The achievements of the most talented athletes worldwide are only the beginning. The challenges and repeated disappointments they face never discourage them from giving up. However, in an interview, former USWNT star Ali Krieger shared a moment of ‘mom guilt’ that will challenge your perception of the sacrifices made by women soccer players.
It was her last chance to win the NWSL trophy that had eluded her for so long. Unfortunately, this meant missing her daughter’s second birthday. Krieger explained, “I missed her second birthday because we had preseason last year, and you know, I’m sitting there thinking, like alright well, let’s just FaceTime and have a little party. You know, it’s like okay, but sometimes it’s like that’s what you have to do to keep a roof over their head.” However, amidst the pain, there are also precious moments that make up for it, like sharing a perfect bedtime story with her daughter!
After winning two World Cups, a German League, and a UEFA Champions League title, Ali Krieger only had the NWSL left on her list of accomplishments. In 2023, she led her team, NJ/NY Gotham FC, to their first NWSL Championship before retiring. However, it was during preseason that she had to be away from her daughter to achieve this glory.
Ali Krieger is a mother to two children, Sloane and Ocean. Sloane recently turned three, celebrating her birthday on February 12, 2024. However, around the same time last year, Ali was training with her NWSL squad at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, while her daughter lived in Montclair, New Jersey. Therefore, she could only connect with her daughter through FaceTime. This year, though, the star shared pictures of them celebrating together.
Meanwhile, Krieger played a crucial role in her team’s success. From saving important goals to winning 65.6% of duels, she helped her team secure the trophy against Megan Rapinoe’s OL Reign. Additionally, Ali Krieger became only the fourth person to play 15000 minutes in the American women’s soccer league, which is an incredible achievement of physical fitness!
Furthermore, Krieger also revealed her strong bond with her children. Both of her kids were adopted, and she expressed her joy about the birth of her daughter, saying, “It was just like a wow experience, kind of just like I can’t believe we’re in this room right now and like she’s right there.” Now 39 years old, Krieger is currently working as a pundit for CBS and has shown interest in coaching.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com