Before Ashlyn Harris announced her retirement from soccer last month at the U.S. women’s national team’s Players’ Ball, she finished her NWSL career with Gotham FC during the 2022 NWSL season.
Harris’ trade to the New Jersey/New York club alongside wife and defender Ali Krieger last December meant the Florida native and longtime Orlando Pride goalkeeper had to get acclimated to new playing conditions in the Northeast. Harris made eight starts for Gotham before injuring her knee and undergoing surgery in September. The club parted ways with head coach Scott Parkinson in August and stumbled to last place in the league at 4-17-1.
Harris recently told Gotham teammate Allie Long on her podcast, “Mom Goals,” with Krieger that she missed her family and home in Florida as the season wore on.
“The season we had, I was so unhappy here,” Harris said. “I was like, ‘F—k man, why did I pick up and take my family here?’ Like, what am I doing? My whole life was set up there. My whole family’s there. Our life was there. … I was not in a good place.”
Krieger cited the weather and injuries as reasons for Harris’ frustrations.
“I wanted to go home halfway through the season,” said the 37-year-old.
In July, the couple received news of the birth of a baby boy in Philadelphia and, after much deliberation, decided to put their names in for adoption consideration. The next month, the two welcomed son Ocean, their second adopted child together, and realized the blessing of their relocation.
“I told Ali, I’m like, ‘This is why we’re here. Like, we have to do this. This is why we came here,'” Harris said. “It is a total sign in that, like, this is where we’re supposed to be.”
The two will remain in New Jersey/New York through at least next year, with Krieger leading Gotham’s backline on the field and Harris serving in the club’s front office as global creative advisor.
