But it's mixed emotions. Game days are very emotional for me now. They mean a lot more. I would say I'm excited, but it's also going to be an emotional day. I want to play and I want to play for her as well and for the fans.
Cooney-Cross's mother received a diagnosis of stage four cholangiocarcinoma, an uncommon and fast-progressing bile duct malignancy, in January 2026. She succumbed to the illness seven months after diagnosis, passing away at the age of 45.
She was a beautiful human and I want to carry her with me on and off the pitch.
The 24-year-old midfielder credits her mother's dedication and sacrifices with shaping her football journey. Growing up as one of four daughters in a single-parent household, Cooney-Cross witnessed her mother's commitment firsthand.
Mum was a single mum of four girls. Growing up, she was driving me four times a week to train in Melbourne, an hour and a half each way. We barely had money for fuel. I don't even know half of the sacrifices she's made. I want to carry her in everything I do and how I am and how I play. Because she was honestly amazing.
How did Cooney-Cross manage her return to football?
Learning of her mother's terminal diagnosis shortly after Christmas marked a turning point in Cooney-Cross's life. The news came via a phone call from her stepfather while she was in England, having chosen not to travel home for the holidays.
Upon receiving the diagnosis, the midfielder booked the earliest available flight back to Australia and took an indefinite compassionate leave from Arsenal to be with her mother during her final months.
That time at home was something I definitely needed. Being able to be at home and slow down, be present and being with my mum was the most important thing. Being able to be there with her over the last six months and then that last week, it's sad, but I think we also need to think of it as a beautiful thing as well. My mum was truly something special.
While remaining in Australia, Cooney-Cross maintained her fitness by training five days a week with a personal coach and using gym facilities. She viewed the training regimen as both a physical necessity and an emotional refuge from the difficult circumstances surrounding her.
I was training Monday to Friday on the pitch with a one-on-one coach and then I had a gym facility as well. I did it because it was also an escape. I felt more free and like I could escape from everything that was going on off the pitch. I also did it because I knew that's what mum would want and I wanted to come back this season and be as fit as possible.
Arsenal and Cooney-Cross had agreed that she would remain in Australia for the remainder of the 2025-26 season to support her mother, with head coach Renee Slegers confirming she would not return that campaign.
What support did Arsenal provide during her absence?
Returning to competitive football after an extended absence presents significant challenges for any athlete, yet Cooney-Cross has praised Arsenal's handling of her situation as exceptional. Head coach Renee Slegers and director of women's football Claire Wheatley maintained regular contact throughout her time away, while teammates Alessia Russo and Taylor Hinds provided crucial emotional support upon her return.
That's when you need people and those that love you and care about you will be there for you. I was sad to leave my family, but at the same time, I also felt ready to come back. I had to bite the bullet. I'm so glad I did because honestly everyone has been so amazing. I've been distracted, I've been supported and it's been a really smooth transition. I've got good people around me.
According to Australian media reports, Cooney-Cross returned to Arsenal's pre-season training on 17 August 2026 and made her comeback appearance on 24 August 2026, coming on in the 63rd minute of a 1-0 pre-season victory over Paris FC.
She was listed as an unused substitute in Arsenal's opening Women's Super League fixture against Brighton on 6 September 2026, wearing squad number 32. However, Arsenal announced on 8 September 2026 that Cooney-Cross won the club's Emirates Goal of the Month for her strike against Charlton Athletic during pre-season competition.
What is Cooney-Cross's international record?
Cooney-Cross ranks among Australia's most promising footballing talents. She entered international football at age 19 and has earned 63 caps for the Matildas, starting all seven matches at the home World Cup in 2023. Before joining Arsenal on 15 September 2023, she played for Hammarby IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan.
What does the upcoming match mean to Cooney-Cross?
The Emirates Stadium holds particular significance for Cooney-Cross, as it was the venue where her mother last watched her play football. She is determined to honour that memory when she returns to the pitch.
She was always the best at sending messages and I read this one [text] message before every game. The way she writes is so beautiful. I think a lot about how I go about life. I think about what she would say or do. A lot of my purpose is because of her and my drive, but even more so now. I just want to play and do really well for her and bring joy into the sadness of my family.
Arsenal's next listed fixture for Cooney-Cross is against Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League on 13 September 2026, where she will have the opportunity to make her competitive debut for the club since her return.
Key Facts
- Cooney-Cross's mother was diagnosed with stage four cholangiocarcinoma in January 2026 and died in July at age 45
- The midfielder took indefinite compassionate leave from Arsenal to spend her mother's final six months in Australia
- She maintained fitness during her absence through five-day-a-week training with a personal coach
- Cooney-Cross has earned 63 international caps for Australia and started all seven matches at the 2023 home World Cup
- She made her competitive return in pre-season on 24 August 2026 and won Arsenal's Emirates Goal of the Month for a strike against Charlton Athletic
