Ali Krieger was in the middle of training for the biggest game of her career when she found out her wife Ashlyn Harris had filed for divorce.
In an interview with SELF Magazine, the now-retired soccer player shared what really happened that fateful night late last year.
“I will never forget that moment. 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,” Krieger explained.
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She had cancelled the rest of her engagements for that day – which included a fitting for her upcoming retirement game – and went home instead.
But she would not be alone, with her teammates soon filing in one by one to support her in the aftermath of the breakup.
“My entire team came over for a dance party the night the news broke,” the former athlete said, adding that they showered her with flowers and wine, staying until 2 a.m.
Krieger appreciated that her teammates “didn’t even think twice” about coming over to support her. “They just showed up.”
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“They will never understand how grateful and how… I’m so appreciative.”
Krieger and Harris had a 13 year-long relationship, beginning when both played for the United States Women’s National Team.
Their relationship saw two World Cup wins, their engagement and marriage in 2019, the adoption of their daughter Sloane in 2021 and son Ocean in 2022, Harris’ retirement that same year, and more.
Krieger was on the cusp her attempt at making her team NJ/NY Gotham FC – the worst team – win the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship when Harris filed for divorce.
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Just one month later, it was confirmed Harris was dating her longtime friend, actress Sophia Bush.
Four days after Krieger had received the “devastating” news about her marriage, she went on to lead Gotham in a victory.
She commented on the aftermath of the divorce and her retirement from the soccer world.
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“Obviously, I met the most broken version of myself this year, but now – the strongest,” she said.
“I feel like I can get through anything, and I am so ready for this next phase.”