“1. FC Union Berlin’s Women’s Team Bids Farewell to Four Players and Sports Psychologist”

The women’s team of 1. FC Union Berlin is saying goodbye to four players after the 2022/23 season. Pauline Gericke, Luise Wildner, Anouk Westphal and Lena Bucher will leave the Iron Ladies. In addition, the paths with sports psychologist Mona Utler from the functional team parted ways.

Pauline Gericke was promoted to the first women’s team from her own youth in the summer of 2021. As a result, the 18-year-old quickly established herself in the center of defense and made a total of 27 appearances for 1. FC Union Berlin. However, the central defender will gather her next experience in the USA, where she will study and play soccer at California State University in the future.

Luise Wildner had just that experience abroad in the USA last year before she returned to Germany in the summer of 2022 and joined 1. FC Union Berlin. However, after only a year, the paths separate again. The 20-year-old, who has played at right-back this season and has played in all 24 league games (6 goals), will leave the club due to her studies.

Lena Bucher is also leaving 1. FC Union Berlin. The midfielder came to Köpenick from SV Werder Bremen II in January 2022. After a year and a half and 19 competitive games in which she scored a goal, the chapter is now ending.

Anouk Westphal, meanwhile, only switched to the Iron Ladies from the youth team at SV Empor Berlin last summer. The 16-year-old, who was also used in the B youth this season, took her first steps in the women’s division at Union this season and played three games in the Regionalliga Nordost.

Most recently, 1. FC Union Berlin also said goodbye to sports psychologist Mona Utler. The 26-year-old joined the club in October 2021 as part of a nine-month internship before officially taking over the post of sports psychologist for the first women’s team last summer. In this function, Utler was mainly active in the areas of motivation, team cohesion and dealing with pressure and supported the team both in larger workshops and in individual discussions.

“The professional path that we have taken naturally entails challenges for every player that do not always fit into the current plan. It is important to reconcile professional and personal goals. In addition to these aspects, the sporting perspective is of course also important for the players. We had honest conversations, thank the players and Mona for their commitment and wish them all the best for the future,” said Jennifer Zietz, head of the women’s and girls’ department at Union.