When asked whether she expected the rise to Serie A Women to come this quickly, Heather O’Reilly does not pause for long.
“To be honest, yes, because I am a determined person and I surround myself with determined people.”
O’Reilly has spent a career around winning environments. As a player, she won three Olympic gold medals and a World Cup with the United States, represented clubs including Arsenal, and was recently inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. At Como 1907, her role is different now, but the instinct remains the same. Build well. Work with good people. Set high standards. Then try to win.
That is what Como 1907 Women have done. After winning Serie B, the team secured promotion to Serie A Women following a dominant season under coach Selena Mazzantini. They won the title with three matches to spare, finishing with the best attack and the best defense in the league.
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It was an impressive season, but not one that happened by chance. Last summer, after the Club acquired the sporting title of Chievo Women to participate in Serie B, the outside expectation was simple. Stay in the league. Build slowly. Survive first. Heather saw it differently.
“Of course, surviving is fundamental, but surviving isn’t enough for me; I want to win.”
The squad was built with that same mindset. New players arrived in the summer, including captain Vero Boquete, with the project shaped as much around people as football. The human side mattered. The character of the group mattered. That same environment later helped convince Valentina Giacinti to join during the winter transfer window.
“Serie B is not easy at all; the championship was complicated from several points of view. However, Coach Mazzantini and the staff managed to stimulate the group in the best possible way, physically, mentally, and emotionally. During the season, when we encountered obstacles, we got back up quickly; this is an important quality to become a great team.”
That ability to respond became one of the team’s defining traits. Serie B was not straightforward, but Como looked aligned early. The group understood the goal, but also the way they wanted to reach it. Winning is never guaranteed. Winning while building an identity takes more than talent.
For Como 1907, the achievement carries a wider meaning. Both first teams will now play in the top division, a milestone reached for the first time in the Club’s history.
“Achieving this goal is the reward for two years of hard work by every person working in the women’s sector. It wasn’t easy and required great focus and sacrifice, successfully bringing together different ways of working from various cultures and turning this process into a great strength.”
The squad reflected that work across the pitch. Fabiana Fierro, Emma Guidi, and Emma Mustafic helped give the team security in goal, supported by a defense made up of Francesca Pittaccio, Elena Pisani, Federica Veritti, Federica Rizza, Giulia Trevisan, Ludovica Falloni, and Cecilie Sandvej. Further forward, Vero Boquete brought creativity, Louise Eriksen, Dominika Conc, and Elena Nichele added control and substance, Sofia Colombo gave the team energy, and Rossella Sardu offered leadership.
In attack, Giusy Moraca brought technical quality, Elisa Del Estal scored ten goals, Martina Gelmetti added flair, and Valentina Giacinti and Roberta Picchi made decisive contributions. Claudia Zorzetto and Kristin Carrer, both unfortunate with injuries, remained close to the group and continued to support the team throughout the season.
There were also moments that connected the team more closely to the wider Club and the city. Two matches at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia gave the players a different kind of stage. For Heather, those occasions carried both emotional and professional importance.
“Every time we play at the Sinigaglia, it’s fantastic. It makes us feel proud to be part of this Club overlooking the Lake, and obviously, it’s a setting that helps a lot from a professional point of view. The goal is to try to have as many opportunities as possible in the future to play at the Sinigaglia, representing the Club and the Como community in the most honorable way possible.”
Now, with the 2025/26 season coming to a close, attention turns to what comes next. Como 1907 Women will play in Serie A Women, but the approach does not change. For Heather, the focus remains on growth, standards, and creating an environment where players can improve.
“Now the goal is to continue improving; as long as we focus on improvement and development instead of results, the sky will be the limit for us. We want to become one of the reference teams in Italy, and we want to do it by continuing to be a development destination for players, a Club where they can reach their maximum potential.”
That idea sits at the center of the project. Results matter, but the work is also about something more durable. Como wants to build a team that competes, develops players, represents the community, and contributes to the growth of women’s football in Italy.
“We hope our work over the last two years inspires others in Italy to invest their resources, people, and infrastructure to support the quality of players present in Italy. This will improve the product and the experience of women’s football for everyone. Italy has a great chance for a major leap in the women’s football sector, but to do so will require great work in several aspects; we are ready to do our part.”
Heather O’Reilly has brought energy, ambition, and high standards to Como 1907 Women. This season, those qualities became visible in a team that reached its target quickly, but not accidentally. The promotion is a result. The work behind it is the story.