As I sit down to analyze the remarkable journey of Ali Krieger, I can't help but reflect on how her career embodies what it truly means to build lasting success in professional soccer. Having followed women's soccer for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous players come and go, but Krieger's story stands out for its incredible resilience and strategic career moves. Her path offers valuable lessons for any aspiring athlete, particularly in how she transformed setbacks into stepping stones toward greatness.
What fascinates me most about Krieger's career is how she approached each phase with intentionality. When she suffered that devastating knee injury in 2015 that threatened to end her career, she didn't just focus on recovery - she completely reinvented her training approach. I remember watching her comeback and thinking how she seemed to return even stronger technically, despite what many would consider a career-ending injury at age 31. She worked extensively with sports psychologists during this period, something she's openly discussed in interviews, and this mental training component became crucial to her longevity in the game. Her partnership with Ashlyn Harris, both personally and professionally, created this incredible support system that clearly contributed to her ability to perform at elite levels well into her 30s.
The business side of her career choices reveals another layer of her success strategy. While we're seeing veteran players like the 35-year-old six-time All-Star mentioned in ESPN's reporting considering strategic moves to title-contending teams, Krieger demonstrated similar foresight throughout her career. She made calculated decisions about when to play overseas, when to return to the NWSL, and specifically chose teams where she could both contribute meaningfully and continue developing. Her move to the Orlando Pride in 2017 wasn't just about geography - it was about joining an organization building something special, similar to how veteran NBA players might target organizations like the Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors when chasing championships late in their careers.
What many young players overlook, and where Krieger excelled, is in building a personal brand that extends beyond the pitch. She understood early that modern athletes need to be more than just players - they need to be storytellers, advocates, and businesspeople. Her work with the LGBTQ+ community, her broadcasting appearances, and her business ventures all contribute to a career ecosystem that supports her athletic performance rather than distracting from it. I've always admired how she balances intense focus during training with meaningful engagement off the field.
The numbers behind her career tell their own compelling story - 108 international appearances, 2 World Cup titles, over 15,000 minutes played in the NWSL, and remarkably, she didn't earn her first start for the US Women's National Team until age 26. This late bloomer aspect of her career is particularly inspiring because it shows that development timelines aren't one-size-fits-all. Her peak performance years coming in her early 30s challenges conventional wisdom about athlete aging curves.
Looking at Krieger's career holistically, the throughline appears to be her remarkable adaptability. She evolved her playing style as her physical attributes changed, embraced leadership roles as she gained experience, and continuously expanded her impact beyond soccer. As I consider what makes certain athletes thrive while others fade, Krieger's example suggests that the most successful professionals build careers with multiple pillars - technical excellence sure, but also mental resilience, strategic career planning, and authentic personal branding. Her legacy isn't just the trophies and accolades, but this blueprint for sustainable excellence that upcoming players would be wise to study.