In 2021, the couple adopted their daughter, Sloane.
Their son, Ocean, came next, in 2022, the same year Harris retired from soccer.
Rumors started circulating that Harris had cheated.
On Ali: Corset by Kate Hundley. Bracelets by Rabanne. Earrings by Jennifer Fisher.
(In a NovemberInstagram post, she denied ever stepping out on Krieger.)
If Gotham wanted to win on Kriegers behalf at thestartof this season, well…now it waspersonal.
Four days after everything came to light, Krieger played her final game.
On Ali: Bodysuit by FRISKMEGOOD. Cleats by Adidas. Earrings and ring by Jenny Bird.
They were headed to the playoffs, seeded sixth out of six teams.
When Bird appeared on the Jumbotron in an Ali Krieger fan club T-shirt, the crowd went wild.
Two sports greats would be facing off against each other for the last time.
On Ali: Corset by Kate Hundley. Underwear by Skims. Sneakers by Adidas. Bracelets by Rabanne. Earrings by Jennifer Fisher. Necklace by Mejuri.
(Yes, this wasalsoMegan Rapinoes retirement game.)
Real you cant make this shit up stuff.
In the end, Gotham won.AliKriegerwon.
On Ali: Corset and pants by Stella McCartney. Cleats by Adidas. Earrings by Issey Miyake. Ring by Dinosaur Designs.
The crowdand the group chatswent wild.
But at first glance on this blustery morning, Krieger seems…pretty okay, actually!
Im actually in a healthy space, she says.
Im still processing everything in real time.
Obviously, I met the most broken version of myself this year, but nowthe strongest.
I feel like I can get through anything, and I am so ready for this next phase.
I feel like the universe has sent me a gift, and Im ready to take it.
By every available metric, Krieger, 39, is extremely good at soccer.
Shes won two World Cup titles.
On Ali: Sweater by Nili Lotan. Briefs by Brandon Blackwood. Cleats by Adidas. Bracelet by Hoorsenbuhs. Earrings by Jenny Bird. Necklace by Lady Grey.
The NWSL championship was the only major athletic accomplishment she didnt have to her name…until now.
Im really proud of the lifelong friendships that Ive built with my teammates, she says.
Building those friendships that go beyond the soccer field has been a dream come true.
Now I get to share real-life memories with them, not just soccer.
Because ultimately, she says, soccer isnt who she isits just something she does.
Because if I dont, who will?
Thats the mentality that I have.
I think its important to amplify those issues, and verify people understand where you stand.
We deserve more, as players.
You have to figure out how we can change thisgo talk to ownership.
I know that the younger players cant do that.
I remember fighting for training socks at one point.
They are my true people, she says.
My entire team came over for a dance party the night the news broke.
And I will never forget that moment, she says.
I found out at training.
I was on the field.
And I came off the field, in the locker room, and I was obviously devastated.
Then my teammates just started walking through the door, she says.
They didnt even think twice.
They didnt have to ask; they just showed up.
I was carrying that into relationships, even friendships.
Im applying that day-to-day, and Im in such a better space than I was before.
Therapy, in particular, can be quite painful.
Its hard to really confront things, Krieger says.
You have to hold yourself accountable.
Even if its on a friendship level.
Soccerwhich was Kriegers job, her community, her home for her entire adult lifeis over.
Her relationshipwhich lasted 13 years and is inextricably tied to her experience of soccer and motherhoodis over.
Kriegers first order of business in retirement is spending more time with Sloane and Ocean.
Still, Krieger tries to be gentle with herself when the mom guilt creeps in.
I just have to throw that out the window, she says.
My internal dialogue is Im a great mom.
Im doing the best I can while balancing the kids and my career, trying to give myself grace.
I give a shot to say that every day, no matter how I feel.
Because its true: Were all just trying to do our best.
I was open to anything at the time because I was just like, you know what?
I could be free.
When you come to the end, a lot of us struggle.
Because you are like, Whats my purpose now?
I dont have to prep four or five days in advance for my game, she says.
If my best friend calls me up and says, Hey, why dont you come down?
its like, Oh, yeah, I can do that now.
And shed like to write a book about her life (maybe a tell-all) at some point.
My kids are happy and healthy and thriving, most importantly, she says.
And fully healed from this past year in some way, shape, or form.
Im in this transitioning phase, so Im unarmoring myself, she says.
I have been bare, basically, for the past five months.
But how I react is definitely going to propel me to the future.
I know that I need to go through all the shit so you can get there.
Thats what Im in now, and Im just rolling my sleeves up.
I know that Im not there yet.
Im so ready for the new year, and just propelling myself forward into that.
And then Ill be open, really fully open, to whats next.
