Kildunne: Saying I have been dropped from the squad is harsh, my role has changed

England Women's national team Red Roses' Ellie Kildunne, who was benched during the North America tour, spoke to the press for the first time since that decision. The 27-year-old, who was named World Player of the Year in 2024 and finished second behind Rory McIlroy in the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year contest, played an important role in the World Cup victory. She said that describing her as dropped from the squad was a harsh way to put it.

Kildunne was left out of the starting XI after the defeat to Canada in Toronto during the 2026 Global WXV series. That loss was the Red Roses' first defeat in 41 matches over four years. Head coach John Mitchell said the player was going through a difficult period and that they were looking for consistency. Mitchell also said he had pointed to form, consistency and behaviour.

The Red Roses lost to Canada again in Ottawa. Kildunne also stayed on the bench for the final match of the series and for the emphatic win over the United States.

The player stressed that she was still on the field, remained part of the team and was getting game time. Kildunne said having depth in the squad was important and that she had worn the shirt in a large number of matches. She also referred to the spread of clickbait-driven news in the media.