#they were like my second NWSL team which I don’t feel bad about because I have no hometown loyalty etc to any women’s football club

[paverics]

imagine being a brand new NWSL team trying to get everyone excited about your first ever signing but nobody cares because you’re not the utah royals finally returning

[uswntxfootball]

wonderland (kristie mewis x uswnt!reader)

all the memories and suppressed feelings flood back when she gets called up to the national team again.

word count: 2624 ish

rated D for dumb idiots. also F for flustered reader. and A for a little angsty.

——

it was tuesday morning when you had a near death experience.

jordan thinks that you’re being overdramatic but you don’t listen to her anyways.

on your off day of training the team decided to go out to have a nice breakfast together at a cafe.

there was the usual banter, disgusting couple moments (you constantly made gagging noises at them), and general stupidity.

after a bit the conversation dulled a little, but spiked again when jordan said:

“hey doesn’t the uswnt roster drop today?”

oh crap you forgot about that.

“oh crap yes it does.”

you were pretty sure you were going to make it again.

you’ve been very constant with your playing, scoring goals nationally and at the wsl alike.

still you couldn’t help the nerves that crept their way up your skin, and you handed your phone to jordan to have her read the list .

“read the list of midfielders aloud for me would you?”

the forward accepted it without hesitation, this being a usual exchange between the two of you.

jordan scanned the page a few times before smiling:

“i am proud to present the midfielders for the 2020 netherlands camp-“

“oh stop it just get on with it.”

“well i was before you rudely interrupted me-“

“alright whatever well keep going then.”

“julie ertz.”

“ditto.”

“lindsey horan.”

“also a given.”

“rose lavelle.”

“obviously.”

“catarina macario.”

“i’m not surprised.”

“sam mewis.”

“uh huh”

“and yours truly, y/n y/ln.”

the table cheered a little and you blushed, taking a bite of your avocado toast to hide your smile.

“oh and kristie mewis.”

and then you inhaled sharply, choking on your bite of food.

“who?” you managed to get out through a fit of coughing.

your inquiry was met with an array of exclamations.

“do you not know who kristie mewis is?”

“sam mewis’s sister?”

“won the challenge cup with dash?”

“dated rachel daly?”

“how do you not know who she is?!”

“you’re american for god’s sake!”

you ignored them all and instead said to jordan:

“can you hand me the water?”

jordan furrowed her eyebrows and handed you a glass of water as you coughed away.

you shot her a thankful glance before it was broken again by your nonstop coughing.

daan turned and slapped you a few times on the back which helped slightly.

for the rest of the breakfast jordan noticed you were much quieter, resorting to staring off into space instead of filling the silences with bad jokes.

after breakfast she caught up with you.

“alright spill.”

you shot her a look of confusion.

“spill about what?”

“you and kristie.”

“there’s nothing to spill.”

“that’s a lie and you know that.”

“i- hey would you look at the time i gotta go!”

you glanced at your wrist quickly before running off.

jordan shook her head before yelling out:

“you don’t even have a watch on!”

~~

steph watched the two of you and shook her head.

you and kristie were bickering about something across the field, too caught up in your own world to pay attention to the fact that training had ended.

steph and kristie were both boston college grads, and the two had been close friends before signing together.

kristie had taking a particular liking to you, and within the first week of training you found yourself included in everything the they did.

the three of you played for the boston breakers, sharing an apartment, a car, and consequently all your personal spaces as well.

and so it was only fitting that the three of you bickered.

a lot.

you and kristie more than anyone.

“that is the worst show in existence!”

“no it is not the cinematography is fantastic it’s-“

“no the acting is so bad!”

“no it’s not i-“

“you just have bad show choices.”

you gasped in offense.

“take it back.”

kristie grinned and stuck her tongue out at you.

“never.”

“well then you better run.”

kristie’s eyes widened when you lunged at her.

she took off but you, being faster tackled her to the ground.

your fingers dug into her sides and through a fit of laughter she relented.

“okay okay! i take it back! you have good taste in shows!”

you grinned triumphantly and stopped, your hands on both sides of kristie’s head as you looked down at her.

kristie’s cheeks were flushed and her chest heaved slightly as she looked up at you.

you were briefly aware of the pounding in your ears and butterflies in your stomach.

your eyes locked onto hers and unbeknownst to you you were leaning in but kristie was very, very aware of it, and just as she was about to lean in as well, steph’s yell broke the two of you out of your trance.

“hey training is over idiots!”

you shoot up so fast that your vision goes a little bit black.

you stumble a little bit before finding your balance.

“shut up mccaffrey you almost gave me a heart attack.”

you look down to see kristie still on the ground before you stick a hand out to help her up.

“what were the two of you even fighting about?”

you gave kristie a pointed look before saying:

“this idiot said my show choice was bad.”

steph thought about it for a minute.

“well i mean she isn’t wrong.”

kristie lets out an exclamation after hearing that.

“see?! i told you!”

“hey! you took it back!”

“doesn’t mean it isn’t true!”

“i’m being bullied.”

“oh shut up y/n.”

~~

adjusting your mask and sunglasses, you made your way out of the plane with a few of your teammates.

you had just landed in the netherlands, and coming from england you had a shorter flight compared to most of the team, who would be landing in an hour or so.

you were brimming with excitement at meeting up with your us teammates, as you hadn’t seen them since the beginning of the pandemic.

even then you didn’t get to see them often as you played in the wsl.

you had signed with arsenal in 2017, after the league folded and the boston breakers disbanded, as you were done with the american soccer system.

england had welcomed you with open arms, and you soon made a home there, flying back every so often for national team camps and games.

so when the pandemic hit and a handful of your teammates signed for international clubs, you were ecstatic.

even if they signed for opposing teams.

at least none of them signed for chelsea.

christen gave you a little tap when she saw your suitcases, and you gave her a thankful look before going to grab them.

when everyone was settled, you made your way to the bus and set off on your way to the hotel.

“sam how excited are you that kristie is coming?”

your head snapped up at the mention of the midfielder’s name, an action sam noticed but didn’t comment on.

“i’m so happy! she’s happy too on being called back and can’t wait to see her old teammates again!”

your cheeks flushed a little when sam’s eyes met yours at the end of her statement, and you suddenly found the ground very interesting.

it was a little later when you arrived at the hotel and rose kicked your foot that you looked up.

making your way into the hotel was an interesting experience.

on one hand you were beyond excited that you were back with the national team, yet on the other hand the prospect of seeing kristie made you want to throw up a little bit.

it’s not that you didn’t want to see her.

you were nervous because you liked? like? her.

of course this you realized way after you had left the us.

or rather, just as you were about to leave.

~~

you stood, heart racing as you stood in front of kristie’s door.

your hand hovered above it for a little bit as you tried to swallow and breathe normally.

you had already told steph and the rest of your friends but why was it so much harder to tell kristie?

were you afraid of what she was going to say?

that you were going to leave the country, leave the nwsl, and leave her?

you take a deep breath to calm down and you gave it a little knock.

the door flies open in less than a second.

“y/n! what are you doing here?”

kristie’s cheery demeanor rattled you a little bit.

upon seeing your face she frowned.

“what’s wrong?”

“i-“

your mouth was so dry and it trembled a little.

you could feel your heartbeat in your ears, tears threatening to spill.

kristie’s looking at you with a face full of worry now, and you couldn’t get the words out.

“i-“

you close your mouth again and take a second to look at her.

noting the ways her eyes sparkled and the way her hair was falling out from her bun in little curls over her shoulders.

and then it comes out in a hushed whisper when you least expect it.

“i’m moving to england.”

kristie looks at you too stunned to speak.

she whispers:

“when are you leaving?”

you look down at the ground.

“tomorrow.”

you keep your eyes trained on the ground, too scared to look up at her, knowing that when you look at her the tears you’ve fought so hard to hold back are going to spill.

the silence that falls between you is too heavy. too thick. too constricting.

you find yourself lunging forward towards the midfielder, wrapping her in a hug as the tears spill.

“i’m so sorry i didn’t tell you sooner.”

kristie doesn’t say anything.

she just hugs you harder.

you break away when you have to, but as soon as you turn kristie grabs your wrist.

you turn to ask her what’s wrong but her lips are on yours in an instant.

before you can even process what happened she pulls back.

“you’re going to kill it in england.”

and then she walks into the apartment and shuts the door.

~~

ironically you walk into a door when you see her.

to be fair it wasn’t your fault.

it was hers.

well maybe it was yours.

your head had been all over the place in the past few days, ever since the prospect of seeing her was brought up.

when you had left five years ago, you couldn’t help but replay that kiss over and over in your head.

you couldn’t believe all the signs you had missed.

so yeah.

you were nervous.

and so with music blasting in your headphones, you were prepping for a run, and subsequently not paying any attention to where you were walking and she opens the door right in your face.

you stumble a little bit backwards, before falling down.

you haven’t even looked up, instead sitting on the ground rubbing your forehead and cursing.

it’s when a pair of sneakers appears in front of you that you look up.

and you actually choke on air.

before you stood the woman you had been thinking about, sporting an amused smile and quirked eyebrow.

she says something you don’t hear and it’s only when she leans down and takes your headphones off that you notice them.

your cheeks flush and you mutter an embarrassed “oops” which elicited a chuckle from the midfielder in front of you.

she extends her hand out to you and you take it, sparks shooting up your arm at the contact.

she pulls you into a hug and the two of you quickly fall into conversation.

here up close, you can spot all the changes and similarities of the girl you left 5 years ago.

the five years had been great to her, she was now even more breathtaking than before, no longer the awkward kid but a gorgeous woman.

she almost looks like a completely different person.

almost.

but you notice the same ways her eyes sparkle when she talks, the way the corners of her mouth tug up slowly when she smiles, and the way she tucks loose strands of hair behind her ear and you know this is the same girl you were so smitten with 5 years ago.

“you done checking me out now?”

your gaze snaps back up to her face and blush, a little surprised by her statement.

kristie gives you a teasing smile before saying:

“come on i’m just joking.”

she even has the audacity to wink at you.

and this behavior continues.

for the whole training camp she flirts with you.

you’re a little taken aback by the confidence in the girl.

with the constant winking and flirting and fleeting touches you’re pretty sure she’s trying to kill you.

“y/n. y/n!”

sonnett’s voice snaps your gaze back onto her face.

“sorry what?”

“you were so far into la la land i almost had to get ryan gosling to come get you.”

you shoot her an annoyed look.

“oh shut up no.”

your eyes drift back to the other side of the field, to where kristie was.

sonnett rests her chin on your shoulder and says:

“so who are we checking out today?”

you turn to her and scowl.

“no one.”

“you’re no fun.”

“no.”

“come on you love me.”

“no.”

~~

and of course she scores.

of course.

no matter how hyped the game was.

or how difficult the netherlands defense was.

of course she scores.

she had been on for less than two minutes when she did so too.

you’re so excited you almost trip over your own feet.

she runs to you and you catch her as she jumps, and soon the rest of the team comes to envelop the two of you in a hug.

“i’m so fucking proud of you,” you whisper, and when everyone has relaxed a little, she kisses you.

it’s firmer and more insistent than the one from five years ago.

it’s almost like she knows what she wants and what you want.

you pull away after a few seconds, but only because you have a game to win still.

“come on kris let’s kick some ass.”

you let go of her and the two of you make your way back to your positions.

a few of your arsenal teammate shoot you teasing glances, and you blush when you meet them.

and when the whistle blows thirty minutes later, they make sure to tease you about it after the game.

you see kristie walking towards you and you grin, but before she gets there sam steps in front of you.

you look up at her, and when she doesn’t speak you fill the silence.

“i promise not to hurt her.”

sam quirks an eyebrow and leans in to whisper:

“you better not. or i will tear off your arm and beat you with i-“

“sam!”

kristie gives her sister a little slap in the arm before pulling you away with her.

“hey.”

“um h-hey,” you stammer, rubbing your neck nervously.

“you’re so cute.”

you blush a bit, your heart racing.

kristie catches your hand when it comes down and intertwines her fingers with yours.

“go on a date with me?”

you blush even harder and nod enthusiastically, not trusting your voice at this point.

she gives you a look before leaning in and connecting her lips with yours.

“hey please don’t bang my sister on the field!”

[gamergirl929]

You’ve Got A Bad Reputation (And I Won’t Be A Part Of It) (Alex Morgan x Reader)

Anonymous Request: I just need me some thot alex in my life!

Some thot Alex with some angst sprinkled innnnn!

You had been with the NWSL for a short time, and were quickly noticed by the USWNT coach, Vlatko Andonovski, the man calling you up almost immediately.  

Your Chicago Red Star’s teammates were incredibly welcoming, Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz and Tierna Davidson happy that you’d gotten invited to camp along with them.  

“You’re gonna love it, everyone is so sweet.” Julie grins as you make your way onto the bus, the USWNT members glancing your way, but you only notice a certain pair of blue orbs on you, their owner smirking.  

Alex Morgan had a bit of a... Reputation per say.  

The cocky USWNT veteran forward wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted, and that INCLUDED women.  

She’d built a sort of reputation over the years, being seen with countless women, but never seen with them again.  

Alex wasn’t a one-woman kind of girl either, the cocky soccer player gaining the attention of anyone and everyone.

Julie’s eyes narrow, sending Alex a glare, a glare that Alyssa also shoots her way, the forward clearing her throat as she turns away, but still, she watches you out of the corner of her eye.  

Julie keeps her blue orbs on her, eyes narrowed.  

Unbeknownst to you, Julie leans towards her, growling through her teeth.  

“Don’t you even think about it.”  

Alex smirks, sending the blonde a wink and she groans, causing you to turn your head, but instead of looking at her, your eyes lock with the forward’s the woman grinning.  

She sends you a wink before turning away, your cheeks blood red as you stare at her profile.  

The second you turn away Julie leans back in towards Alex, who simply smirks as she looks at the blonde who snarls at her.

“I will literally kill you Alex Morgan and make it look like an accident.”

                                                           ***

Apparently, Alex didn’t put any stock in the threat, because the second she’s able she’s making her way towards you.  

“Hey.” She grins charmingly and you clear your throat.  

“H-Hi.”  

Alex smirks, eyeing you intently.  

“You always so shy?” She teases and you clear your throat, shuffling from foot to foot.  

“S-S-Sometimes...” You stammer, cheeks flushing when Alex nonchalantly tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear, your eyes as wide as saucers and cheeks blood red.  

A ball suddenly flies out of nowhere, nearly smacking Alex in the side of the head but she ducks, the two of you turning in the direction the ball had come from.  

Julie Ertz stares your way, her arms crossed across her chest as she shoots Alex with a deadly glare.  

The forward shrugs, sending her a smirk.  

“A little close JJ.” Her lips split into a grin and Julie snarls.  

“OH, I can get closer.”  

Your eyes narrow as they flick from Alex to Julie and back, the forward giving you a wink before she rushes back on field.  

“We’ll talk more later.”  

You nod, dumbly waving at the forward.  

“Ye-Yeah, s-sure.”  

                                                           ***

“Alexandra Patricia Morgan.”  

Alex turns around, a single brow arched as Julie advances on her, scowling.  

“Yes?” Alex asks innocently and Julie growls.  

“Y/N is OFF LIMITS.” The blonde spits and Alex shrugs, glancing at you from across field.  

Your eyes widen when you realize you’d been caught stating, your attention snapping away from the two USWNT veterans.  

Julie gives Alex’s ear a flick.  

“I’m serious. I’ll have Alyssa snap you in half.” Julie nods down field where Alyssa is standing eyes narrowed as she glares at the forward.  

Alex glances back at you, again finding your eyes on her and Julie.  

“But then Y/N will miss me.” She shrugs and Julie snarls angrily, her head hanging as Alex walks off, towards you.  

“THIS ISN’T OVER MORGAN.”  

                                                           ***

Julie can’t even think about sitting with you fast enough to beat Alex, who plops down right beside you, a smirk on her face as her blue orbs lock with Julie’s. Her eyes narrow as she growls, grabbing Alyssa and pulling her into the seats beside you and Alex, she and the goalie staring Alex’s way, eyes narrowed.  

You meanwhile are absolutely trembling, THE Alex Morgan sitting beside you, the woman wearing a charming smile, her blue orbs sparkling as she turns to you.  

“You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?” She grins and you shake your head, mouth hanging open.  

“Ye- I mean, no!” You practically shout, turning away with bright red cheeks.  

Alex giggles, your heart skipping a beat.  

“You’re absolutely adorable.”  

Your eyes widen as you stare at Alex, the woman’s grin further widening nearly splitting her face in half.  

“Do I make you nervous?” She whispers, leaning towards you and you chuckle anxiously.  

“Ummm...”  

Alex giggles.  

“Sounds like a yes to me.”  

You notice the way Alex’s blue orbs dart your way every few seconds, the woman grinning at the sight of your blush.  

Soon after you’re stopping in front of the hotel, your teammates filing out until only you, Alex, Julie and Alyssa are left, the forward grinning at the two Chicago Red Star’s players.  

“I would trip you if we didn’t need you on field.” Julie growls, only earning a wink from the smirking forward.  

Before you can get out of your seat Julie is moving into the aisle, she and Alyssa trapping you in between them.  

“Is something wrong?” You frown, noting the look on both of their faces and they hum, Alyssa practically throwing you over her shoulder when you get out of the bus.  

“Hey!” You yell, wiggling in her hold, everyone of your teammates glancing your way, Alex giggling as she watches you wiggle in Alyssa’s hold.  

“You’re coming with us.” Julie says sternly and you frown, your bottom lip jutting out.

“What did I do?” You pout as Julie and Alyssa head into the elevator, the doors eventually shutting.  

“You didn’t do anything, no pouting.” Julie pokes the tip of your nose and you huff.  

“You need to stay away from Alex Morgan.” Alyssa says and your brows furrow.  

“Why?”  

Julie sighs.  

“She has a bit of a... Reputation.”  

You snort.  

“Yeah, I know that, but she’s...”

Julie groans.

“Trust me Y/N, stay away.”  

                                                           ***

It’s nearly a week later when it’s time for team bonding, which in THIS case, means movie night.  

You watch with wide eyes as Alex flops down on the bed beside you, the forward grinning, Julie’s warnings going in one of her ears and out the other.  

“You alright?” She asks, nudging you and you smile softly, cheeks flushed.  

“Ye-Yeah, I’m okay.”  

Alex grins, shaking her head.  

“I guess it will take some time to get you to not be shy around me.” She giggles and you bite your bottom lip.  

“Maybe eventually.”  

Alex smiles, her brows furrowing when she feels her heart skip a beat, the feeling completely and utterly foreign. She glances your way, smiling softly when you laugh at something Emily was doing.  

She shakes her head, spotting Julie glaring her way, eyes narrowed and she shrugs, smiling.  

“I will murder you.” Julie draws a line across her throat with her thumb and Alex snickers.  

“We’ll see.”  

                                                           ***

Alex’s eyes widen when halfway through the movie you slump against her, fast asleep. She glances at you, smiling softly when your lips part, in a soft snore.  

Julie watches with a furrowed brow as Alex gently guides your head to her lap, the woman’s fingers running through your hair as you sleep.  

Alex, who’d usually only had one goal in mind, had started to feel something for you that she hadn’t felt for anyone in a long time, or ever.  

She shook her head, she’d literally just met you, there was NO possible way she felt anything like that for you.  

                                                           ***

At least that’s what she told herself.  

As the weeks turned into months Alex continues to lay on the charm, and of course, you continue to respond shyly, always stammering when you talk to the forward.  

That same forward who was again flopping into the seat beside you on the bus, turning your way with a grin.  

“Seat taken?” She asks and you clear your throat, shaking your head.  

“N-Nope.”

You’re thankful when Alex turns away, her attention on her phone, but it doesn’t last long considering when you glance her way you realize she’s looking at photos of herself from her recent photoshoot, photos of her in a bikini.  

Alex hums aloud.  

“Do you think the photographer did a good job?” She asks innocently, holding her phone out to you and your mouth falls open, your cheeks and the tips of your ears immediately turning blood red.  

“Uh-uh... I-I mean...” You swallow hard, glancing at Alex who is watching you with a cocky smirk.  

“Is that a yes?” She asks and you clear your throat, watching the way Julie and Alyssa glare your and Alex’s way.  

“Ye-Yeah, I mean, of-of course.” You stammer and Alex grins, leaning towards you.  

“I thought you’d like them.” She winks and you chuckle awkwardly.  

“Ye-Yeah...”

Alex grins, her heart skipping a beat as you nervously rub the back of your neck, your cheeks and ears still bright red.  

She shakes her head.  

“You’re so cute when you blush.” She thinks, though when you turn towards her, eyes wide, her own eyes widen.  

Alex’s cheeks flush before she abruptly turns away, biting her bottom lip.  

Unbeknownst to you, a number of your teammates have their eyes on the situation, Kelley humming.  

“Is Alex blushing?” She whispers to Emily who nods.  

Julie and Alyssa share a glance.  

“Alex Morgan? Blushing?” Alyssa snorts. “Is this the Twilight Zone?”  

Julie hums, her eyes narrowed as she stares at Alex’s profile, the woman nervously glancing your way.  

“I don’t think it is...”  

                                                           ***

“What’s your game here Morgan?” Julie asks, her hands on her hips and Alex’s brows furrow.  

“What game?” She hums and Julie rolls her eyes.  

“With Y/N...”  

Alex turns to her with a smile, her cheeks dusted pink.  

“Uhh, nothing, no game.” She shuffles from foot to foot, Julie’s brows knitted in confusion as she watches the forward’s demeanor change.  

“It doesn’t seem that way...”  

Alex sighs.  

“Al?! Can you-

“COMING!” She screeches, rushing across field towards Kelley, her brown orbs wide as the forward runs at her so fast, Christen’s eyes widen.  

“What was that about?” Alyssa snorts as she makes her way towards Julie, the blonde shaking her head.  

“I have no idea...”  

Though in the back of her mind she can’t help but think, if maybe Alex wasn’t pursuing you for her ‘typical’ reasons but maybe something else.  

Julie shakes her head.  

“No, that can’t be...”  

Alyssa glances her away, a brow arched.  

“Can’t be what?”  

                                                           ***

“Y/N, I just think-

“GUYS.” You yell, silencing both Alyssa and Julie, Tierna holding her hands up from where she’s sitting.  

“Hey, I’m just here. Julie called a Red Star’s meeting.” She shakes her head and you nod.  

“You’re safe.”  

She holds a thumb up.  

“Yayyy!”  

“Now for you two!” You turn to Julie and Alyssa, the two sharing a glance.  

“I know you’re trying to look out for me, but I can take care of myself...” Your eyes narrow, Julie and Alyssa sharing a glance, their heads hanging in shame.  

“I love you both, but I’m old enough to make my own decisions...”  

Julie takes a deep breath, exhaling comically loud, her bottom lip jutted out.  

“No pouts.” You point to her and the woman smiles.  

“I know, I just, I worry about you, I know you’re nearly as old as we are...”  

“But you’re the team baby...” Alyssa shrugs and you snort.  

“That’s Tierna.”  

“I thought I was safe!” She gasps and you snort.  

“Back to what I was saying, I can make my own choices...”  

Julie hums, a smirk stretching across her face.  

“I imagine this has something to do with a certain forward we all know?” She asks, her arms crossed across her chest.  

Your cheeks flush, and you clear your throat.  

“N-N-No, not at all.” You stammer and Tierna smirks.  

“Sounds like it.”  

“Remember how I said you were safe?” You smirk, the younger girls' eyes widening.  

“Yes...?” She swallows hard and you smirk.  

“I lied.”  

You tackle the girl to the floor, the two of you playfully fighting as Julie and Alyssa look on.  

“Didn’t she just say she was old enough to make her own decisions?” Alyssa pinches the bridge of her nose and Julie nods.  

“Yep. She did.”  

                                                           ***

You take a deep breath, your heart racing in your chest as you drop down onto a bench in the locker room.  

You were starting, which you hadn’t for the first few games, so needless to say, you were incredibly nervous.

A tap on the shoulder nearly makes you jump out of your skin, you flip around, cheeks flushing when you see Alex standing behind you.  

Her lips move but you can’t hear anything, that is until she reaches up and plucks your air pods out.  

“Can you hear me now?” She giggles and you smile bashfully, your legs bouncing.  

“Ye-Yeah, I guess taking those out helped.”  

Alex shakes her head, surprising you immensely when she moves to stand behind you, wrapping her arms around you from behind, her chin resting on the top of your head.  

“You’ll do great Y/N, you’re incredibly talented, everyone can see that from your performance with the Red Stars, now just show them how great you are at a national level.”  

You hum, leaning back against Alex, the forward smiling as she moves to sit behind you, straddling the bench as she holds you against her chest.  

She pops your earbuds back in and holds you close, your body sagging, no longer tense with nerves as you let yourself get lost in the music, Alex’s arms around you and the feel of her body heat behind you just a plus.  

“Remember...” Alex jumps slightly at the feel of a whisper in her ear, blue orbs wide when Julie peeks around her shoulder.  

“If I hurt her, you’ll kill me?” She snorts and Julie gives her a thumbs up.  

“Atta girl.”  

                                                           ***

Everything Alex had done in the locker room made your nerves fade away, so much so that in the first few minutes of your first game, you assisted on a goal, firing a beautiful cross that ends up at Alex’s feet, the woman finishing it off, sinking it passed the fingertips of the Mexican goal keeper.  

Alex sprints across field and you jump up, the woman wrapping her arms tightly around you as she laughs.  

“I told you, you could do it.” Alex grins as you bury your face in her neck and beam, the others patting your back and Alex’s.  

“Yeah, you did.” You pull back with a grin, slipping from Alex’s hold, though the forward doesn’t go far, giving your shoulder’s a pat.  

“Let’s go get another.”  

“Or a couple.”

                                                           ***

By the end of the game you have 3 assists, all 3 resulting in goals courtesy of Alex Morgan’s foot, the forward getting a hat trick with your help.  

The final whistle blows and Alex grins, making a beeline straight for you, wrapping her arms tightly around you.  

“Yeah, you’ll be starting a lot more often.”  

Suddenly Kelley runs in from out of nowhere, diving on the two of you who have to catch her.  

“Let’s celebrate!”  

You weren’t sure what REAL celebrating with the USWNT was like, but you were about to find out.  

                                                           ***

The club’s music was LOUD, so loud in fact you couldn’t hear ANYTHING Tobin was saying, leaning closer and closer until she was practically screaming straight in your ear.  

“You don’t take me as the dancing type.” She yells and you snort, shaking your head.  

“I’m definitely not.”  

“Oh, but if Alex asks, I bet you’ll dance.” Emily teases, she and the other babies of the team giggling.  

“Shut up.” You pout, your cheeks bright red.  

Suddenly Alex materializes from nowhere, the woman grabbing your hand.  

“Dance with me.” She grins and your cheeks flush, glancing over your shoulder at Tobin and her squad every single one of them smirking.  

“Y/N would literally do ANYTHING for Alex, wouldn’t she?” Christen asks Tobin, the forward nodding.  

“Totally.”  

Alex giggles as you stiffen, your heart racing in your chest.  

“You’re so cute, get over here.” She grins, pulling you against her, spinning around so her back is to your front.  

The music is loud as the two of you dance, the feel of her against your front and the dancing sweaty bodies around you moving you to grab her hips and pull her back against you, the woman biting her lip as she grinds against your front.  

Your breath hitches when Alex slips her hand behind your head and pulls you forward until your chin settles on her shoulder, the woman turning towards you as you both dance.  

Your eyes widen as Alex’s lips brush your cheek, the woman rolling her hips in a way that makes your hips stutter.  

It’s what happens next though that makes you still entirely.  

You feel his hands before you feel him against you, your eyes widening as you abruptly flip around to face an incredibly tall, and obviously drunk man.  

“Come on baby let’s dance.” He grins, only for Alex to put herself between you and him.  

“Back the fuck up, she’s with me.” She snarls and he smirks.  

“Two for one, I like it.”  

Alex rolls her eyes, shoving him back before she grabs your hand and drags you through the crowd, not towards the table, but outside.  

“Wh-Where are we going?” You stutter, the woman dragging you out of sight before shoving you against a wall.  

“Bastard thought he could touch what was mine.” She snarls.

Your eyes widen as Alex’s hands rest on either side of your head, palms splayed on the wall behind you.  

“Yours?” You ask, licking your lips, your eyes darting from her blue orbs, to her lips and back.  

“Yeah, mine.”  

You take a deep breath, your heart racing in your chest.  

Alex’s eyes widen when you grab her, flipping her around so her back is now against the wall.  

“Goddamn it, Alex.” You huff, the woman’s eyes tripling in size.  

“I want to kiss you but you have a reputation and I don’t want to be a PART of that reputation. Get your shit together Morgan, then kiss me.”  

Alex watches you go, mouth a gape as you walk off in the direction of the hotel.  

“Well damn.”  

                                                           ***

Needless to say, when Alex tells Julie and Alyssa, you’d left the club they aren’t happy, the two practically running down the street until they catch up.  

“Y/N!” Julie yells and you still, glancing over your shoulder.  

“How the hell did you catch me?”  

Julie points at Alyssa, sliding off the woman’s back.  

“Alyssa carried me.”

The goalie holds a hand up, panting.  

“I need a minute.” She pants, her hands on her knees as you pat her back.  

“Why did you leave? What the hell happened?” Julie asks, cupping your cheeks and you huff.  

“Alex didn’t tell you?” You ask and Julie’s eyes narrow.  

“Alyssa, take me back to the club!” She yells, the goalie looking at her in wide eyed terror.  

You shake your head, flailing your arms.  

“No! No! I told her I wanted to kiss her but I didn’t want to be part of her list of trysts!” You yell, the blonde’s eyes widening.  

She looks at you for a moment before patting your shoulders.  

“Maybe we should’ve let you take over a long time ago.”  

Alyssa nods, wrapping an arm around both of your shoulders.  

“Come on, let’s get back to the hotel.”  

She ducks down so Julie can get on her back, but you shake your head.  

“No, I got this. You literally ran like 3 miles.”  

Alyssa scoffs.  

“Child’s play.”  

                                                           ***

Unfortunately, Alex doesn’t see you after that, the woman begrudgingly heading towards her hotel room, but when she gets there, she realizes she has an audience, more than just Kelley, who she was rooming with.  

“They forced their way in...” Kelley shrugs, as Alex eyes not only Christen and Tobin, but Mallory, Sam, Emily, Lindsey and Rose, each of them eyeing her intensely.  

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Alex says nervously, the mob of women all sharing a glance.  

“What happened to Y/N?” Christen asks and Kelley hums.  

“You know I was wondering that myself...” She says as she kicks her shoes off, nearly taking out Emily when the shoe goes flying.  

“You could’ve killed me!”  

“BACK ON TOPIC.” Christen yells, everyone jumping in fear.  

“She told me she didn’t want to be a part of my reputation and told me to get my shit together.”  

Everyone is silently for a minute before they all nod, speaking at roughly the same time.  

“Well damn.”  

Alex rolls her eyes.  

“Exactly what I said.”  

                                                           ***

The following morning the two of you don’t talk, but the second she gets the chance she swipes your bag, carrying it onto the bus with a small smile.  

You shake your head, following her with a blush.  

You plop down in the seat where she’d placed your bag, a seat that you noticed wasn’t with her, something that tells you she heard you and is giving you the space, you want.  

Alex gives you a grin before you turn away, taking a deep breath.  

Maybe she’d gotten the message that you didn’t want to be another one of her flings, at least you hope she did.  

                                                           ***

Practice is much the same, you and Alex clicking much like you had in the game against Mexico, getting a number of goals passed Alyssa, the woman pointing at her eyes before pointing at Alex.  

You would be remissed to mention that almost everyone’s eyes are you, making you aware of the fact that they must ALL know what happened last night.  

“You okay kid?” You jump as Ashlyn slips an arm around you, the goalie ruffling your hair.  

“I’m okay.” You smile, the blonde nodding as Ali joins the two of you, fixing your hair that her wife just messed up.  

“Is it true you told Alex to stop her thottin?” Megan asks as she joins the three of you and Ali slaps a palm against her forehead.  

You let out a snort, throwing your head back with a belly shaking laugh that has everyone turning your way, Alex grinning at the way you wrap your arms around your middle as you laugh.  

“Ye-Yeah, pretty much.”  

Megan ruffles your hair, Ali scowling as she AGAIN fixes your hair.  

“We better get back to practice.” You shrug and Megan nods, jumping on Ashlyn’s back, the blonde shaking her head as she carries her onto the field.  

Ali glances at you, shaking her head.  

“I swear to God, those two...”  

                                                           ***

It’s when practice ends that things change.  

Alex timidly approaches you, again swiping your bag so she can carry it and you don’t have to.  

“I can carry it you know.” You smirk and she shrugs.  

“I know...”  

Alex closes her eyes, taking a deep breath.  

“Look, I want to talk... Not here though...” She turns to you and your eyes widen.

“Maybe we could go for a walk...?” Alex shrugs and you hum, smiling.  

“I think we can do that.”  

Alex stops, biting her bottom lip to stifle a grin, but she can’t, her lips splitting in a dazzling smile.  

You stop when you realize the forward has stopped walking, turning around just in time to catch her throwing a fist in the air, her cheeks a bright red when she realizes you were watching her.  

“Ummm....”  

Alex clears her throat.  

“Th-That’s cool...” She nods, jogging to catch up with you and you laugh.  

“Didn’t look just cool to me.” You wink and she rolls her eyes, cheeks darkening. 

“Shut up.”

                                                           ***

Alex nervously makes her way to the lobby, hoping that you were there and hadn’t decided she wasn’t worth the hassle.

She rounds the corner and immediately stills, a frown pulling the corners of her mouth down when she realizes the lobby is empty. Her shoulders hunch, her head hanging in defeat.  

“What’s eating you Morgan?”  

Alex abruptly turns around, her eyes wide.  

“Y-You’re here.” She mumbles and you nod.  

“Of course, you thought I wouldn’t be?”  

Alex shuffles nervously from foot to foot, shrugging.  

“Maybe?”

You reach for, and gently take Alex’s hand.  

“Why would you think that?” You frown and Alex shrugs, glancing away.  

“Not worth the hassle?”  

You cup her cheek, turning her head until her blue orbs meet your Y/E/C orbs.  

Alex’s eyes widen when your hand slips behind her neck and you pull her down, pressing a kiss to her cheek.  

“You’re not a hassle and if you were you’d be worth every bit of it.”  

Alex’s cheeks flush as you take her hand, intertwining your fingers.

“Ready?”  

Alex’s mouth opens and closes for a minute before she nods.  

“Ready.”  

                                                           ***

You couldn’t really explain how RIGHT it felt to walk hand in hand with Alex Morgan, her fingers slotting perfectly in between yours.  

Every few seconds, you glance at her out of the corner of your eye, realizing that she’s doing the same thing.  

Alex takes a deep breath.  

“I know I haven’t exactly got the best reputation in the NWSL...” Alex murmurs, the two of you stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, to some’s annoyance.  

You pull Alex to a nearby bench, the two of you taking a seat.  

Alex closes her eyes, nervously playing with your fingers, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth.  

“I don’t have the best reputation, but I DO care about you, more than I have anyone else...” Alex stares at your and her hands.  

“I’ve never felt what I feel for you with anyone before... And I just...”  

Alex goes silent, the woman unable to look you in the eye.  

“Alex, look at me.” You whisper, the forward fidgeting nervously.  

“Please?” You beg, seconds later the woman relents, picking her head up, watery blue orbs locking with you Y/E/C’s.  

Your hands leave hers, the woman briefly pouting until you cup her cheeks.  

Alex hums, leaning into your touch.  

“I want to... I want to try this.” You whisper, Alex’s eyes as wide as saucers. “I just can’t be one of your flings Al, I want more with you.”

Alex leans in, her forehead resting against yours.  

“You won’t be... You could never be just a fling Y/N.” She brushes her nose against yours and you smile. “Never.”  

Your tongue swipes against your lips, Y/E/C orbs locked on Alex’s lips as you lean in, Alex closing the gap between you as your lips meet for the first time.  

The kiss is gentle, in no way fueled by lust, but passion, and emotion and something that felt like a new beginning between the two of you.  

Little did you know, it would be the beginning of a journey the two of you would be on for the rest of your lives, a journey you would begin and end...  

Together.  

[4stars-uswnt]

If I Hated You [Alex Morgan x Reader]

requested by anon: Hey I love your works!! I was wondering if you could do a fic based on fletcher’s new song ‘if I hated you’ with Alex x reader, if possible with an eventual happy ending? If not I totally understand but thank you so much for all the fics you’ve shared and done for us.

requested by @eclipses77​: Hey I was wondering if you could write a fix based off Fletcher’s new song ‘If I Hated You’ with any person you want but with a happy ending if possible.

A/N: thank you to both of you who requested this! and to the anon: i’m so glad you enjoy my fics. i have a great time writing them for you guys. 

this isn’t really a song fic with lyrics and everything. it’s mainly just inspired Fletcher’s song, so i hope y’all still enjoy it anyways :) also i may have gotten a little carried away with it.

ps. thanks to @sauceysonny​ for talking through this prompt with me and letting me rant through my ideas

warnings: swearing

Listen to “If I Hated You” by Fletcher here

You throw the sheets off your body for what feels like the hundredth time that night. You had been tossing and turning, unable to sleep with the other side of the bed being so empty. You reach for your phone to check the time. 2:13 am. The photo on the lock screen makes your heartache. It was a photo of you and Alex that Kelley had captured in the locker room after the World Cup, your foreheads pressed together, oblivious to the rest of the world. Shutting your phone off, you turn over and stare at the ceiling, trying to figure out how you’d gotten here.

—————

“I can’t wait to see you this weekend.” You chirp, smiling at your girlfriend through your computer screen. There had been a week break in the NWSL season, so Alex had decided to visit you up in Seattle for a couple of days.

Alex gives you a sheepish look. Being able to read your girlfriend like a book, you feel yourself deflate with defeat.

“You’re not coming, are you?”

“Babe, I’m sorry. I have to go to LA for some meetings with the Olympics committee and with Angel City. I am so sorry.” Alex apologizes.

Her apologies felt useless at this point, as your girlfriend was always cancelling on you, putting you second. You look down at your hands, ignoring Alex’s gaze.

“(Y/N), I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I’ve been really busy lately.” She tries again, hoping to get a response out of you.

“You’re always busy, Al.” You mumble.

“I know, babe, and I’m sorry, but there’s not a lot I can do about it.” Alex defends.

You roll your eyes, annoyed at your girlfriend’s excuses. “Yes, Alex, there is something you can do about it. You can tell them that you already have plans. Or that you have to go visit your girlfriend, who you haven't seen in almost two months. Or that they can fucking wait because Angel City isn’t happening for another year and the Olympics aren’t for another eight fucking years.”

Alex sits on the other side of the screen stunned by your outburst. In your arguments, you were usually the calmer one, Alex being the one with the temper, but you just couldn’t hold it in any longer.

You sigh, tired of fighting with the other woman. “Al, maybe we should just take a break.”

“What?” Alex sits up at that, leaning closer to the screen.

“Look, I know we love each other and everything, but recently it just feels like our relationship is strained by the distance and all of our commitments.”

“You mean my commitments.” Alex countered.

“I didn’t say that, Alex. Stop putting words in my mouth. We are both to blame here. I just feel like we need some time to ourselves to figure out what we want from this relationship.”

Your heart aches, as the words leave your mouth, and as you see tears form in Alex’s eyes.

“Are you sure? Because I don’t wanna take a break.” She whispered.

“Al, I don’t wanna take a break either, but all we’ve been doing lately is arguing, and I just think we should take a little time to evaluate our own lives.” You feel tears pooling in your eyes.

“Okay, if that’s what you want, love.” Alex nods, wiping her face.

“I think it’s what we need.” You swallow the knot in your throat. “This isn’t the end, Al.”

“It better not be.” She lets out a watery chuckle, and you fondly smile.

“See you later, Ali-gator.”

Alex smiled at your nickname for her. The two of you vowed you would never actually say ‘goodbye’ to each other because you always knew you’d see each other again.

“See you in a while, crocodile.”

—————

That conversation was almost two weeks ago, and since then, you had been an absolute mess. Although you were used to being alone in Seattle, being on a break from your relationship made you feel even more lonely. In the past couple of weeks, you had barely left your apartment, only going out for training, games, and the necessary grocery shopping.

Your phone had been blowing up with text messages from your national team teammates, who were all concerned about you after hearing the news. Not bothering to give any of them any details, you responded to the group chat with an ‘I’m fine, you guys. Please respect me and Alex’s privacy.’ Alex soon replied, adding ‘What (Y/N) said. We love you guys, but we need to work through this ourselves.’ Both of your texts received many hearts and likes, following with ‘We’re here’ and ‘Love you guys’ from the women, and the texts stopped after that.

In Orlando, Alex hadn’t been faring any better. After returning from LA, she spent most of her time moping around her house in sweatpants and a hoodie she’d stolen from you. Ali, Ash, and Syd would all stop by or invite her over to cheer her up, but Alex was heartbroken without you.

—————

The next morning, after having gone to bed at around 3 am, you slip on a pair of shorts and one of Alex’s Cal hoodies and drag yourself to training.

As you walk into the locker room, Allie and Megan exchange a look of concern, noticing the bags under your eyes and your hood pulled over your head. Your two national team teammates had been worried about you for the past couple of months, even more so in the recent weeks when you and Alex had decided to take a break. They knew the distance was causing you stress, and now the separation was causing you heartbreak. But every time either woman tried to approach the subject, you shut them out, insisting you were okay, when you clearly were not.

Towards the end of practice, after another one of your passes goes awry, Farid calls you over.

“(Y/N), you doing okay?” He asks, eyebrows furrowed. He had heard the whispers in the locker room, your teammates voicing their concerns, and he could tell something was bothering you, so much so it was disrupting your play.

“Yes, coach.”

Not wanting to push you, he hums. “Okay, then you better start playing like you’re doing okay.”

You nod, embarrassed by your own unprofessionalism. “Of course, coach, sorry.”    

He blows the whistle, ending practice, and you scurry back to the locker room.

Back in the locker room, as you’re taking off your cleats and packing up your bag, Allie slips into the seat next to you.

“(Y/N), you wanna come over later?” Allie places a hand on your knee. “We’re having a barbecue. Megan and Sue will also be there.”

You snort. “And be a fifth wheel? I’m good, Allie, but thanks for the invite.”

“(Y/N),” she starts again, “even though I’m Alex’s best friend doesn’t mean I don’t care about you either. Megan and I, and the whole team really, are here if you ever wanna talk.”

“Thanks, Allie.” You smile, as you stand up, swinging your backpack over your shoulder. “Maybe I’ll stop by for a little bit.”

“Awesome.”

—————

Later than evening, you made your way over to Allie and Bati’s place, ultimately deciding that being a fifth wheel was better than sitting at your apartment alone with another box of takeout.

You enter through the side gate, heading into the backyard, where Bati is barbecuing and Megan, Allie, and Sue are chatting around the table. Hearing you open the gate, Bati looks up from the grill.

“Hey! Look who made it!” He gives you a big grin, opening his arm up for a side hug, which you accept.

“Hey, Jose. Thanks for having me.” You softly smile.

“Of course, (Y/N).”

“Aye! (Y/N)! Get your butt over here!” Megan calls from across the yard, waving you over.

“The queen is calling, so I must go.” You joke, making your way over to the table.

“(Y/N/N), I’m glad you could make it.” Allie gives you a brief hug. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“Water would be great.” You thank her, before turning to Megan and Sue.

“Long time no see, Birdie. Good game the other day. You played, eh, okay.” You smirk at the basketball player, who just rolls her eyes.

“It’s good to see you too, (Y/N/N). Thanks. A triple double is okay. But I dunno if I could say the same about you. I hear you’re not playing like the superstar you are.” Sue teases, resulting in a slap from Megan, who gives her girlfriend a warning glare.

You ignore the pink-haired woman and the ache in your chest. “Just having a couple of bad practices. I’ll be tearing up the field in no time.” You boast flippantly.

Seeing past your confident facade, Megan narrows her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay, (Y/N)?”

“P, I’ve told you a million times. I’m fine.” You give her a tight smile, silently telling her you don’t want to talk about it.

Before Megan can ask you anymore questions, Allie and Bati approach the table with plates of food in their hands.

“Time to eat!” Allie cheers. “Oh, and, (Y/N), here’s your water.”

You mutter out a ‘thanks’, and take a large gulp, pushing down the knot forming in your throat.

—————

Dinner went smoothly the five of you discussing an array of topics, ranging from the upcoming NWSL and WNBA season to the election to the newest Italian restaurant that opened downtown.

By the time you all are finished eating, it’s dark out, leaving only the fairy lights to illuminate the yard. You go to clear your plate, but before you can stand up, Bati grabs it from you.

“Don’t worry, (Y/N/N). I got this.” He motions for you to sit back down, before reaching to collect the rest of the plates. “Why don’t I clean up and leave you ladies to chat?” Bati quickly pecks Allie’s cheek, before heading back inside.

Once it is just the four of you, Megan turns to you.

“(Y/N), seriously, how are you feeling?”

You internally groan. You should’ve known this was gonna turn into an intervention. Before you go to respond, the older forward continues.

“And don’t give me that ‘I’m fine. I’m good’ bullshit.” She raises her eyebrow, daring you to challenge her. “Because obviously you’re not fine, and you’re not good. For the past two weeks all you’ve been doing is moping around your apartment, wearing nothing but sweats. You’ve barely eaten an actual meal until today, nor gotten a good night’s sleep. And to top it all of you’ve been playing like crap!”

Sue hits Megan’s arm and scolds her. “Megan!”

The pink-haired woman faces to her girlfriend. “No! I’m not going to sugar coat it. (Y/N) needs to hear this, and she needs to talk about.” Megan turns back to you and softens. “(Y/N/N), you can’t keep bottling up all your feelings. We care about you, and we’re here to listen, so please talk to us.”

Both Allie and Sue nod along with Pinoe’s words.

“Honestly,” you take a deep breath, before starting, “I’m a mess. Like before, I was annoyed and angry that Al was making me a second priority, but now I’m just sad and heartbroken that she’s not here with me.” You finally confess to the other women, feeling like a weight has been lifted off your chest. “And, I mean, I didn’t want to take a break, but our relationship just felt strained. Like we weren’t communicating, and I think the distance was getting the best of us, especially with all of our commitments. I don’t know. Do you guys think I made the right decision?”

Not knowing what to say, the three woman look at each other, searching for answers. Finally, Sue speaks up.

“(Y/N), none of us can know if you made the right decision.” She reaches to squeeze your hand. “Only you and Alex can know what’s right for yourselves and your relationship.”

You nod in understanding. “I love her so much, and I wish we could just be together because all I want is to be by her side.” You whisper, your eyes getting misty. “Ugh, I just miss her so much.”

“I miss you, too.”

You whip your head around. There, in all her glory, stood Alex Morgan. She doesn’t look any better than you, your Reign sweatshirt hiding her muscular frame and dark circles forming under her eyes. Your lips part, as you’re completely speechless.

“You’re car wasn’t in your lot, so I assumed you were either here or at Pinoe’s. This was my first stop, and here you are.” Alex shifts uncomfortably in the silence, her usual confidence faded.

You turn back to face Allie, Megan, and Sue, your eyes narrowing. “Did you three know about this?”

“No!” They all exclaim, Megan holding up her hands in innocence. You continue to stare at Allie, not convinced she had no part in this.

“I swear, (Y/N), I had no idea about this.” She insists, as you relent your accusatory glare.

“(Y/N),” Alex comes up from behind you, “they had nothing to do with this, so please don’t be mad at them. I came here all on my own because I wanted to talk to you. I needed to see you.”

You nod. “Ok.”

“So, can we talk?” She sheepishly asks. “Alone, if that’s okay with you?” She adds, pleading her friends to leave you two to talk.

The three women take the cue and head back inside, leaving you alone with Alex, who sits in Pinoe’s seat across from you.

You sit in awkward silence for a few minutes, neither of you knowing where to start.

You decide to break the silence. “How’ve you been?”

She looks up from her fidgeting hands. “Uhh. Good. I’ve been good.”

You smirk, raising your eyebrow. “Al, c’mon, I know you like the back of my hand. How have you actually been?”

Alex sighs. “To be honest, I’ve been miserable.” She looks up, locking eyes with you. “I missed you, and I just wanted be with you, or even just hear your voice.”

You nod, knowing the feeling. “I missed you too, Al.”

“But you were right.” She confesses, as you tilt your head, confused. “We, or at least I, needed this break. It helped me realize what was important in my life, and that’s you, (Y/N). I can live without all those brand deals and sponsors, hell, I can even live without soccer, because none of that means anything if I can’t share it with you.”

By that point, both you openly had tears streaming down your faces.

“So, I promise to be better and to be more committed to our relationship. And I’m sorry that I ever put you as a second priority because you’re not. You’re my number one.” Alex concludes, wiping the tears from your cheeks.

You let out a small chuckle at her cheesiness. “Thank you for your apology.” You take her hand. “And I’m sorry that didn’t make enough of an effort either.” Before Alex can protest, you squeeze her hand. “Al, a relationship is between two people. This wasn’t just your fault, okay? We both played a part.” You assure, quelling her guilt.

“So can we end this break and be back together?” Alex whispers hesitantly.

Beaming, you pull her in for a searing kiss, your first in almost three months. Her soft lips melt against yours, and you could taste the sweetness of her vanilla chapstick mixed with the saltiness of her tears. Before you could deepen the kiss, you hear Allie call from inside.

“No sex in my yard please!”

You rest your head on Alex’s shoulder, as the two of you laugh at your friend’s antics. Your girlfriend caresses your cheek, guiding you to lock eyes with her pleading blue orbs.

“Do you forgive me?”  

You nod. “Yes, Al, I forgive you.”

“Good. I thought you hated me.” She mumbles.

“I could never hate you, even if I tried.”

Alex smiles, leaning in for another kiss, before you hold up your hand.

“But, Al, your words are nice and all, but I have to see it. You have to prove to me that you’re committed to this relationship, especially if it’s long distance. And I will work to do the same. Okay?”

“Of course, (Y/N/N).” She nods her head eagerly. “So, I’m guessing it’s okay if I stayed here with you in Seattle for the next week?”

Your eyes widen. “What?”

“They had to cancel training and matches for the next week because of some flooding issues at the facilities. So I’m all yours until next Sunday. That is, if you’ll have me.”

You jump off your seat and into Alex’s lap, pulling her in for another kiss. “Who am I to refuse such a pretty lady?” You tease, giving her nose a kiss.

“Alex and (Y/N) sitting in a tree…!” Allie sings, as her, Megan, and Sue approach the two of you.

“I take it you two made up?” Megan gestures to your position in Alex’s lap.

“Yes, we made up.” You grin, as your girlfriend kiss the top of your head.

“Good. I’m glad.” She returns a smile, and you mouth a ‘thank you’ to her.

“Me too.” Alex beams, turning to look at you. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” You bring her in for a sweet chaste kiss.

“Hey! What did I say about no sex in my yard!” Allie playfully scolds.

“It’s not my fault (Y/N) can’t keep her hands off me.” Alex smirks.

You gasp, jumping out of your girlfriend’s laugh. “Hey!”

“I’m only kidding, babe.” She rolls her eyes, pulling you back into her lap.

You cross your arms and pout. “I hate you.”

Alex chuckles, as she buries her face in your neck, giving you a kiss. “No you don’t.”

You smile, turning to the woman you love, and give her a quick peck. “You’re right. I don’t.”

[am-imagines]

I see you. - Alex Morgan Imagine.

Request: “ Can I request this: Alex and r are together and the team knows and then they come out to the public in some really cute or funny way and maybe you can also incorporate some supportive reactions from the team? ”

I hope I did it justice, guys. Thank you for the patience to those that are still around. I love y’all. <3

No Beta, so you know the drill here, but I tried my best.

Sharing a room with Alex during the World Cup was somewhat rough when you were barely able to look at her without blushing. You were crushing on her since the day you met, but it was never that bad until you were on the bed next to hers.

The awkwardness that overcame you around her was odd, considering you texted practically nonstop. You became good friends like that, and there was an ease on your conversations that you’d never experienced with anyone else.

You shared so many interests, even had a similar lookout in life. You aimed for the same goals and put in equal amounts of effort to achieve them.

None of that changed the fact that Alex was stupidly handsome. Her beauty smacked you on the face whenever you looked at her and that was your downfall. It didn’t matter what you did, your cheeks would end up flushed with color and you’d stammer total nonsense that would make her chuckle. Alex would inevitably get closer to make sure you were okay, and just like that you were a gay mess.

A thing you learned quickly about Alex is that she never quit.

When you were too nervous to talk, she filled in the silence with a funny story or a new song to listen together. Free nights became movie marathons or just quiet moments where you’d work the nerves away before a match.

Halfway through the World Cup it wasn’t a rare occurrence for you to fall asleep in her bed and wake up cuddled on her side come morning.

Pointing the exact moment when your relationship became more than a friendship was near impossible. It was slow, steady and swift. One day you looked at her and realized that she was more than your friend, and when you leaned down to kiss her, she met you halfway.

This was a new side of yourself and Alex; one that you wanted to enjoy without rush or pressure. No one really knew you were into girls to start with although your crush on her wasn’t exactly subtle. Then again, everyone had to be a little starstruck by Alex Morgan when they joined the USWNT.

Once you were World Champions, you had time to explore that relationship and everything it meant to you. It was both exhilarating and terrifying with all the media swarming you, and yet no one noticed the slight changes in your demeanor.

No one really asked, and you never told.

Perhaps you just weren’t ready to come out to the rest of the world. Maybe wrapping your head around some of the details was harder than you thought. After all, you were dating Alex Morgan, for fuck’s sake!

Maybe the longing looks, the lingering touches and the secretive smiles were a few clues for the team, but if they knew or suspected something, you couldn’t tell. They were a part of your family, and in the end, they wanted you to be happy above everything else.

They would wait for you to be ready, and once things went back to normal after the victory tour, you finally were.

“How are we doing this?” Alex asked as she played with your hair. “Livestream?”

You look up at her, your head resting on her lap as you scroll through social media wondering what the fuck you’re about to do. But a second later all your attention is on her, and you find yourself breathless once again.

She’s stunning in a million different ways but you preferred this one; soft and relaxed. That was one of the perks of enjoying a quiet weekend at her place in L.A. before you went back to your respective clubs.

It seems like the National team is fond of Live Streams but it isn't how you want to come out. First because you’d become a nerve mess before actually sharing the news, and second because it isn’t original at all.

If you are about to come out to the fans and sponsors out there, you want to do so in a way they’d remember.

“I don’t think I could do it even if I tried,” you finally say.

Then it dawns on you: humor is the way you handle most of the things that would make you uncomfortable otherwise. That’s not to say you want the world to believe your relationship with Alex is a joke, but there has to be a way to come out in a funny, quirky and clever way.

“We’ll see each other in a couple of weeks, right?” You ask trying to remember the exact date when your clubs will face each other.

“Yeah,” she pauses for a second and you look up at her curiously. “Speaking of, any chance I can steal you for a night while you’re in Orlando?”

“Well, Ms. Morgan, I’m pretty sure that can be arranged,” you tell her with a coy smile. “For now, there’s some online shopping to do.”

With a kiss on her cheek and all the hesitation on the world to leave her side, you finally go to the other side of the room to retrieve your laptop. After all, you’re in a very important mission. And NWSL is the kind of merchandise you’re looking for.

For some miracle of the Gods above, you find both your jerseys in stock available for shipping within 24 hours with an extra fee. You don’t mind paying a bit more to stay on schedule, and even when you technically still have time, you like to be prepared.

It’d be nice to get your items before you and Alex go your separate ways.

You’d be lying if you say having her autograph wouldn’t be nice too.

“What’s the big idea here?” Alex asks while you finalize the purchase.

Her arms found their place around your waist and she rests her chin on your shoulder so she can see what you’re doing. Your plan is still a secret, and you want to keep it like that for a little longer.

“You’re gonna have to wait and trust me for a while.”

The smirk never leaves your face even when you can feel her little pout. It doesn’t last long, the laptop is forgotten on the coffee table and you turn on her arms to face her. A moment later you’re straddling her lap, your fingers undoing her ponytail and combing her hair until she closes her eyes.

“For now, what do you say we stop worrying about the rest of the world?”

“What should we do then?” She asks, already leaning in for a kiss.

“I think you got the right idea.”

*****

“All set?”

You scan the place one last time to make sure nothing’s missing from your bag. Nothing important since Alex has already claimed half your clothes.

Cellphone and wallet already in your pocket, and keys right on your hand, everything seems to be where it should. The rest of your things are packed and ready to go for the last flight home.

The Victory Tour ended on a good note, so now all you have to do is say goodbye to Alex.

Sharing a room with her was hard at the beginning, and you never expected that not sharing it anymore would be exponentially harder.

“Yeah,” you finally answer after patting your pockets once again. “I think-, I think I’m ready.”

“Okay.”

But just like you, Alex doesn’t really move and when she does, it’s towards you.

You’ve never seen her move as fast as she does while crossing the distance between you. But you don’t comment on it, really can’t when her arms are around you in a second and her lips are on yours.

It’s soft and yet firm. The kind of kiss that makes you weak at the knees and all you can do is hold onto her shoulders. You move with her, allow her to take control of it all as you try to burn her into your memory.

You try to memorize the softness of her lips, the silkiness of her hair between your fingers and even that scent that is purely Alex. You try to take all of it in, but you only have a moment that is over far too soon.

Technology is your saving grace, and you’re not sure what you’d do otherwise. And yet there are things you can’t convey through the Internet.

“I should go,” you whisper against her lips.

“Yeah.”

It’s hard -almost impossible-, to resist Alex. So despite the pressing matter of time, you indulge in another kiss.

Just like last time, you melt into her embrace and you consider staying there forever. It’s almost as if time stopped around you. Almost. Your alarm goes off startling you out of the daze, and you can help the little jump that makes Alex chuckle.

A step back creates just enough distance to clear your mind, the action making Alex raise an eyebrow in amusement but it’s really not your fault. She has that effect on you, has been that way for a long time, and yet she still finds it amusing.

With a tap on the screen you take care of the alarm. And there you are, right where you were ten minutes ago.

Time to go.

“Right. So...here I go then.”

“And-,” Alex adds with an excited smile, “-we have a game plan for next week.”

“That we do.”

Next week you’re playing against different teams on different days which gives you the opportunity to watch each other’s match. It’s the first step on your plan. Coming out seems like a big deal, and bit by bit the pieces get in motion.

“No regrets, right?” You ask.

This is not just about you. As big as coming out can be, this is also the reveal of your relationship with the biggest face of the USWNT. Whatever backlash you can get from this, it’ll be worse for her due to her massive following.

So you have to ask her again if she’s sure about this, if she’s as ready as you are.

“Y/n,” she calls softly as she cups your face. “No regrets at all.”

“Good,” you said with a small voice, barely believing this. “That’s...that’s good.”

You’re on this together, and yet, it’s incredible.

*****

Her match is about to start when you pull out your phone to take a selfie.

The pride colors look kinda odd on you. Maybe it’s because you spent the last few months only wearing the National Team kit, or maybe it’s because you don’t wear purple that often. But well, you’re not requesting a team trade, and it was your idea, so you can’t complain.

One of your friends already helped you take one picture of the back where Alex’s name and number are perfectly visible.

You’re practically shaking, but manage to smile as you snap the picture.

It’s something simple, really. Something that shouldn’t mean too much and yet, it does.

Pulling up your social media, you add both pictures.

  |Cheering for the Pride today. #13 show me what you’ve got. ;)

The wink is cheeky; it’s a reason for people to read into it and wonder if there’s something else going on. Which is…well, totally the point.

It’s funny to see the diverse reactions to your post. Some are confused about what you mean, some jump to call a trade that simply won’t happen; at least not that you know. But the press, oh they are ready to call it a rivalry.

It doesn’t matter how many times you two were caught on camera during the world cup being friendly. It didn’t matter if you two worked like a well oiled machine on the field during every match; Victory Tour included. They wanted to push the rivalry angle; fueled by the lack of a rebuttal from either of you.

You can’t help but laugh later when you call Alex to congratulate her. She truly showed you what she got with a couple of goals and the victory for the Orlando Pride. Those have been rare for her team lately, although you can’t blame them with so many key players also going to the World Cup.

However, the rivalry angle is fun to play with and in the end it’s the one you decide to push a little more the next day when it’s you on the field while Alex watches.

You’re already done with warm-ups and head out to the locker room to change into the kit when you hear your phone pinging with a new post. As expected, you find Alex’s post already blowing up despite it has been up for a grand total of two minutes.

   |I already showed you what I’m capable of. Now it’s your turn, Y/n.

Attached it’s a picture of Alex wearing your club jersey and although the number isn’t really showing, it’s more than obvious she’s wearing yours.

A chuckle escapes your lips while you shake your head. A question running through your head as you prepare for the starting whistle.

What the fuck am I doing?

***

A week later the press is going wild with theories about you and Alex. They aren’t sure what to make of it, but everyone has been talking about it for days. The upcoming match up between your clubs has served to add fuel to the fire, but you ignore all the fuzz of it as you prepare.

Last week you obtained the victory with a last minute goal to earn the three points. And unable to resist temptation, you had to make another post about it.

   |I’d say I’m pretty good at delivering. What do you say, Morgan?

   |TBD. See you next week.

The last part was a clue that no one seemed to catch on considering you were staying at her place instead of sticking with your club in a hotel. Of course, you didn’t share that bit of information and instead let the tension grow outside of your happy bubble.

This match is the moment of culmination if everything goes the right way. But playing against Alex doesn’t mean you’re going easy on her. If anything, being on the same field always pushes you to play the best soccer and be the best player you can be out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing the same colors or not.

Being lenient with her as a rival is the kind of mistake that could and would cost you a game. You just don’t underestimate Alex Morgan. And she better not do so to you or you’ll make her pay.

Adjusting the captain armband once more, you follow your team into the field and take your place just a few feet away from your girlfriend.

“Good luck, Morgan.”

“May the best team win.”

You play your hardest on that field; push to your limits and beyond, but in the end it’s a draw. Two a piece. Of course it had to be a draw. But you left everything there.

The game became physical and you tackled Alex as much as she tackled you in order to get back a lost ball. That’s part of your motto, not giving up even if it seems like a lost cause. And considering Alex decided to date you even when you couldn’t look at her four months ago, you’d say Alex doesn’t give up either.

Well that and the couple of new bruises you have after the match.

You’re a bit disappointed with the final score; you always want to win and carry that inertia into the next game. But it’s a fair result considering how close the game actually was. You two put on a show and the fans of both teams can see that.

“Y/n! Y/n! Can you give us one moment of your time?”

Looking at the person calling for you, you have to fight the smirk as you see it’s a reporter. It’s not hard to imagine they’ve been waiting for this moment since the first post you made a week ago.

“Sure.”

“What a great game you gave us today. Are you disappointed with the result?”

You can see this is not really what they want to ask, but you don’t mind playing along giving your commentary to this question and a couple of others.

“One last question, the fans and everyone really, are wondering about this new rivalry between you and Alex Morgan. What can you tell us about that?”

Bingo.

“Oh, there’s absolutely no-”

You could feel Alex lingering around, listening into this interview while being interviewed herself by another reporter for a quote after the game. But it’s only when you’re in the middle of your answer that she takes the few steps to wrap her arms around you from behind.

“We’re dating,” she announces proudly and straight to the point.

“-rivalry.” You finish your sentence before shaking your head. “Babe, I was going to say it!”

“What’s stopping you?” Alex challenges with that smirk you absolutely adore.

“You’re impossible.“

“Yeah, and…?”

“And Alex Morgan is my girlfriend,” you answer with just a little grumble as you look back at the camera. “But we’re definitely winning the next game.”

“Not on my watch,” she counters before turning your face towards her to kiss you softly.

Whatever argument you had is gone just like that. But it’s hard to keep track of your thoughts when she kisses you. Hell, it’s impossible to think straight when she’s too close to you. That’s why it took you so long to actually talk to her.

Your relationship is still so new, and yet you can’t help but feel like you’ve known her for decades. The connection between the two of you is meant to last, and you’ve never felt your heart skip a beat as it does when you look at her.

You’ve never felt your heart hammer against your chest so madly; and that’s something considering you played -and conquered-, a World Cup. You’ve never felt so in peace as you do when you look into her eyes. You’ve never felt so happy, or so whole, or so seen...or so you.

Alex has the ability to understand everything you say, but words aren’t needed for her to understand you. In a short amount of time, Alex knows you better than anyone else in the world, and as scary as that might seem, it’s also the best thing in the world.

“If you’ll excuse us now...”

Surely there are a thousand other questions the press wants to ask. However, you have no need to stay on the field as you guide Alex back to the tunnel. The fans will be all over that interview in no time, and it’s bound to appear in every social media and every news channel.

Even with the anxiety starting to creep in, the doubts nagging at the back of your mind, you don’t let go of her hand until you have to. After all, you belong to two different clubs. But your goodbye will be short lived as you’re going to her place for the night.

Still, the time apart is a bit scary when you’re about to face the backlash of many, and perhaps the support of most. After all, you’re not the first couple -or the only one-, in the USWNT, NWSL or even women’s soccer around the world.

After another gentle kiss, you part ways to reunite with your team.

You’re hesitant for a moment; taking a deep breath to steel yourself before facing them.

As soon as they see you, the room erupts in cheers and whistles of approval. Then again, your crush on Alex Morgan wasn’t exactly a secret. And after the World Cup, they could see something had changed within you.

Of all the people out there to get you, your club got your back. And after you get a chance to check your phone, you notice they ain’t the only ones.

   |Rivalry, that’s what they call it now, uh?

Megan’s post goes along with a picture of you smiling at Alex at the end of a World Cup match. It’s obvious you were smitten with each other back then, and nothing has really changed.

  |We all know how Rivalries work. One of them has to end on top. If you ask me, my money is on Y/n.

Your blush is impossible to hide when you read Ash’s words, and that’s something that you won’t ever reply to. There are things that you simply won’t share with the world.

  |Wait, hold on. Did you guys seriously not know?

Sonnett asks in her post with several pictures taken during camp. Some of them are during team bonding or well...movie nights. It wasn’t unusual for either of you to feel particularly tired and ended up falling asleep in the same bed.

But you’re surprised to see that you cuddled before you were together.

Then, there’s the evidence of you sitting next to each other whenever you could. During breakfast, on the bus, on the bench, on the plane. At some there was hand-holding added, and you wonder, truly wonder, how you called that subtle.

  |Hottest couple out there. Sorry, Krashlyn.

Bit by bit, every single player of the USWNT has shown their support, and it acts as a wave to generate more support from the fans, and it’s so overwhelming that the few people brave enough to try and drag your name on the mud are immediately silenced.

The world is still far away from being perfect, but your friends, your teammates, your family, they sure make it better.

“Ready to go?” Alex asks when you meet her outside.

“Sure, as long as I end on top tonight,” you say with a playful wink that earns you an eye roll.

“You wish.”

[wosoimagines]

Home - Tobin Heath/Reader

Guess who’s back. Also here is part 3 since you guys asked for it. Here’s part 1; Mercy. And here is part 2; Birthday. I think I’m going to follow up with a part 4. I’ve already got somewhat of a plan of what I want to do with it if I decide to wrap it up with a part 4.

prompt: mercy pt 2 ripped my heart out of my chest the wait was SO worth it and I’m SO here for a pt 3 to put me out of my misery. side note: All of your work is amazing and you’re an INCREDIBLE writer; please part 3 to the Tobin imagine.

warning: Swearing

words: 2473

Y/N POV

“You miss her,” Lieke sat down beside me. I felt her start to scratch my neck as I looked at the picture in my hand. I knew who Lieke was talking about and I knew that she wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“I miss all of them,” I pointed out. It wasn’t a false statement. I did miss all of my national teammates. Besides, I would be seeing them all soon enough. Well, except for Alex since she was pregnant.

“You know, you can always go see them,” Lieke pointed out. I shook my head at the Dutch player. I knew that it wasn’t that simple. Sure I had times where I had a long enough break that I could go see some of my national teammates, but I knew that if I went I would have a hard time coming back.

Especially if I went to Portland. Or Utah. Kelley and Becky were both in Utah and spending time with them in the city that I had grown to love would mean that I would want to sign back with Utah again. Portland was just a bad idea in general.

Tobin and I had started to talk to each other again. That was great. Although we were both a bit more guarded with each other, I could already feel the love I once held for Tobin Powell Heath start to resurface. I was so torn over what I should do because it definitely wasn’t fair to either Lieke or Tobin.

“Do yourself a favor and go see some of them, (Y/N),” Lieke sighed. She got up and headed to the kitchen. “I’m serious. I can tell your head isn’t completely there on the field. We all can. You’re getting homesick.”

“I’m not getting homesick,” I shook my head. It wasn’t possible. I had stayed out of the US before. I had never been homesick before, so I wouldn’t start now. “I’ve been away from my home before, and I don’t get homesick.”

“(Y/N), whenever you’ve been away from home, it’s for a tournament,” Lieke pointed out. I shrugged it off because it didn’t matter. I had been away from home for long periods of time before. “This is different. You’ve moved to a different country and all of the friends you’ve had are living in a different country than you. So is your family.”

I still hadn’t told Lieke that my friends were my family. I sighed as I thought about what she said though. Lieke was right about the fact that it was different this time. I was living in Barcelona not just staying for a month or two.

“Look, babe, no one will judge you for visiting home,” Lieke said as she suddenly rubbed my back. I was surprised because I wasn’t sure when she had moved from the kitchen to behind me. “Your system is different from ours. Most of us went to a different country to sign with a club when we were still young. You guys go to college and then high school before you even sign with a club. It’s understandable if you need to go home.”

The only problem was that I wasn’t sure where home was. I didn’t have a family to go home to the way that Lieke was talking about. The only family that I had to go to since I was in college was the one that I had built. I just wasn’t sure where to go.

“I think you’re right. I think I should take a trip home.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I shivered as I stood out in the rain but knocked on the door again. I was already soaked. I was just happy that my suitcase was built to keep my stuff dry as it took the person forever to answer. When they did, I wasn’t too surprised by the amount of surprise on their face.

“Are you going to let me in or are you going to let me soak out here?” I asked.

“What are you doing here, (Y/N)?” the goalie in front of me asked before she pulled me inside. She pushed me further into the house. “You should have called me.”

“I didn’t plan on coming here,” I defended as I was pushed into the kitchen where I was surprised by 3 other familiar faces. I was even more surprised when the youngest in the group that I was facing was quick to get out of her seat and slap me. “Ow! What the hell, Cheney!”

“That was for Tobin!”

“What the hell did I do to Tobin?”

The other two that were in the group that had been settled in the kitchen got between the two of us. Hope had disappeared before I felt a towel wrap around my shoulders.

“You know what you did, (Y/L/N)!”

“No, I don’t!” I defended myself. I really didn’t know what Cheney was talking about. “I know I left because Tobin broke my heart!”

“What do you mean you left?” Abby asked. I looked at her in surprise. I had made a surprising move when I went to Barcelona and it had made headlines.

“You’re Abby Wambach and you’re telling me that you have no idea that I left the NWSL?” I asked.

“You left the NWSL?” Christie asked. Hope looked surprised as well. I couldn’t believe that they hadn’t been following the NWSL news. “I just thought you were hurt and that was why you weren’t playing with Utah. I thought you loved it in Utah with Kelley and Becky.”

“I did,” I nodded. I loved playing in Utah with Kelley and Becky. It had meant a lot to me. “Until Tobin broke my heart.”

“No, you broke Tobin’s heart,” Cheney shook her head.

“She didn’t tell you?”

“Tobin told me all about how she flew out to Barcelona to see you for your birthday and when she asked you to come back you blew her off because you were in love with someone else,” Cheney scoffed.

“That someone else is Lieke Martens,” I rolled my eyes. I was really tired of being seen as the villain. “And Tobin should have stopped me from leaving in the first place. She knew that she could have asked me to stay and I would have. But she didn’t, okay? She didn’t ask, so I had to move on. I have been in love with Tobin Heath since 2006 and she didn’t love me the same way, so I had to move on. I did.”

“You broke Tobin’s heart,” Cheney pushed me back.

Hope was there to steady me. I shook my head because there was no way that Tobin had told her about what had gone down in Portland that made me leave. If Cheney didn’t know, then none of the others in the room knew.

“You have no idea,” I scoffed. I couldn’t believe that Cheney didn’t know. “Tobin asked Christen to marry her.”

“What?” Cheney asked.

“Tobin Heath asked Christen Press to marry her?” Christie asked. I nodded in confirmation. “That’s not possible. Tobin’s always looked at you like you hung the stars.”

“Well, she didn’t feel that way when she asked Christen to marry her and Christen told her she couldn’t,” I snapped. I hadn’t really told anyone the full story. I didn’t plan on it either, but it sort of just came out. “I went to be there for her because of course, Sonnett called me. You know what Tobin did? She told me she had feelings for me and we kissed. The next morning I go to get groceries and I come back to find Tobin and Christen in the kitchen. They had already made up. So sorry if I decided to move on because it was clear that Tobin didn’t love me like I loved her.”

“(Y/N),” Hope softly said as she put her hand on my shoulder. I looked back at her with tears in my eyes. I didn’t know what to do anymore. She pulled me into a hug. “Hey, it’s okay. Let it out.”

I was grateful that Hope just let me cry. I could tell that the others were softly talking to each other while Hope just stood there with her arms wrapped around me. I had been surprised at how quickly I had been drawn to Hope once I joined the national team. Once I stopped, Hope pulled back from me.

“Why are you here?” Hope asked. I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Did you and Martens break up?”

I shook my head because that wasn’t it. I had planned on going to Portland, but once I got there, I couldn’t do it. I was on my way to Seattle on my next flight. Which had ended up with me in the pouring rain in front of Hope’s door.

“So why are you in Seattle?” Christie asked. I looked over at my old captain.

“I got homesick,” I shrugged. They all knew about my family and that I had really turned to the national team to become my family. “I was going to go to Portland because that’s where Tobin is and I always go to see her when I go see family, but I got to Portland and couldn’t leave the airport. I got a ticket to Seattle, so here I am.”

“Just go home, (Y/N),” Abby rubbed her temples. “I don’t have a home,” I scoffed. Abby shook her head at me. I could tell that she wasn’t impressed with my answer.

“Where’s home?” Abby asked. I was taken back by the question. I went to tell her that I didn’t have one again, but I didn’t get the chance. “Not a physical home, okay? When you think of home, where do you feel loved and safe? Where is your home?”

I stayed quiet because I already knew the answer to that. It had been the same answer ever since I was in college. I had spent holidays with her. We had been inseparable and until this mess had been made, I wouldn’t have even thought twice before I said she was my home.

“Tobin,” my shoulders slumped as I admitted what I already knew. Abby gave me a look and I knew that she wanted me to go see Tobin. “But I can’t! I’m with Lieke.”

“You can fall in love with other people while you’re in a relationship,” Christie pointed out. It was something I had said more than once.

“You don’t get it,” I shook my head. What my parents had taught me so long ago wasn’t helping me anymore. “If you’re in love with a person and you fall in love with a second person, you should be with the second person because if you really loved that first person, you wouldn’t have fallen in love with the second person. That’s what I was taught. I was in love with Tobin, but then I fell in love with Lieke, and now I don’t know what to do.”

“Dude, your home is Tobin,” Hope pointed out. I shook my head because that didn’t mean anything. “Look, (Y/N), you and Tobin haven’t even been together but you guys are meant for each other. If you’re in love with Tobin, you have to fight for her. It’s like you said, you’ve been in love with her since 2006. You can’t honestly tell me that you don’t want a relationship with Tobin.”

“Will you drive me?” I asked causing Hope to look confused.  “To the hotel. Will you drive me. I know Tobin’s in for a match against Seattle now. They flew in today as well.”

“And you say you don’t love her,” Cheney shook her head. Hope sighed, but nodded and motioned for me to follow her. Cheney grabbed onto my arm before I could leave the kitchen. “(Y/N), if you hurt Tobin, I will kill you.”

“I have no intention of hurting her.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had asked Hope to give me a few minutes before we left. I had a phone call to make. It hadn’t been a good one, but it was necessary. I was just happy that Lieke had understood where I was coming from. She still wanted me out of the apartment, but she had assured me that she knew that I had still been in love with Tobin. Lieke even went as far as to tell me that she wanted to try being friends with me which I appreciated.

Hope had texted Tobin to come down to the lobby because I wasn’t entirely sure if Tobin would come down if she knew I was here or not. I could see the elevator ticking down the numbers of how many floors were left. I could feel my heart speed up before I turned and rushed out of the lobby. I could faintly hear Hope calling out my name, but I had to get because it was getting hard to breath.

“(Y/N)!”

I didn’t far down the street once I got outside. There was a voice that had stopped me. It had called out to me and I hadn’t heard it in person in a while. I turned to face Tobin who was standing under the awning of the hotel.

“(Y/N)?” Tobin asked me. I sighed but nodded anyway. I was already soaked again. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to come home.”

“So why are you here in Seattle?” Tobin asked.

“It’s where you are,” I shrugged. I noticed that Tobin had stepped out from under the awning. The rain was quickly soaking her. “Tobin, you’ve been my home since we were in college and I never wanted to admit it because if I did then I had to admit that I am in love with you. When we were younger that scared the hell out of me because I had convinced myself that you didn’t like me that way and then you were with Christen and it was just easier to deny my feelings that let myself really feel what I needed to. But with you is where I feel safe and loved. You’re always gonna be my home.”

“(Y/N),” Tobin softly whispered as she stepped closer to me. 

I sighed before jumping forward. I cupped her cheeks before pressing her lips to mine. I couldn’t help but smile when Tobin kissed me back. We did eventually have to break the kiss.

“Be my home forever?”

“Just don’t leave like you did,” Tobin whispered.

I nodded because now I had a reason for staying. Tobin smiled at me before kissing me this time. For the first time in a long time, everything felt right. I felt at home. I didn’t plan on giving that up anytime soon.

[yayeetsonny]

Hand in Hand~Alyssa Naeher x Ashlyn Harris

Prompt: there's a picture out there that looks like Alyssa is proposing to Ash so, here’s a proposal fic that was super fun to write. 

Requested by: @knight-16​

Alyssa PRO//

“Are you sure this is a good plan?” I asked Ali Krieger, my good friend and my hopefully soon-to-be fiancé Ashlyn Harris’s best friend.

“Yes, this is perfect.”

“Well what if I mess this up or, what if she doesn’t like the ring or, oh god what if she says no-”

“Lys, relax. She’s not going to say no. The women is head over heels in love with you.”

“I could still mess up.”

“You won’t. Trust me.”

I had been planning my proposal to Ashlyn for months, it took me 3 months to even decide on the ring for her. I have known she was the one since our second year anniversary. We’ve been dating for 2 and a half years and I couldn’t be happier. She completes me and I fall in love with her more everyday. I knew in my heart that she would say yes even if I proposed with a ring pop candy ring but I still wanted everything to be perfect.

The plan was to wait until after our game tonight and after we get back to our apartment I’ll ask her if she wants to go for a walk and then I would take her to our spot on the beach we like to visit almost everyday. Once there we’ll sit and chat for a while like we usually do and then I’ll carry out the rest of my plan and pop the question. I was beyond nervous but I was also over the moon about finally getting to this milestone with her.

“Hey babe! You ready?” Ashlyn said, taking me by surprise.

“H-hi love. I am.” 

I quickly shoved my phone in my bag so she couldn’t see what I was showing Ali

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just nervous is all.” I admitted

“You have no reason to be nervous Alyssa, you’re starting in the game, which is a first for this set of friendlies I know but you’re going to show Vlatko just how amazing and badass you are.”

She came up behind me, and wrapped her arms around me, kissing my neck softly.

“Oh, you can do it just know that I believe.” She sang 

I smiled softly when I realized what she was doing. We watched the High School Musical movies religiously and I instantly knew the song from the 3rd movie.

“And that’s all I really need.”

“So come on.”

“Make me strong. Time to turn it up, game on.” I giggled as we finished singing. 

Ali was watching and recording the whole thing, smile just as bright as we were.

“You guys are the cutest.”

“Thanks, we try.” Ash said flipping her hair

“I needed that boost. Thank you.”

“of course baby. Now go kick some ass.”

She slapped my butt playfully as we started to head out to the tunnel. I met up with the little girl whose hand I would hold and walk onto the field and she talked animatedly about how excited she was to go out and I promised we would wave to her parents when we did. I was behind Megan who was first in line since she was captaining this game and when we stepped onto the field I was swept away by the crowd and how loud they were. I have been playing on the national team for years now but I will never get over that first cheer or the adrenaline rush I feel before a game. After the anthems, pictures and shaking hands with the other team we got into a huddle for once last pep talk

“Okay listen up. We’ve watched plenty of game footage and strategized, we can beat this team. If we take care of the big things, all the little pieces will fall into place, alright?”

We all nodded in agreement.

“Oosa on 3!… 1!… 2!… 3!”

“OOSA, OOSA, OOSA” We shouted together.

We broke off to get into our positions and I headed into goal. I took a deep breath, jumped up and down a couple of times and stretched my arms, determined to remain completely focused. I wanted a clean sheet really bad.

It was the 67th minute when things changed, up until that point I had stopped every shot that the Brazilian players sent my way, every set piece went off without a hitch and we were up 1-0. Unfortunately, Becky accidentally fouled Marta in the box and gave away a penalty. She turned to me looking guilty.

“It’s okay Beck, I got it.” I said patting her on the back.

I knew I could stop the shot and after listening to instructions from the ref and waiting for everyone else to be ready I turned out everyone else around me and focused solely on the ball. I could feel Marta’s eyes on me but I refused to look her in the eye because I knew she was trying to get in my head. She backed up a few steps before firing the ball toward the upper right 90, I could see she was going to go there so I leapt in that direction and was able to slap the ball away and out of danger. After I got up from the ground my teammates swarmed me and shouted praise in my ear as we hugged. 

“SO BADASS!”

“FUCK YEAH BABE!”

“Go, set up for the corner!” I yelled

I was overjoyed that I kept my clean sheet but I knew we still had work to do and was locked in. They did as I said and Marta once again took the set piece, she sent the ball into the box but I was able to come off my line and punch it away. We regained possession and Abby passed the ball to Christen who passed it to Lindsey and she took it into Brazil’s final 3rd. Our counter attack was strong and I was watching intensely as my teammates went for another goal. Lindsey crossed the ball the Megan but she was between 2 defenders so she wasn’t able to get the shot off, she decided to pass to Alex who was able to fire it into the net. I watched as my teammates cheered and celebrated and I couldn’t help but let a massive grin spread across my face. The rest of the game went on without many chances for either side and we were able to walk away with a solid 2-0 win. 

After we signed autographs and took pictures we all made our way back into the locker room, I was putting my stuff away when I felt someone pick me up from behind. I squealed quietly at the sudden movement but knew exactly who it was.

“THAT WAS SO BADASS BABY, I’M SO FUCKING PROUD OF YOU.” Ashlyn yelled as she set me down. I turned around and jumped on her, hugging her tightly as she peppered my neck with kisses and eventually moved to my head, face  before finally planting a deep kiss on my lips.

“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” 

“Yes you could, and you did. I just gave you a little pep talk.” She chuckled

We kissed some more before someone cleared their throat.

“Look, I love you both and you’re super cute together but please… get a room.” Alex groaned

I instantly felt my cheeks turn a deep red as Ash just smirked at her.

“You’re just jealous because Kelley grounded you from sex for a week.” She said

She just flipped Ash off and stomped away. Everyone laughing at her faking being mad. Kelley pouted at her sympathetically as she whispered something in her ear. A dopey grin spread across her face and I knew she had been freed from the dog house. 

After an hour of celebrating the win Ash and I bid goodnight to our teammates and headed back to our apartment. We lived in Orlando together which was great but playing on different NWSL teams made being separated during the season hard but we made it work; we spent all of our offseason together and made sure to make frequent weekend trips to be together. I knew after I proposed, I would immediately get to work on requesting a trade to the Pride. Our regular season was almost over so the opportunity couldn’t be better. 

“So, how do you want to celebrate your amazing performance tonight?” Ash whispered in my ear, slightly nibbling on it as we sat on the couch.

“W-well, I was thinking of taking a walk together on the beach.”

She took to kissing my neck and as much as I wanted to celebrate like that I had planned to much for this not to pan out.

“A walk?” She seemed slightly disappointed, I felt bad but we could always celebrate after we were officially engaged. 

“Yeah, I would like to take a walk. It’s so nice out.”

“Okay, then a walk it is.”

I kissed her sweetly before whispering in her ear

“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of fun later tonight.”

She shuddered and I smirked at her. She smiled at me before taking my hand and pulling me up with her. I pretended to go to the bathroom so that I could grab the ring I had stashed away and when I was sure I had everything I needed and shaken out my nerves, I reemerged and we left our apartment. walking hand in hand to the beach. When we got there, we walked along the sand, I had taken off my shoes and let the water flow over and under my feet, loving the calm, cool feeling.

“You did so good today, I’m so proud.”

“Thank you. You’re my biggest fan.” 

“I always will be.”

 After a while I led us over to our spot, which was a section of rocks that were comfortable to sit on and gave us a good few of the whole ocean. Ashlyn turned to me and I could have sworn her eyes were literally sparkling under the moonlight. 

“Hi.”

“Hey there.”

We just looked at each other for several moments, and then Ash broke the silence by tapping me on the nose.

“You have such a cute nose, did you know?” She asked, smiling like a fool. “I didn’t but thank you. So do you.” I giggled, tapping her nose in return.

We continued messing around, smiling and laughing and I fell in love with her all over again.

“If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?” She asked

“I would be right here, with you.”

She smiled lovingly at me in return before kissing me. We sat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes before Ashlyn got up, turned away from me and stretched. 

I knew this was my chance so without any hesitation I got down on one knee, ring in hand and waited for her to turn around. When she did, her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Oh my god.”

“Ashlyn Michelle Harris, I have loved you since the day we met all those years ago. You are the light of my life, my rock, my person and I can not imagine my life without you. Will you make me the happiest women alive and marry me?”

She stood in shock for a moment, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. At this point I was in tears too, my heart was going a million miles an hour as I waited for her to answer.

“Yes, yes a million times yes!” She shouted as she tackled me into the sand. 

“I love you.” She cried

“And I love you.”

Still on top of me, she looked down at me with so much love I thought she would burst. Our lips met in a passionate kiss and we made out for a moment before finally sitting up to breath. 

“So what do you say, you wanna put the ring on?”

“Oh, yeah. I totally forgot about that.”

I laughed through my tears as I slid the ring onto her finger. It was a simple gold band but Thad a decent sized diamond in the center. She inspected it for a moment before saying

“It’s perfect, I love it.”

“I really thought and hope you would” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

We sat in silence again as we took in the moment, we were officially engaged and it meant the world to us both. 

“How did you do so well at hiding this from me?” Ashlyn asked

“I had a little help from Ali.”

“Ah, I shoulda known. Good ol’ Kriegs.” She chuckled

“How do you think we should tell the team?”

“We could…. Invite them over for dinner tomorrow and see how long it takes for them to notice the ring?”

“Excellent idea.”

“I should probably tell Ali first, she’s been blowing my phone up for the last hour.” I laughed 

“That’s a good idea. Tell her I said thank you.”

“I will.”

“I can’t wait to be Mrs. and Mrs. Neaher-Harris.”

“The day I get to call you my wife will be the greatest of my life.”

After I texted Ali, swearing her to secrecy, we laughed at her excited response. 

I was excited for this new chapter in our lives and I knew no matter what life threw at us Ash and I would get through it together, hand in hand.

I’m sorry this took a hot minute. Sorry for any mistakes.

-N

[imaginesforyourfandom]

An Opportunity - Julie Ertz Imagine

(Y/N)’s POV:

I had just got off my phone with my manager who was telling me about an offer that I had got from FC Barcelona. Apparently, they were extremely interested in signing me for their upcoming season. It was an incredible offer, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take it.

Currently, I play on the Chicago Red Stars as a forward. It’s incredible because I get to play with my amazing girlfriend Julie. I love playing for Chicago, but it has always been my dream to go play in Europe. If I went to Barcelona, then I would get to play at the same club as Messi, Pique, and all of those guys. If I stay, then I get to stay with Julie and play my other teammates on the regular.

Gosh, everyone will no doubt flip out when they find out that I am even considering leaving the NWSL. It’s one thing to go out on loan, but to leave completely will cause some issues. According to my manager, I have played in the NWSL long enough that my position on the national team shouldn’t be compromised so that won’t be an issue at least.  

“Are you in there?” I turned my head towards Julie who gave me an odd look. I nodded my head as she smiled at me.

“Yeah, sorry I just zoned out for a second.” I said as she kissed my cheek earning a wide smile from me.

“A second? We’ve been talking to you for a few minutes” Kelley said as I sighed. Her statement caused everyone around us to let out laughs. “I was asking you how you feel about starting, but I don’t know if I care now.”

“I feel good about it. Thank you for caring.” I joked as she shook her head at me. This got a few smiles from everyone at the table. I was sat at breakfast with JJ, Crystal, Kelley, Allie, Christen, Tobin, Alex, Ash, and Ali. It was a big table full of personalities and no shortages of jokes.

“Who was that on the phone?” I turned towards JJ with an unsure expression. I didn’t necessarily want to tell them right now that I was thinking of leaving the NWSL.

“My manager.” I said deciding that it was better to be honest than to lie about it. “Just wanted to tell me about a potential transfer.”

“Which team is after you this week?” Christen joked as an uneasy look crossed Julie’s face. I let out a little laugh knowing that there was truth in the question. This wasn’t the first time that a team had tried to take me from Chicago.

“Barcelona.” I said closing my eyes immediately as everyone fell silent. I opened to see everyone staring at me in shock. This was the first time that it was a non-NWSL team after me, so I guess I could understand the surprise on their faces. “Don’t all speak at once.”

“You’re kidding right?” Crystal asked giving me a doubtful look. I smiled slightly and shook my head at her. “Barcelona is actually after you?”

“Barcelona is actually after me.” I said as I turned to look at Julie who had an unreadable look on her face. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal. (Y/N) you’re talking about going to Europe.” Kelley said with wide eyes. “Like is it a loan deal? Or is it like an actual transfer?”

“A transfer. I would no longer be a NWSL player.” I said leaning on the table resting my head on my hand.

“So, you’re going to say yes then?” Alex asked with a frown on her face.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You’re thinking about it though?” Ash asked me with an angered look on her face.

“I didn’t say that either.” I said giving them all looks. “I don’t know what I want to do. I have a lot to think about.”

I jumped slightly when Julie abruptly stood up. She didn’t say a word as she turned and walked out of the room. I watched her leave as I sighed debating whether or not I should go after her. On one hand, she’s mad and/or upset and I should definitely comfort her. On the other hand, its all directed at me which means she might not want to talk to me. I went to stand when Crystal stood and gave me a small smile.

“I got it. Let her cool off.” She said walking off to find Julie. I leaned back in my chair running my hands over my face.

“Have you thought this through?” Allie asked giving me a look. I groaned at the question trying to find patience.

“You guys, I just got the call like not even 10 minutes ago. Nothing is set in stone. He was just telling me that it was a possibility. I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“Have you thought about your place on this team? What’s going to happen when you are playing in Spain?” Ash looked around at everyone at the table. Everyone seemed to agree that this was a bad decision.

“I don’t know. I haven’t even had time to fully process everything. What part of this just happened do you not get?”

I stood up and walked out of the room. I headed back to my room where I found JJ and Crystal sitting. Julie’s eyes were slightly puffy which indicated that she had been crying. Crystal stood and gave me a pat on the back as she exited the room.

“Can I just say-?”

“No.” she said standing up and going into the bathroom. I stood there dumbfounded at her completely dismissing me. I stood for a moment before changing into my pre-game clothes. We were supposed to leave in about 15 minutes, so I needed to get my stuff ready. The bathroom door opened, and JJ came out grabbing her stuff.

“Are we going to talk before we leave?”

She didn’t say a word as she left the room. I closed my eyes and took a breath. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialed my managers number. I waited for a moment while it rang.

“Hey (Y/N), you already come to a decision?” he joked

“I have actually.” I said trying to get this over with. “If you could let the guys from Barcelona know that I really appreciate the opportunity and I am so honored that they were even considering me, but I am going to have to decline.”

“Okay hang on…” he said and I could tell he wasn’t fully expecting me to have an answer already. “Have you thought about this? I mean…this is a huge opportunity. This could easily put you up as the highest paid player in the world.”

“I know, but my life is in Chicago and my friends are in the NWSL. I need to stay here.”

“Okay listen…I want you to think about this. I understand that your life is in Chicago, but one of the first things that you said to me when we agreed to work together was that you wanted to get to Europe eventually. This is it. This is your opportunity to fulfill a dream. I will call you in a few days and if you still want to say no then I will honor your wishes.” I bit my lip trying to fight back tears.

“Okay.” I said as he said his goodbyes. I put my phone away and grabbed my stuff before walking out of the room. I headed downstairs and walked out of the hotel and onto the bus. I ignored everyone as I moved to sit by myself.

I looked up when Pinoe sat next to me. I gave her a confused look which caused her to laugh. She gave me a small smile.

“Are you sitting with me out of pity?” I asked as the winger shrugged her shoulders.

“No not really…I did feel bad. Everyone’s kind of mad at you right now.” I shook my head

“I didn’t even do anything. It’s not my fault that a team in Europe wants to sign me. I didn’t ask for this.” I looked over where JJ was sitting talking quietly with Crystal. She caught my eye and then turned to face the window away from me.

“I think that….you know this team is a family. We all love each other and care deeply for each other. I think that everyone is thinking in terms of what would it be like if you were in Europe.”

“Literally half of the team has gone to Europe on loan…the only difference for me is I would play there for a whole season instead of half a season.”

“You would also play during our offseason…so no vacations with all of us. No traveling with your girlfriend. You wouldn’t arrive the same days and you would most likely have to leave immediately instead of getting to hangout with us. There are quite a few things that would change.”

“I guess I didn’t think about all of that.” I said looking down as she put an arm around me.

“Kid, you’re going places. If going to Europe is what you want, then go to Europe.” She said as I looked to her. “You should do what feels best for you.”

I nodded my head as we then switched the subject and talked about the upcoming game. Once we got to the stadium, we immediately moved to get ready and warmed up. Everything seemed to go by as we quickly were standing in the tunnel. I stood in between JJ and Alex waiting for us to exit the tunnel.

“If it makes you feel any better, my first thought was you.” I said knowing JJ could hear me. “I told my manager to decline the offer because I couldn’t imagine a fate worse than being away from you.”

She turned to look at me with a serious look. Before she could say anything, we had to walk out which meant that there was no time to talk about the situation any further. The game quickly started, and I could already tell that it was going to be a rough one.

We went up during the first half thanks to a goal from Alex which JJ was able to assist on. That was about the only good thing to be appreciated though. I wasn’t playing well at all and I knew it was because I wasn’t completely focused. That and I had at least two players on me at all times. I rolled my eyes a little when Jill started talking to me about how I was playing.

“No, she’s doing good. As long as you keep your passes pinpoint, then just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re drawing in all the players which is giving the rest of us more space to work in.” Pinoe said as I nodded my head.

“Got it” I said giving her a little salute as we got ready to head out of the locker room. I could tell that almost everyone was still upset with me. They were still refusing to make any kind of eye contact with me, but JJ gave me a slight smile. I count that as a win.

When we got back out there, something felt like it had shifted in the air. The other team was playing way more aggressively. I started getting frustrated at the amount of times I was being fouled and the amount of times it wasn’t being called. Everything seemed to come to a head in the 71st minute when me and two other players went for the ball. I jumped to head it to JJ when the one of the opposing players jumped and her elbow knocked into my forehead, while the other player smacked into me as well, but she hit my lower half. I landed awkwardly on my leg and immediately felt a searing pain in my leg.

I hit the ground and barely registered the whistle being blown. All I could focus on was my leg and head. Both of them were in extreme pain, I could already feel the tears coming to my eyes.

“It’s okay. Just breath. Focus on my voice baby.” JJ said as she ran her fingers through my hair. I had my eyes shut tight as I tried to pull myself together. “I got you. You’re okay.”

I laid there with silent tears streaming down my face as the medical staff motioned for a stretcher. They were telling me that they needed to check me for a concussion and check out my leg. I nodded listening to them, but I was starting to feel numb. I was cleared for a concussion in the locker room, but they wanted to check out my leg further. Though, they were leaning towards it being my ACL. I was given crutches and strict rules to stay off of my leg. I hadn’t really seen any of my teammates, but from what I had heard we had won the game. Everyone started making their way into the locker room and checking on me.

“Are you okay?” Ash asked taking my head in her heads and kissing my forehead. “What’s going on?”

“ACL most likely” I said looking to my leg with a frown. She gave me pat on the shoulder as Alex entered and beelined it for me. Also, giving me a hug and checking on me. I shrugged my shoulders at all their questions not really in the mood. Though, I smiled slightly when JJ walked in and moved towards me. Ash moved aside so she could stand next to me. She pulled my face into her hands and kissed my lips.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry” she said pulling me in and holding me close. I wrapped an arm around her waist as everyone walked away to give us a moment. “What did they say?”

“I don’t have a concussion, but they want to do some tests to make sure. As for my leg, most likely an ACL tear.” I nodded my head looking down at my leg not wanting to meet the eyes of my girlfriend. She pulled my head to look at her and I couldn’t fight back the tears at that point.

“It’s okay. We will figure it out together.” She gave me another kiss and started running her fingers through my hair. “I love you. I’m sorry for earlier by the way. I guess I was just super upset at the idea of losing you. I should have let you talk about it with me before freaking out.”

“I should have talked to you about it privately and not in front of everyone.”

“Did you really turn it down?” she asked looking into my eyes as I stared at her.

“I did. He’s going to call me in a few days, because he wants me to really think about it before he gives them an answer, but yeah I really turned it down.”

“You don’t have to.” She said as I looked at her. “If you want to go, then you should go. We will work it out together. I know how much you want to go to Europe.”

“It doesn’t mean anything if you’re not there.” I said looking at her. She smiled and kissed my forehead.

“God, I love you.” She said pulling me in for a kiss. “I mean it though, you should go.”

“I’ll think about it, and I love you too.” She grinned at me as I moved to stand up. I leaned on her for support. “It doesn’t really matter right now though. I won’t be playing anytime soon.”

“You’ll be back before you know it” Pinoe said slapping my shoulder which in turn made me groan. “Maybe in a Barcelona kit…who knows?”

“Stop…” I groaned again causing her to laugh. “Let me just say…I don’t know if I am going to leave the NWSL, but for now just assume I am staying at Chicago. I’ll let you know if I decide to leave. It’s a decision that I have to make though, and I hope you can all respect it.”

“I respect it.” Alex said causing everyone to nod. “I think it was the initial shock and stuff that had most of us upset. Besides, if you go to Spain then I have a new vacation spot.”

“I’m going to get such a nice tan.” JJ joked as I looked at her and kissed her forehead.

Everyone laughed and moved in to give me hugs. I don’t know what the future holds in terms of where I will play, but I know that the support system I have is going to have my back no matter what.

The End.

[an-ephemeral-blog]

What’s standing in the way of women’s soccer?

When chants of ‘equal pay!’ ring through soccer stadiums, men jump on Twitter to explain why, despite performing better internationally than the men’s team, women soccer players don’t deserve equal pay because they don’t earn as much revenue.

Over the past two months I’ve become a big NWSL fan.  It’s very different from being an MLB fan, my only previous experience of passionate sports fandom.  There are a lot of things I take for granted that a professional sports team has, which NWSL teams do not have.  These things absolutely affect revenue, either directly, or by lowering the quality of play or the experience of watching games.  Here’s a list.

1.  NWSL stadiums are less accessible than MLS and other stadiums.

My local team, the Washington Spirit, plays at the Maryland SoccerPlex.  To get to the Plex, if you don’t have a car, requires an hour-plus train ride to the end of the metro and then either a 25+ minute car ride or a 45+ bus ride.  I have multiple friends who’ve expressed interested in going to a game but balked when they found out how long it would take to get there.  Another friend had to cancel because she was working late and couldn’t finish by 5:30pm, which was the time she’d have to leave to make it to a 7:30pm game.

As a trial run, the Spirit are playing a game tomorrow at Audi Field, home field of the MLS team DC United.  Audi Field is about 30 minutes away from downtown and is easily accessible via Metro.  Correspondingly, the Spirit is on track to more than triple their season record at the Plex.  They may even sell out Audi Field.  Surely if they can sell out Audi Field, they deserve to play in it?

Which brings me to the next item on the list...

2.  NWSL stadiums are smaller than MLS stadiums.

The Spirit’s plex sells out at around 5,500 tickets.  For tomorrow’s Audi Field game, they’ve currently sold over 16,000 tickets.

Sky Blue’s regular park also holds about 5,000 fans.  When they played a game last weekend at Red Bull Arena, aka the stadium of their local MLS team, they nearly doubled attendance at 9,000+ tickets sold.

I don’t know the breakdown for every team in the league.  I do know that Orlando Pride, despite having access to a great stadium, tends to draw fewer fans do to their lower quality of play.  (They’re second to last in the league.)  On the other hand, the Portland Thorns already share a stadium with their MLS neighbor team, the Timbers, and also boast the biggest and loudest fanbase in the NWSL.  Portland recently set a league record with 25,000+ tickets sold to a game.

Items #1 and #2 combine to make clear that to grow as a league, NWSL teams need to play in larger stadiums that are easier to access.  (This doesn’t even take into account how stadium facilities might impact quality of play.  Some NWSL teams don’t even have showers in their locker rooms!)  Owners and league managers need to invest in securing these spaces for teams, even if they might not be profitable at first. The experience of Sky Blue and Spirit suggests that managers won’t have to wait to reap the benefits.  

3.  NWSL games are often scheduled simultaneously, decreasing viewership.

With only nine teams in the NWSL, there are four to six NWSL games each week.  Given this small number, you’d think they’d all be on at different times, right?

Nope.  Every week, there’s at least one pair of games scheduled against each other.  Often there’s two.  If you don’t have the ability to tape games, you’re forced to miss at least one game every week.  As I have taken to tweeting despairingly at the NWSL each time this happens: whyyyyyyyy.

Schedule creation is complicated, and there are more factors that go into it than I know of.  But one key element is when teams even have their field available.  Most teams don’t own their own fields, and have to work within a restricted subset of dates and times.  To the extent that this contributed to overlapping games, it’s yet another way that issues securing good stadiums get in the way of fans supporting their teams.

4.  NWSL teams have a lower quality of commentating.

Complaining about the announcers/commentators on NWSL matches is a sport of its own.  Announcers regularly mispronounce players’ names and sometimes misidentify them.  They repeat facts and stories, and use the same turns of phrase over and over until you can’t help but twitch every time you hear them say “she sprays the ball out wide” or “the ball found it’s way to...” The last Spirit game I attended, I sat in front of a woman who, after Elise Kellond-Knight left with a pulled hamstring, briefly explained to her friends why women were more likely than men to have hamstring injuries.  (It has something to do with women having more developed quad muscles, which puts the opposing muscles, the hamstrings, at greater risk.  This also leads to increased ACL injuries among women.)  This random stranger had more interesting commentary than any of the people I’d heard on TV. But why are these announcers so bad?  The answer’s easy: NWSL announcers are barely paid.  They make $300-$400 a game, with no travel or lodging expenses paid, which means unless you live in Fort Lauderdale where the announcing is recorded, you have to pay to announce.   I don’t know how much MLS announcers make, but I bet it’s better than that.

5.  NWSL teams have a lower quality of refereeing.

Oh boy.  Okay.  There have been some issues with NWSL refereeing lately.  As national team star Ali Krieger put it:

We’re putting a good product out on the field and every year we’re getting better and the referees seem like they are not.  So, I beg the NWSL — just the standard needs to be higher. It’s just unfortunate that you feel like the referee is ruining the game. They are taking the fun out of the game because they are not good enough.

How could we raise the standards of referees?  Well, they could stop treating the NWSL like a training ground for MLS:

There are five tiers in the U.S. Soccer refereeing program. The top-level, called “FIFA,” is the highest tier. These referees can officiate in FIFA-sanctioned matches. 

”The second tier is “P.R.O.” These referees can officiate MLS matches and are selected by the Professional Referee Organization.

The next tier down is called “National,” and these officials are certified by U.S. Soccer. These referees can officiate USL Championship and NWSL matches. And therein lies the problem.

The NWSL will never have officiating as good as the MLS as long as this remains US Soccer’s official policy.  It doesn’t get any clearer than that.

6.  NWSL games are not marketed as well as they could be.

I won’t pretend to understand marketing, but I know that it’s hard for people to go to games they don’t even know about: 

[Portland Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg ] couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed when she saw Fox discuss the U.S. Men’s National Team’s run at the CONCACAF Gold Cup during halftime of the Women’s World Cup final Sunday, rather than preview the upcoming games in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

“I love Fox. I think they did a great job. They gave the Women’s World Cup the attention that it deserves, but I wish we mentioned the NWSL more. [...] We need that to be put into the consciousness of the general public. We need ESPN to talk about the NWSL year-round. We need beat reporters in every single city that has an NWSL team. We need investment in advertising and marketing, in ground support, in make sure that people know that there’s a freaking team in their area.”  [source]

It seems that marketing is another area in which US Soccer is underinvesting in women:

[Soccer United Marketing, the commercial arm of Major League Soccer] handles deals for MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation but not the NWSL, even though U.S. Soccer runs the NWSL. This fact has long been lamented by the women’s soccer community.

The NWSL marketing team needs the resources to at least let people know that their teams exist and their games are happening.  But beyond that... the NWSL is full of charismatic stars, both current and potential.  Let’s give them the spotlight.

7.  NWSL salaries are, for all but the biggest stars, below average income.

No one goes into women’s soccer for the money, even if a few of the game’s biggest stars have managed to get some lucrative sponsorships.  The league guarantees a minimum salary of $16,538, barely above the poverty line, and caps max salary at $46,200, a bit belong the mean American income.

Talented young women who are making decisions about where to go to college and what to do after college need to take this into account.  If they have dependents, family members with health issues, or significant debt, they simply may not be able to afford to play soccer professionally.  

This impacts the number of women available to play professionally as well as their ability to nurture their own talent by investing in themselves via special camps and training.  For every Megan Rapinoe or Alex Morgan or Crystal Dunn who has made it to the NWSL there’s someone equally talented who stopped playing in high school or college because law school or medical school or learning to code seemed like a more financially viable career path.  

In other words, for all the strides women’s soccer has made over the last twenty to thirty years, the NWSL still selecting from only a fraction of the potential talent pool.

*

I’ve been an NWSL fan for less than two months, so I’m surely missing other ways that women’s soccer has been under-invested in.  But the seven issues outlined above should be enough to convince you there’s a problem.  

Saying that people just don’t want to watch women’s soccer isn’t merely an oversimplification - it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.  The whole point of investment is you take a risk now to reap a payoff later.  The NWSL needs US Soccer and the wider sports community to invest in them, and given time, everyone will benefit.

You know what keeps ringing in my ears?  Research that shows that men are judged on their potential, while women are only judged on their performance.  The NWSL has the potential to be a thriving league with the revenues and fan enthusiasm of the MLS.  The question is whether women’s soccer will be given the support they need to deliver on that potential.

[i-just--dont-understand]

Alex Morgan: ‘If Fifa start respecting the women’s game more, others will follow’

On a cold, grey January day in Lyon the fire of Alex Morgan’s ambition is obvious. She has already spoken of her desire to become the best female footballer in the world and, a long way from the winter sunshine of Florida, to adapt to a new culture in France. Morgan arrived in Lyon just a few days into 2017, after she had been pursued on Twitter by Jean-Michel Aulas, the president of Lyon. Aulas made it clear that signing the American star striker would underline Lyon’s commitment to a women’s team which won the French title, domestic cup and Champions League treble last season. 

 Morgan’s drive might be matched by Lyon but the 27-year-old World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist, who has scored 73 goals in 120 games for the USA, stresses how many more important battles are still to be won for women’s football. “It’s great to see women standing up in their own line of work and fighting for fair value,” she says after name-checking Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift. Such starry allies suit Morgan, who has more than 2.8m followers on Twitter, but there is also a wearying grittiness to the struggle for equality in women’s sport. USA forward Alex Morgan to join European champions Lyon on loan Read more 

“We’re trying to do the same thing and we’ve come a long way. But it gets exhausting having to do this every day, every week. Our male counterparts have not had to fight as much – so sometimes you feel a little exhausted always having to prove yourself and show your worth.” 

 Morgan rolls her eyes when I say how odd it is that sportswomen are having to fight so hard for parity in 2017. “Sometimes it feels a little redundant and I wish we didn’t have to fight so hard. But you see female actresses and singers standing up for themselves as well as women in general. A woman earns an average 73 cents to the male dollar in the US. So there’s still a long way to go. There’s hope in the fact that so many people know about our struggle in football – with the CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement] and our fight for equal pay. The fact that the agreement was such a big deal last year showed how much the women’s game has grown.” 

In her new European setting Morgan is note-perfect in always saying “football” rather than “soccer”. But semantics do not really matter when the issues within the women’s game in the US are so tangled that Morgan speaks of “a crisis”. She stresses that the dispute between US Soccer and the national team, with the players calling for a fairer structure in relation to the men’s squad, could lead to strike action. 

“It’s necessary for change sometimes,” Morgan says of a possible strike. “It wouldn’t be the first time women decided to strike. Colombia and a couple of other countries might do the same. And Australia didn’t play us a year ago because of the same battle. We were supposed to play them in a few weeks and they decided not to get on the flight because they weren’t getting paid what they were worth – or anywhere close. 

 “To force a change sometimes you need to stand up. You know what you’re worth – rather than what your employer is paying you. We’re not scared. To move the women’s game ahead we need to do what’s necessary. I feel other national teams are looking at us for that guidance.” 

 Morgan laughs wryly and says “Where do I start?” when asked for a potted history of the US dispute. But she then speaks clearly. “As a national team we have a collective bargaining agreement and from 2001 we’ve had a salary-structured contract because there hasn’t always been a league for national players. So US Soccer has funded the players by giving them an annual salary. Moving forward we would love to keep that consistency in being paid [by the federation] but we want to close the gap between men and women. How turmoil in US women's soccer could drive players to Europe Read more 

“It’s difficult because we are probably the first national team to get a salary. We’re also probably the highest paid in terms of a women’s national team. But do you compare us to other women’s national teams or to the US men? Do you compare us to clubs? With US Soccer also funding the NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League] it’s very intertwined and hard to understand from the outside. 

 “But the fight is about receiving equitable treatment – not just pay. Our CBA ended last month so right now we’re locked with the status quo. Neither US Soccer nor us have submitted anything that says they’ll lock us out or that we will strike. We’re hoping to reach agreement – but there eventually needs to be pressure from one side to meet in the middle. 

“We don’t have a World Cup or Olympics to use as leverage while we negotiate a new contract. But we have an important tournament coming up [in March]. The SheBelieves Cup brings France, England and Germany to the US. Before we play those matches we want to get a deal done so we can move on.” 

 The fact that women’s soccer still struggles for parity in the US – where it is such a popular sport – indicates the depth of the battle facing the female game globally. Morgan is forthright when she considers Fifa’s attitude to women’s football and their decision to stage the 2015 World Cup on artificial pitches. “We took it very personally because it was an insult. They had never done that for the men – and they never would. The men wouldn’t stand for it. We tried to take a stand and we brought in lawyers and tried to bring it to court in Canada. Lots of players were involved internationally. But it was too late to change anything. 

 “At least we won the tournament and a concession from Fifa that they will never do anything like that again. But it’s also about the win bonuses for the champions or even the teams who finish second, third or fourth. It’s about the amount of fans who watch and the amount of security the women get compared to the men. It’s about the amount of marketing dollars spent promoting the World Cup. 

 “I understand there’s much more money in the men’s game. But Fifa spent so much time on the men they now need to focus a little more on us. I would like to close that gap even if I’m not expecting it to be equal. I’m not expecting there to be a huge jump and the win bonus to be $35m when, for the women, it’s $2m. I don’t think the entire world respects women in sport. But if Fifa start respecting the women’s game more, others will follow.” 

Morgan’s decision to immerse herself in European football, at least for an initial six-month loan from Orlando Pride to Lyon, is motivated by a desire to “improve my game” as she seeks to become the world’s best female footballer. “I still have a way to go. I hope to get there this year or next year. I’ve been able to step up in big moments in the 2012 Olympics and the World Cup. But before I’m able to be the best player in the world, I need to be in the world’s best XI. The start of that is training with the world’s best [club] team. 

 “I would like to win the Ballon d’Or for women. But every top professional should have that ambition. We’ve just seen the 2016 award [won last week by Morgan’s US team-mate Carli Lloyd]. Carli was up against Melanie Behringer [of Germany] and Marta [the Brazilian who previously won the award five years in a row]. They’re three of the world’s best players – but others can compete with them.” 

 Morgan has star-appeal and this past weekend L’Équipe ran a six-page magazine cover story on her. “That’s heartening, isn’t it,” Morgan says, “because you expose not only yourself but the sport as a whole.” The 20 greatest female football players of all time Read more It’s still difficult for Morgan as she tries to learn French – and after just a few days she admits she is not moved far beyond “bonjour”. She is also missing her husband, Servando Carrasco, a defensive midfielder for Orlando City, and their dog Blue. “My husband found it hard as well because we are finally in the same city [Orlando] after six years of playing professionally in different cities. But I told him I need to challenge myself and evolve as a player. He ended up not only supporting me but feeling like it was necessary for me.” 

At least her established role as one of the world’s best players means that Morgan, as an American, will not suffer the prejudice that afflicted her countryman Bob Bradley during his brief managerial spell in the Premier League with Swansea. “I was cringing and felt really bad for him,” Morgan says of Bradley. “I didn’t feel like he had enough time. He couldn’t bring in any of his own [coaching] guys and it was a little cruel and unfair.” 

 More than 26m people in the US watched Morgan and her team-mates win the 2015 World Cup final – a much larger television audience than for the men’s team. But Morgan points out that most women playing the game professionally, but not at national level, have to work in additional jobs. “They have to do that for five months a year because our season is only seven months long. They definitely need to find jobs, whether that’s soccer clinics or camps or an actual desk job. The minimum salary when we started the League four years ago was around $6,000. It’s improved a little and players receive housing so that helps. But even now the minimum salary is barely liveable. That’s why you’re seeing players retiring at 25 – before their prime.”

 How would Morgan improve pay for women’s soccer in the US? “Accessibility is important. Having games on TV and that sort of marketing is crucial. Sometimes I’ll be walking through Orlando and people recognise me and they ask if I’m here for the national team. They don’t understand they have a women’s club team in their own city. I get that it’s only been a year but awareness hasn’t been great. 

 “The NWSL is our baby because we’ve seen two leagues in the US fold. Players, coaches, owners and fans want it to succeed. And just because I’m playing in Europe the next six months doesn’t mean I will stop caring about football back home. I’m going to be very active in our fight for the new agreement.” 

 Morgan’s allegiance to the US means she smiles when reminding me that the 2019 women’s World Cup final will be held in the very same Lyon stadium where we now sit. Her aim is to win that tournament in her adopted French home. But, in terms of winning the wider battle for women’s football, can equality be achieved soon? 

 “That’s the hope. Ten years? I don’t know. Twenty years I see as definitely doable. Fifa has to do a lot more to evolve our game because women in sport aren’t respected equally around the world. Our current battle in the US will get resolved but I don’t believe the fight will ever end globally for the women’s game. We will always have to fight for our rights.” X

[junker-town]

Euro 2020 jerseys, ranked and reviewed by group

Photo by Kirsty O’Connor/PA Images via Getty Images

These are what we’ll see when the best teams in Europe fight for a continental title

It’s been jarring when we consider that next year, there will be a World Cup without there having been a Euros the previous summer.

But that’s where we currently stand. The coronavirus pandemic stopped the entire footballing world in 2020, and the Euros were not the only casualty — but they may have been the biggest. Nevertheless, UEFA has decided to continue with their vision and carry out a bigger and improved European Championship.

Once envisioned as a grand celebration of its 60th anniversary, Euro 2020 has undergone a few notable changes. The biggest is that while it retained its name, it’s actually happening in the summer of 2021 after the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to be moved from the previous summer.

While the idea of hosting it in 11 different countries has endured, some of the specific locations have changed. The initial vision of having games played in multiple countries has undergone massive changes. Dublin, Ireland was set to host matches, but due to restrictions on attendance, they were removed as a host. Spain initially planned on inviting teams to the Estadio San Mames in the northern Basque Country. Instead, they’re moving those hosting duties about as far south as you can go in Spain — to the unused Estadio de La Cartuja in Sevilla.

But the grand vision — a tournament extending as far west as Sevilla, Spain and as far east as Baku, Azerbaijan — still remains. Teams are gearing up to play with the first match between Turkey and Italy set to kick off in Rome on Friday.

To fit the occasion, kit manufacturers are rolling out the best of what they have to offer. Some are beautiful, well-designed, and inspirational. Others need to be forgotten and sent to the dust bin of history located somewhere near the crushed hopes and dreams of the 2018 Germany National Team.

These are all my own takes. I’m reviewing them based on creativity, uniqueness, overall design, execution, and effort. I’ve bought a lot of kits in my day, reviewed a lot of kits in my day, and I try to find the best in each of them. I’ve even recently helped out a NWSL team with the launch of one of their jerseys, so if any teams in MLS or wherever out there want me in a focus group or to help with your jerseys let me kno-

*ducks flying tomatoes*

We’re going about this by group, because if I tried ranking them from 32-1 with commentary this would be a 4,000 word article.

So, let’s start in Group A.

Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland

via FootyHeadlines

4. Turkey

These jerseys aren’t bad, but it’s something we’ve seen from Turkey before. There’s not much creativity Nike put in these kits, and so others who added more diverse details were put above this one.

3. Switzerland

Throughout this list, you will see me putting these Puma away kits toward the bottom. I do not like them at all. Having a random word mark in the middle of the shirt just naming the country seems lazy and uninspired. When you consider that they’re trying to symbolize the nation they play for, when their country crests already do that and are included in these kits, it seems unnecessary to exist. While I like the Swiss home kit, the away kit sinks it for me.

2. Italy

Again, this away kit is that Puma template and it’s awful. But, of all the Puma templates we will see here, this one might be the best executed. It hops the Switzerland kits because of Italy’s gorgeous third kit:

via FootyHeadlines

I’m a sucker for green and gold, so they slide up to No. 2.

1. Wales

Do I think these are the best kits on this list? Not necessarily, but they do have the least wrong with them. The sleeves on the home kit are fantastic and the green adidas stripes on the shoulder of the away kit tie in really well. Add to that Wales’s new, minimalist crest that was adapted after their last major tournament appearance, and I feel good adding it to the top of the list.

Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia

4. Finland

I’m a fan of the home kit. Incorporating the Finnish flag in the kit is a great way to incorporate some national pride into the shirt. I think the gold accents on both kits look great. But the away kit looks more like a Nike coaches polo than it does the away kit of a team making an appearance in a major tournament for the first time.

3. Russia

The home kit is an adidas template we’ll see later on this list and in our kit review for the Copa América. The away kit incorporates the national flag of Russia well, but the home kit (that doesn’t even incorporate a cool flag motif we see in the other template kits) knocks it down to third.

2. Denmark

The home and away kits are somewhat copy and paste from previous incarnations of Danish kits. Being red for the home, white for the away, and made by Hummel doesn’t come as much of a surprise. But what puts it at second for the group is the waveform graphic on the home kit and inside the collars of both kits. It’s the sound wave from home fans singing the Danish National Anthem before a game against Ireland in June 2019. That sweet homage to fans who haven’t been able to watch the team in over a year is a great nod to them and puts them here.

1. Belgium

Yes, the away kit is that same adidas template that Russia uses. The one thing I’ll give the Belgian one is the incorporation of two of the national flag colors on the cuffs of the sleeves. However, it’s No. 1 on this list because the red shirt might be my favorite home kit of the whole tournament. The paint brush-esque black lines add a cool texture to this kit and certainly stand out from other red jerseys we’ll see during this tournament.

Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia

4. Austria

From one of the best kits at the tournament in Belgium, to one of the worst for Austria. The home shirt is nice, traditional and would normally see this team higher in this ranking. But the away kit is - to me - the ugliest jersey in the whole tournament. From the fact that it’s that awful Puma template, to the multiple little Austria crests in a style that went out of fashion in football kits after the 1994 World Cup, the black kit is a train wreck that shouldn’t ever be seen again.

3. The Netherlands

That sublimated lion on the home jersey is awesome, but the lines all over seem a bit over the top. The black and orange on the away kit looks amazing as well. Overall, a great effort from Nike that falls just short.

2. Ukraine

We were all set to post this list with Ukraine at third in this group. Little did we know the kits we THOUGHT were going to be worn were just a false front.

The two jerseys above are their away and third kits. I used them because in the press run for the kit unveiling, only Ukraine’s home jersey showed the whole front. That’s where the controversy comes in.

via FootyHeadlines

Look closely and you’ll see an outline of the map of Ukraine in the center of the kit. Anything stand out as being controversial? No? Let me highlight a part of the kit for you:

That part of the map on the kit circled in red is the Crimean Peninsula. If you recall in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The annexation and subsequent Russian invasion of the peninsula was met with international criticism. While the people of Crimea voted for their independence and then was adopted by Russia, Ukraine (along with most of the international community) disputed the legitimacy of the elections and recognized the land as Ukrainian.

Looking at the kit itself, I’m not a fan of putting the crest at an awkward place that makes the map look asymmetrical. If that moved to the upper left right over the heart, that’d be fine. The colors and accents are nice. But, more importantly, the sheer audacity to include a part of the country which may or may not be yours depending on who you ask is enough to put it at the No. 2 spot on our list.

1. North Macedonia

Like their Dutch counterparts, North Macedonia also has the national team nickname, The Lynxes, represented by sublimated graphics. However, what puts them over the top is the fact that it’s clearer to see it on these kits from Jako. It helps that the home kit is a darker color than the Dutch orange kits. The motif carries over to all three kits North Macedonia has including this black third kit:

Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic

4. Czech Republic

The home kit is very nice. The subtle lines on the front and dark blue collar and sleeve accents make this a great home shirt. However, the awful Puma template strikes again. In the pure epitome of laziness, this is the only shirt in the Puma template category that doesn’t have the name of the country written in its native language.

3. Croatia

Croatia’s home kits are always good and never change. The away kits, however, leave a lot to be desired. Their Nike kits from Euro 2016 were good and I loved their away kits from the 2018 World Cup. For some reason, these just don’t do it for me.

2. Scotland

Both kits look really sharp. I love the hoop pattern on the home kit and the sky blue color of the away kit looks amazing. Overall, well done from adidas for a Scotland team making their first appearance in a men’s tournament since the 1998 World Cup.

1. England

I’m not usually a fan of badges in the center of a shirt, but I think Nike got away with it in the home shirt. While it’s not seen here, the red numbers look really nice on the white background. The away kit seems really busy, but the design overall looks cool. I don’t like the fact that the World Cup winners star is the same color as both of the shirts, but it’s not enough for me to knock it down from No. 1.

Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia

4. Slovakia

I know Slovakia hasn’t been to a lot of major tournaments recently, but I feel like I’ve seen this exact kit combination every single time. When I heard Nike were taking over Slovakia’s kit contract from Puma, I was hoping for some more variety in their color palate. But nope, white away kit, blue home kit. There’s red in your national crest too guys, you can use that as well.

3. Poland

They look good, but there’s nothing too special about them here. Sure, they have different collars, but is that really enough to diversify your shirt selection?

2. Spain

These are both nice looking kits. I like the pattern in the home kit and I like the bottom part of the sleeves on the away kit. It’s a great result from adidas, but there was one shirt that I thought put Spain in second place.

1. Sweden

Yeah sure, the home kit looks nice. The shirt itself is kinda boring but the collar and sleeves look really good together. Now, let’s talk about that gorgeous yellow-pinstripe away kit. It’s unique and simple at the same time. The stripes are small enough to make an impact, but not wide enough that they swallow the kit whole. Adidas did an excellent job on this shirt and that puts it here at No. 1.

Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France, Germany

4. France

This was the hardest group to decide, so let me be clear: I like all of these offerings. I have to pick the ones I like based on execution, effort, uniqueness, etc. So, I had to put someone in 4th and I went with France. The home kit looks really nice and that red stripe in the middle calls back to the 1998 World Cup home kit. But that white away kit seems pretty mundane. The two red and blue stripes on the side don’t make this seem any less like a white Nike t-shirt.

3. Portugal

I’ll be honest, I’m just not that big of a fan of that away jersey. I’ll give it points for being unique, but the size and colors of the stripes being backed by a mint green kit just don’t seem to work. At least Nike was able to give them a good home jersey to look forward to.

2. Hungary

Back in the Euros after a surprise run to the Round of 16 in 2016, Hungary comes out with some classy looking shirts. Their home kit has stripes inspired by the Danube River, which flows through the nation’s capital of Budapest. The away kit is clean, simple, and incorporates the colors of Hungary’s flag. Applause for adidas in making a kit the Magyars can be proud of.

1. Germany

Die Mannschaft went bold with their kit choices for this tournament. For the continental tournaments this year, adidas had the habit of having the cuffs of the sleeves tie in to the national flag (see: Colombia, Argentina, Russia, Belgium). For my money, Germany’s flag motif sleeves are the cleanest executed of the bunch. The pinstripes on the home kit look like they were drawn on with a Sharpie, so they lose some points there. But, that blacked out away kit wins it over for me. The team will have player names and numbers in white, which creates a stark contrast with the black stripes, badge, and stars on the shirt. Excellent execution here.

Let us know who you’re rooting for, and which kit you thought was the best, in the comments.

Jake covers Bayern Munich and German soccer in writing and via podcasting at Bavarian Football Works. He also reviews jerseys for SB Nation. He can be found screaming into the void on Twitter @jeffersonfenner.

[velmaemyers88]

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has been getting a lot of attention and well-deserved adulation over the past 10 days, ever since they won their second consecutive Women’s World Cup in dominant fashion over the Netherlands in Lyon, France. But as night must follow day, any praise for loud, outspoken women must be counterbalanced with bad-faith, ill-informed criticism.

You’ve probably heard the complaints by now: They’ve partied too hard; they sign autographs dismissively; they say the word “fuck” an awful lot. But this week, another narrative emerged: they’re anti-Christian.

This latest attack surfaced when a conservative activist on Twitter, Ekeocha Obianuju, shared the story of Jaelene Hinkle, a defender in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) who refused to play with the U.S. national team in 2017 when she found out she would have to wear a jersey honoring LGBTQ Pride month.

“Apparently, the US women’s Football team is not a very welcoming place for Christians,” Ekeocha wrote in a tweet that went viral.

This quickly led to conservative outlets publishing articles like this one in the Washington Examiner with the headline “While Megan Rapinoe is celebrated, a Christian player got pushed off the USWNT for not being woke enough.” But it didn’t take long for one prominent member of the team, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, to speak out against this notion.

“Hinkle, our team is about inclusion. Your religion was never the problem. The problem is your intolerance and you are homophobic. You don’t belong in a sport that aims to unite and bring people together,” Harris wrote on Twitter. “You would never fit into our pack or what this team stands for.”

Later, Harris added, “This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team.”

Don’t you dare say our team is ‘not a welcoming place for Christians’. You weren’t around long enough to know what this team stood for. This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team. Same on you.

— Ashlyn Harris (@Ashlyn_Harris) July 15, 2019

Harris’s tweets followed those of Kyle Krieger, the brother of Harris’s fiancée and USWNT teammate, Ali Krieger.

“As someone close to the team, I know this is false. The players have an inclusive bible study, they pray before and after the WC games, and they are open to whatever faith you follow. Not all Christians are bigots. Hinkle, on the other hand, hides her bigotry behind her faith,” Krieger tweeted.

Now, it is worth noting that it was Ekeocha, not Hinkle, who explicitly stated the USWNT was not a welcoming place for Christians. However, Hinkle has openly portrayed herself as a martyr for stepping away from the team in 2017 because apparently God spoke to her and told her that she would be defying her religion if she wore a jersey that supported the LGBTQ community.

“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” Hinkle told CBN at the time. “And so I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what He was asking me to do in this position.”

As both Harris and Krieger noted in their tweets, it is false bordering on comical to paint the USWNT as being anti-Christian. Many players on the USWNT are extremely vocal about their Christian faith. There is a group — including Moe Brian, Crystal Dunn, Allie Long, Mallory Pugh, Jessica McDonald, Emily Sonnet, Tobin Heath, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Alex Morgan, and Kelley O’Hara — who kneel in a prayer circle in the middle of the field after every game. After they won the World Cup, Brian posted a long note on Instagram that began by thanking God, and Heath and Ertz both shared messages that said, “glory to God.”

Christianity is a very visible part of the USWNT. So too, however, is support of the LGBTQ community. Multiple members of the team are open about being in same-sex relationships — including head coach Jill Ellis, co-captain Megan Rapinoe, Harris, Krieger, Tierna Davidson, Adriana Franch, and Kelley O’Hara. And a large portion of the fan base in women’s soccer is LGBTQ as well. When Hinkle refused to even put on a jersey with rainbow-colored numbers on it, it was a clear rejection of the very humanity of the queer community. That isn’t faith. That’s hate.

Hinkle has long been open on social media about her homophobia — she was against the legalization of same-sex marriage — and ever since she refused to play for the national team in her first call-up in 2017, there has been speculation by many in the conservative community that the only reason she isn’t on the team is because of her anti-LGBTQ views.

There’s no real way to know if that’s the case, though. Even Harris would not be privy to the full extent of that decision-making process.

Hinkle has only been called up to a national team camp once since 2017, and she was only there for a few days before being cut. Ellis has repeatedly said the decision to exclude Hinkle was based on her lack of versatility — she only plays left back — and experience level. It’s about soccer, she says, not beliefs.

“If you look across the back line, all of those players can play at least two positions,” Ellis said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

“One of the things our staff and I do is, we go through worst-case scenarios over and over and over again,” Ellis continued. “So looking at depth and versatility is a big part. And it becomes harder, I think, for a player that plays one position … a player that’s locked to one position — I do think that’s part of the decision-making.”

But team chemistry plays a part in these selections, too. As it should. The World Cup is a grueling affair. Relationships are tested. The media scrutiny is at all-time high. Trust is paramount. Hinkle was a bubble player already, meaning her inclusion on the roster was far from a sure thing. Harris’s tweets this week made it clear that there is tension between Hinkle and some members of the team, which is understandable given that she openly wants to deny the right for her teammates and coach to marry the person that they love.

This doesn’t mean that everyone on the team feels animosity towards Hinkle. Hinkle plays with a few members of the USWNT on the North Carolina Courage, the team that won the NWSL championship last season. Clearly she can co-exist, and even thrive, as a part of a diverse locker room.

McDonald, a teammate of Hinkle’s on the Courage and a member of the USWNT, came to Hinkle’s defense last year after the CBN interview was released. In a recent social media post, McDonald referred to Hinkle as her “best friend.” But while McDonald is also very open about her Christianity, she is supportive of LGBTQ equality and seems to be close with all of her teammates. This week, as the controversy around Hinkle was erupting, McDonald posted a photo on Instagram of her son holding the World Cup trophy and getting kissed by Rapinoe.

That, more than anything, proves what Harris and Krieger were saying this week: The USWNT is a welcoming group. The only caveat is, the love and respect has to be mutual.

Credit: Source link

The post The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186365986602

[reneeacaseyfl]

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has been getting a lot of attention and well-deserved adulation over the past 10 days, ever since they won their second consecutive Women’s World Cup in dominant fashion over the Netherlands in Lyon, France. But as night must follow day, any praise for loud, outspoken women must be counterbalanced with bad-faith, ill-informed criticism.

You’ve probably heard the complaints by now: They’ve partied too hard; they sign autographs dismissively; they say the word “fuck” an awful lot. But this week, another narrative emerged: they’re anti-Christian.

This latest attack surfaced when a conservative activist on Twitter, Ekeocha Obianuju, shared the story of Jaelene Hinkle, a defender in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) who refused to play with the U.S. national team in 2017 when she found out she would have to wear a jersey honoring LGBTQ Pride month.

“Apparently, the US women’s Football team is not a very welcoming place for Christians,” Ekeocha wrote in a tweet that went viral.

This quickly led to conservative outlets publishing articles like this one in the Washington Examiner with the headline “While Megan Rapinoe is celebrated, a Christian player got pushed off the USWNT for not being woke enough.” But it didn’t take long for one prominent member of the team, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, to speak out against this notion.

“Hinkle, our team is about inclusion. Your religion was never the problem. The problem is your intolerance and you are homophobic. You don’t belong in a sport that aims to unite and bring people together,” Harris wrote on Twitter. “You would never fit into our pack or what this team stands for.”

Later, Harris added, “This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team.”

Don’t you dare say our team is ‘not a welcoming place for Christians’. You weren’t around long enough to know what this team stood for. This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team. Same on you.

— Ashlyn Harris (@Ashlyn_Harris) July 15, 2019

Harris’s tweets followed those of Kyle Krieger, the brother of Harris’s fiancée and USWNT teammate, Ali Krieger.

“As someone close to the team, I know this is false. The players have an inclusive bible study, they pray before and after the WC games, and they are open to whatever faith you follow. Not all Christians are bigots. Hinkle, on the other hand, hides her bigotry behind her faith,” Krieger tweeted.

Now, it is worth noting that it was Ekeocha, not Hinkle, who explicitly stated the USWNT was not a welcoming place for Christians. However, Hinkle has openly portrayed herself as a martyr for stepping away from the team in 2017 because apparently God spoke to her and told her that she would be defying her religion if she wore a jersey that supported the LGBTQ community.

“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” Hinkle told CBN at the time. “And so I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what He was asking me to do in this position.”

As both Harris and Krieger noted in their tweets, it is false bordering on comical to paint the USWNT as being anti-Christian. Many players on the USWNT are extremely vocal about their Christian faith. There is a group — including Moe Brian, Crystal Dunn, Allie Long, Mallory Pugh, Jessica McDonald, Emily Sonnet, Tobin Heath, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Alex Morgan, and Kelley O’Hara — who kneel in a prayer circle in the middle of the field after every game. After they won the World Cup, Brian posted a long note on Instagram that began by thanking God, and Heath and Ertz both shared messages that said, “glory to God.”

Christianity is a very visible part of the USWNT. So too, however, is support of the LGBTQ community. Multiple members of the team are open about being in same-sex relationships — including head coach Jill Ellis, co-captain Megan Rapinoe, Harris, Krieger, Tierna Davidson, Adriana Franch, and Kelley O’Hara. And a large portion of the fan base in women’s soccer is LGBTQ as well. When Hinkle refused to even put on a jersey with rainbow-colored numbers on it, it was a clear rejection of the very humanity of the queer community. That isn’t faith. That’s hate.

Hinkle has long been open on social media about her homophobia — she was against the legalization of same-sex marriage — and ever since she refused to play for the national team in her first call-up in 2017, there has been speculation by many in the conservative community that the only reason she isn’t on the team is because of her anti-LGBTQ views.

There’s no real way to know if that’s the case, though. Even Harris would not be privy to the full extent of that decision-making process.

Hinkle has only been called up to a national team camp once since 2017, and she was only there for a few days before being cut. Ellis has repeatedly said the decision to exclude Hinkle was based on her lack of versatility — she only plays left back — and experience level. It’s about soccer, she says, not beliefs.

“If you look across the back line, all of those players can play at least two positions,” Ellis said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

“One of the things our staff and I do is, we go through worst-case scenarios over and over and over again,” Ellis continued. “So looking at depth and versatility is a big part. And it becomes harder, I think, for a player that plays one position … a player that’s locked to one position — I do think that’s part of the decision-making.”

But team chemistry plays a part in these selections, too. As it should. The World Cup is a grueling affair. Relationships are tested. The media scrutiny is at all-time high. Trust is paramount. Hinkle was a bubble player already, meaning her inclusion on the roster was far from a sure thing. Harris’s tweets this week made it clear that there is tension between Hinkle and some members of the team, which is understandable given that she openly wants to deny the right for her teammates and coach to marry the person that they love.

This doesn’t mean that everyone on the team feels animosity towards Hinkle. Hinkle plays with a few members of the USWNT on the North Carolina Courage, the team that won the NWSL championship last season. Clearly she can co-exist, and even thrive, as a part of a diverse locker room.

McDonald, a teammate of Hinkle’s on the Courage and a member of the USWNT, came to Hinkle’s defense last year after the CBN interview was released. In a recent social media post, McDonald referred to Hinkle as her “best friend.” But while McDonald is also very open about her Christianity, she is supportive of LGBTQ equality and seems to be close with all of her teammates. This week, as the controversy around Hinkle was erupting, McDonald posted a photo on Instagram of her son holding the World Cup trophy and getting kissed by Rapinoe.

That, more than anything, proves what Harris and Krieger were saying this week: The USWNT is a welcoming group. The only caveat is, the love and respect has to be mutual.

Credit: Source link

The post The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.tumblr.com/post/186365986602

[weeklyreviewer]

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has been getting a lot of attention and well-deserved adulation over the past 10 days, ever since they won their second consecutive Women’s World Cup in dominant fashion over the Netherlands in Lyon, France. But as night must follow day, any praise for loud, outspoken women must be counterbalanced with bad-faith, ill-informed criticism.

You’ve probably heard the complaints by now: They’ve partied too hard; they sign autographs dismissively; they say the word “fuck” an awful lot. But this week, another narrative emerged: they’re anti-Christian.

This latest attack surfaced when a conservative activist on Twitter, Ekeocha Obianuju, shared the story of Jaelene Hinkle, a defender in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) who refused to play with the U.S. national team in 2017 when she found out she would have to wear a jersey honoring LGBTQ Pride month.

“Apparently, the US women’s Football team is not a very welcoming place for Christians,” Ekeocha wrote in a tweet that went viral.

This quickly led to conservative outlets publishing articles like this one in the Washington Examiner with the headline “While Megan Rapinoe is celebrated, a Christian player got pushed off the USWNT for not being woke enough.” But it didn’t take long for one prominent member of the team, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, to speak out against this notion.

“Hinkle, our team is about inclusion. Your religion was never the problem. The problem is your intolerance and you are homophobic. You don’t belong in a sport that aims to unite and bring people together,” Harris wrote on Twitter. “You would never fit into our pack or what this team stands for.”

Later, Harris added, “This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team.”

Don’t you dare say our team is ‘not a welcoming place for Christians’. You weren’t around long enough to know what this team stood for. This is actually an insult to the Christians on our team. Same on you.

— Ashlyn Harris (@Ashlyn_Harris) July 15, 2019

Harris’s tweets followed those of Kyle Krieger, the brother of Harris’s fiancée and USWNT teammate, Ali Krieger.

“As someone close to the team, I know this is false. The players have an inclusive bible study, they pray before and after the WC games, and they are open to whatever faith you follow. Not all Christians are bigots. Hinkle, on the other hand, hides her bigotry behind her faith,” Krieger tweeted.

Now, it is worth noting that it was Ekeocha, not Hinkle, who explicitly stated the USWNT was not a welcoming place for Christians. However, Hinkle has openly portrayed herself as a martyr for stepping away from the team in 2017 because apparently God spoke to her and told her that she would be defying her religion if she wore a jersey that supported the LGBTQ community.

“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” Hinkle told CBN at the time. “And so I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what He was asking me to do in this position.”

As both Harris and Krieger noted in their tweets, it is false bordering on comical to paint the USWNT as being anti-Christian. Many players on the USWNT are extremely vocal about their Christian faith. There is a group — including Moe Brian, Crystal Dunn, Allie Long, Mallory Pugh, Jessica McDonald, Emily Sonnet, Tobin Heath, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Alex Morgan, and Kelley O’Hara — who kneel in a prayer circle in the middle of the field after every game. After they won the World Cup, Brian posted a long note on Instagram that began by thanking God, and Heath and Ertz both shared messages that said, “glory to God.”

Christianity is a very visible part of the USWNT. So too, however, is support of the LGBTQ community. Multiple members of the team are open about being in same-sex relationships — including head coach Jill Ellis, co-captain Megan Rapinoe, Harris, Krieger, Tierna Davidson, Adriana Franch, and Kelley O’Hara. And a large portion of the fan base in women’s soccer is LGBTQ as well. When Hinkle refused to even put on a jersey with rainbow-colored numbers on it, it was a clear rejection of the very humanity of the queer community. That isn’t faith. That’s hate.

Hinkle has long been open on social media about her homophobia — she was against the legalization of same-sex marriage — and ever since she refused to play for the national team in her first call-up in 2017, there has been speculation by many in the conservative community that the only reason she isn’t on the team is because of her anti-LGBTQ views.

There’s no real way to know if that’s the case, though. Even Harris would not be privy to the full extent of that decision-making process.

Hinkle has only been called up to a national team camp once since 2017, and she was only there for a few days before being cut. Ellis has repeatedly said the decision to exclude Hinkle was based on her lack of versatility — she only plays left back — and experience level. It’s about soccer, she says, not beliefs.

“If you look across the back line, all of those players can play at least two positions,” Ellis said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

“One of the things our staff and I do is, we go through worst-case scenarios over and over and over again,” Ellis continued. “So looking at depth and versatility is a big part. And it becomes harder, I think, for a player that plays one position … a player that’s locked to one position — I do think that’s part of the decision-making.”

But team chemistry plays a part in these selections, too. As it should. The World Cup is a grueling affair. Relationships are tested. The media scrutiny is at all-time high. Trust is paramount. Hinkle was a bubble player already, meaning her inclusion on the roster was far from a sure thing. Harris’s tweets this week made it clear that there is tension between Hinkle and some members of the team, which is understandable given that she openly wants to deny the right for her teammates and coach to marry the person that they love.

This doesn’t mean that everyone on the team feels animosity towards Hinkle. Hinkle plays with a few members of the USWNT on the North Carolina Courage, the team that won the NWSL championship last season. Clearly she can co-exist, and even thrive, as a part of a diverse locker room.

McDonald, a teammate of Hinkle’s on the Courage and a member of the USWNT, came to Hinkle’s defense last year after the CBN interview was released. In a recent social media post, McDonald referred to Hinkle as her “best friend.” But while McDonald is also very open about her Christianity, she is supportive of LGBTQ equality and seems to be close with all of her teammates. This week, as the controversy around Hinkle was erupting, McDonald posted a photo on Instagram of her son holding the World Cup trophy and getting kissed by Rapinoe.

That, more than anything, proves what Harris and Krieger were saying this week: The USWNT is a welcoming group. The only caveat is, the love and respect has to be mutual.

Credit: Source link

The post The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team doesn’t just tolerate religion, it embraces it – ThinkProgress appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

from WeeklyReviewer https://weeklyreviewer.com/the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-u-s-womens-soccer-team-doesnt-just-tolerate-religion-it-embraces-it-thinkprogress

[flauntpage]

It Hasn't Gotten Any Easier to Be a Soccer Mom in the NWSL

When FC Kansas City forward Sydney Leroux walked off the field following a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC late last month, she was visibly frustrated at what just took place.

Eight months earlier, Leroux had given birth to her first child, Cassius, and after being away from the game for more than a year, she was still returning to her former elite form. Not an easy process, by any means, which is why an unusual supporter was waiting for her on the sideline to offer a few words of encouragement: her opponent in the match, Sky Blue defender Christie Pearce.

"I was talking to Syd after the game—her first 90-minute game [of the season]—and she said it was tough," Pearce said later, standing on the Yurcak Field pitch in New Jersey. "I told her, 'Don't be so hard on yourself. It's a process. Your body went through a lot. You're up late at night. You've just got to be mentally strong, and do what you can do when you're out on the field.'"

Leroux in 2015. Photo by Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports

Pearce speaks on this topic with unparalleled authority: before officially retiring from the U.S. national team this February, the 42-year-old former captain earned 311 caps, the majority of them coming after the birth of her first child, daughter Rylie, in September 2005. (Her second, Reece, was born in March 2010.) She managed to play in more than 3,000 minutes during the 2008 calendar year—the first U.S. player to accomplish that feat of stamina. In 2009, she led and coached Sky Blue FC to a championship in the now-defunct Women's Professional Soccer league; she was three months pregnant with Reece for the title game.

Pearce wasn't the first U.S. player to return to the field following childbirth—that would be Joy Fawcett in 1994, followed by Carla Overbeck, Kate Markgraf, and others—but her success and longevity in the sport showed that women could not only play after childbirth; they could come back stronger and fitter than ever. Today, there are a number of working moms on the U.S. national team and in the NWSL. The 2015 World Cup–winning team had three mothers on the roster, including Pearce. And when Kansas City learned last year that Leroux and her teammate Amy Rodriguez were both expecting (Rodriguez with her second child), they made alternate plans for the 2016 roster—but 2017 was built around the two stars.

"The moms kind of stick together," Leroux said, explaining that she's leaned on Pearce and Rodriguez a lot. "We've said, if you haven't gone through it, you don't know how hard it actually is, to be able to juggle all of that. So it's nice to have friends that are in the same boat I am."

For every USWNT star in the NWSL, however, there are a dozen players who haven't been called up to the national team, with all the benefits and security that can bring; in addition to larger salaries subsidized by U.S. Soccer, national team players receive paid maternity leave and childcare support, neither of which the NWSL itself officially provides. And that's why, while Pearce is undoubtedly a trailblazer in women's soccer, the career arc of players like North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald may matter even more in the years ahead.

For years, McDonald was the only mom in the league to not also be on the USWNT—an experience she describes as difficult, but one that has inspired her to push for changes so that more women can follow her path if they want to.

McDonald turned pro at a tumultuous time for her sport in the U.S.. She was picked 15th overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2010 WPS draft—a team that would suspended operations after that season, in a league that would shutter in 2012. McDonald also injured her knee during her rookie season; between that and the state of women's pro soccer, she doubted whether she'd be able to play again.

Ultimately she spent 18 months rehabbing her knee and trying to get back to the game. Finding out she was pregnant in the midst of that complicated her timetable to return, but she was determined to raise her child and continue pursuing her soccer career.

"Both of my parents were both multi-sport athletes," McDonald said in a telephone interview. "Their mindset was, be an athlete as long as possible, up until they became parents. And so they dropped their dreams for their children. And I'm not sure how I feel about that, as their child—that they just gave up what they wanted to do because they became parents."

McDonald in 2016. Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

McDonald gave birth to her son, Jeremiah, in 2012, and was soon playing overseas for the Melbourne Victory FC in Australia. Her quick comeback was helped by having been able to train through her eighth month of pregnancy, and she was fueled by a desire to show the world that women can play soccer while having a family just as well as a man.

When the NWSL began in 2013, McDonald signed as a free agent with the reincarnated Red Stars. She would spend the next few seasons bouncing around—from Chicago to Seattle, then Portland, Houston, New York. But more challenging than the moves was the money.

There is a huge chasm between the NWSL salaries of national team members, which can reach six figures and even more under the new collective bargaining agreement, and those of players who aren't allocated by U.S. Soccer. The current maximum salary for non-allocated players is just $41,700, while the minimum salary is $15,000—and both figures represent significant increases from when McDonald and the league were just getting started.

And unlike the USWNT, NWSL players aren't unionized and do not have a collective bargaining agreement that could mandate protections and benefits for parents. Pearce, by contrast, talked about how important the three months of maternity leave she got following the birth of each of her two children.

Without financial security, McDonald says, playing in the league while raising Jeremiah was "ten times harder." Most players simply put off starting families until after their soccer careers are over.

"For me as a mom, not an allocated player, there have been some years that have been a difficult journey, because NWSL doesn't really support mothers," McDonald said. "It's not like in any of the contracts I can get child care squeezed in there, because they just don't support it. And so that's another thing that can change. And if that changes, I think more mothers will be able to survive in this league if you're not an allocated national team player."

Other challenges simply come with the territory when you're a pro athlete, male or female. Trades and transactions, for example, can mean moving your family to another state at the drop of the hat, and McDonald's career has taken her and her son all over the country. When people ask Jeremiah where he's from, he says "New York," where McDonald played last year with the Flash before the franchise moved to North Carolina.

"He understands that Mommy goes and plays soccer," McDonald said. "He understands that part of it. And we've moved around so much that whatever ball life throws at us, he manages so well. He's five years old now, and it's so cool to see him brighten up every time we go to a new place. He absolutely loves it."

Despite all the challenges of having a kid while playing professional soccer, McDonald believes that it helped her, too.

"My body is completely different—I look different—in a way where I feel so confident," she said. "I haven't had any injuries since I've had my kid, so I think it's changed my body externally and internally. I don't know what it is, but I hadn't felt so great, body-wise, until I had my kid. I look more in shape, and I feel more in shape. And speaking from a confidence side, it's changed me in such a positive way."

While it's still relatively rare for elite athletes to compete during and after pregnancy, a number of those who do seem to share similar experiences to McDonald, such as Pearce, marathoner Paula Radcliffe, and heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill—they've come back fitter, stronger, and better than ever. Some have even suggested that pregnancy itself might provide a performance boost, though the science is still too early to say one way or the other.

McDonald is having some of her best years as a pro. Last year, she scored ten goals for the Flash in a championship-winning season, and then realized her dreams of making the senior national team with a call-up in November, earning her first cap in a friendly against Romania. More recently, she became the NWSL's all-time leading scorer with her 33rd NWSL goal Sunday night in Boston.

McDonald in her USWNT debut. Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Going forward, McDonald intends to be an active member of the planned NWSL players association, and push the league to provide more financial support for players who choose motherhood and don't want it to force them into early retirement.

But whether a player is allocated or non-allocated, in a union or not, the fact remains that becoming a parent is a life-changing, and at times incredibly difficult, process. Before she gave birth to Cassius in 2016, Leroux wrote a post on her blog titled "Pregnancy Is Tough." She revealed that her pregnancy was unplanned, and that she had found out about it during USWNT training camp before Olympic qualifiers.

"I truly wish I could be one of those pregnant women who wake up every day happy, and feeling that 'pregnancy glow' but I don't always feel that way," she wrote. "Most of the time I'm just in pain."

Leroux says that she catalogued her challenges because she wanted people to "know the bad and the good of pregnancy." She remains strikingly honest about how having a baby has affected her life. She still wonders what the future holds for her on the field, and what she can accomplish.

"My body has changed," she said after the Sky Blue match in April. "It hasn't gone back to what it was before. And who knows if it ever will. But I have to learn how to work [with] the new body that I have. So, I'm still learning."

Pearce has all the confidence that her former USWNT teammate will be able to get there. "After four or five months, you feel like you can reach that fifth gear," she said. "I don't remember when it was exactly, but you train hard and then one day, you can just open up—and you'll see Sydney open up soon … It's a slow process. You're not yourself, you have to remember that. But I told Syd: in a couple games, you'll be your old self."

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It Hasn't Gotten Any Easier to Be a Soccer Mom in the NWSL published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

[justiceforcolaprico-blog]

NWSL & NWSLFL Review W1 - 2

Or, Why I'm So Bad At Picking Fantasy Lineups

Weeks 1 and 2 did not go well for me this season. Surprise. 

Week 1:

Put my money on CRS, Thorns, NCC, SRFC and FCKC.

 Players that did well for me were: Nadim, Menges, Dahlkemper, Williams and Mewis. I had Kop as my sub GK which was frustrating.

 Players that did not do well for me were Press, and Fishlock. I expected both to have more impact and so lost out there.

As for the actual matches, I'm going to limit this to CRS in depth and everyone else an overview.

Houston Dash v Chicago Red Stars

Hated this. Realistically I did not expect to see Chicago's defence get smoked like this. There were definite issues with the heat and just a general failure to convert chances. While it was frustrating CRS remained what I'd consider more dominant. Annoyingly both Daly and Ohai's goals were very nice, and it was good to see two strikers snubbed by their respective national teams show up in the first game of the season. I have a soft spot for the sad Dash, but not to the extent I was in any way pleased by this poor outing from CRS.

Everyone Else

Kop was insane. I hate that I keep having to compliment the Reign, but you can't deny it. Portland held up but struggled more than I'd like. There's some grumblings about shaky defence, but I thought Sonnett was pretty good and Menges did a capable job. More worrying to me as a Portland fan (*when they are not playing CRS) was Franch in goal. I don't care if statistically she isn't awful, she feels unreliable and I think that contributes to the backline's solidity. Surprised to see NCC not stomp Spirit harder, and I think that says a lot about the Spirit players that remain. Sky Blue / Seattle draw was weird and annoyed me as I expected the stupid Reign to do better for my fantasy lineup.

Week 2:

Week 2 managed to be even worse for my FL, but better for my team. I'll take it.

Put my money on CRS (stating the obvious), Pride, a draw between Thorns and NCC, SRFC and SBFC

Players that did well for me were: Fishlock, Huerta and Press. This time I had Kop as GK and Naeher as sub. Ugh.

Players that did not do well for me were: Catley, Kerr, Long and Killion.

Chicago Red Stars v Kansas City FC

After last week I was minorly concerned about this mainly because FCKC are similar to Houston in terms of pacey forwards. Let's talk about the real winner of this match though, Julie Ertz. Who I will forever call JJ, but out of respect to her desire to be Ertz will amend to JJ Ertz. So, JJ Ertz as midfielder. Rory, I love this, do this more. I think something that JJ gives in midfield that perhaps we have lacked is a certain gritty physicality. The rest of the midfield is quite small physically, but JJ is tall and jacked. She combined excellently with Huerta for that goal and CRS had good passing and plenty of chance. Again, I would have liked to see more finishing of those chances, but I was happy with this as a second match. Our backline didn't get the pressure I expected, but I like Naughton and Johnson there. Naeher also came off her line a bunch more this game which I thought was an improvement from last week. Fundamentally a good showing. I'd like to see better set pieces, and Portland this week will really test that defence so I'd expect to see Ertz back in a more traditional CB role for that match.

All the Rest

Okay Seattle, go away. They played very nicely. I was very annoyed. Dash, wyd? Poor Campbell. It's still early in the season but this match boded a return to form for the Reign, and perhaps that the Dash will continue to underperform this season. To be continued...

In other personally joyous news, Orlando kind of choked at home to a team everyone thought they would beat and I laughed a bit (Sorry Kriegs). I didn't think either team played amazingly and Marta looked kind of annoyed at her team mates. Backline for Orlando was a bit weird at the start, I'd like to see Tom just accept that Krieger is most comfortable at RB and leave her there. Neat showing from Danica Evans.

Watched a fair bit of Breakers v SBFC as well and honestly even though I bet against them in my fantasy lineup I was stoked to see them win. Sky Blue played what I can only describe as lackadaisically?

Portland v NCC I only watched the highlights of and it stressed me out. Franch is going to be my big worry for Portland this year. The whole squad seems a tad shaky so far, I don't know whether that's missing Heath and Dagny or what but it doesn't look like the solid shield winning side of last year. Hopefully it's just early season settling. NCC on the other hand seem to be going from strength to strength so that's not ideal.

Tune in next fortnight to hear how having to watch CRS play Portland breaks my heart in some significant way. I will be on vacation so at least I'll probably avoid watching it live and crying internally for 90 minutes, only having to be sad for one of my teams during the minute it takes to check the final score.