Ashlyn Harris comments on USWNT Olympics miss: ‘I won gold … when my daughter was born’

Ashlyn Harris wanted the chance to compete for the U.S. women’s national team in Tokyo for the Olympics. 

But when the roster was announced on Wednesday, it was revealed that she would not be making the trip overseas to represent the country in 2021. 

However, Harris said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that while to say she is not disappointed “would be a massive understatement,” she chose to look on the bright side of what her life has brought to her in 2021. 

“The last several months have been extremely difficult but I’ve met it with hard work, grace and finding joy off the field. I might not be going to Tokyo, but I promise I won gold on February 12th when my daughter was born,” Harris wrote. “Sloane has brought me and my wife so much joy, it’s hard to be sad on days like these. Walking in from training and seeing the smile on her face makes me realize, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I want to wish the team and staff nothing but the best.”

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Harris, a current goalkeeper for the Orlando Pride, has made international rosters with the USWNT before, having earned a spot on the senior team that reached the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in 2014, the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying roster that won the 2016 tournament, the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in 2018 and the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2020, among many others. In 2016, she was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. 

While in college at UNC, she helped lead the Tarheels to three national championships in 2006, 2008 and 2009.  

Harris and her wife, Ali Krieger, a fellow Pride captain, were both in contention for spots on the Olympic roster, but neither have been called up to the national team since January. 

The couple were married in December 2019 and their adopted daughter, Sloane Phillips, was born on Feb. 12 this year. 

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