In 1989 she made her first transfer to Zambelli Reggiana, where an experienced team containing Carolina Morace, Elisabetta Vignotto and Anne O'Brien captured Antonini's first league title.

She won a further four league titles and three national cups but retired at 29 years old, dissatisfied that her teams kept going bust and unhappy with the general lack of career prospects on offer for elite female footballers in Italy.

[2] Antonini was drafted into the Italy women's national football team in 1990, following good form for title-winning Reggiana and the suspension of Eva Russo.

She made her debut in August 1990 in a 4–1 win over England, played at Wembley Stadium as a curtain raiser for the 1990 FA Charity Shield.

[3] At the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, Antonini was ever-present as Italy reached the quarter-final and lost 3–2 to Norway after extra time.