Chapter Text
AK
Alexandra Blaire Krieger, or Ali, is a soccer fanatic. While she has always been extremely athletic and played many sports in her youth, soccer was always the one that stuck. It is the thing running through her veins, giving her a purpose in life.
Her family accepted her obsession—lifestyle really—just like they had accepted both of their children. Ali’s older brother Kyle is gay, which has, just like Ali’s career, had always been accepted and supported in her family. Sexual orientation was never an issue in the Krieger household, it’s just simply who you are, and that is that.
Newly out of college, and playing well with the U-23 WNT, Ali has a new viewpoint on life. Already in her still young life she has been through and seen things that most people couldn't even dream of, nightmare or not. Since leaving college, Ali had realized that there comes a liberating feeling when leaving—a sort of freedom where you feel anything is possible, new roads open, and the need to truly understand who you are as a person comes into play. Ali knows she’s been blessed to have been able to be a part of the USWNT and that organization for so long that she’s been able to grow past many obstacles, with the help from her family and teammates (but really, her teammates are her family in some respects).
Although the real growing experience was her time in Germany, playing for FFC Frankfort for almost 5 years. Germany became her second home, her safe haven where all that mattered was soccer. Occasionally throughout the years at Frankfurt, she would be called up to the USWNT to play internationally, and in tournaments such as the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics.
It’s now March 2015. The Algarve Cup, in Portugal, begins in a few days and everyone on the USWNT is feeling the pressure—the stress that comes with playing in a large tournament such as this. The Algarve Cup, similarly to the SheBelieves Cup, is more for the bragging rights and title in FIFA rankings than it does anything else. The USWNT is put into Group B, along with Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. They had found out which group they were in, and its participants a few months prior, and that whole situation had been hilarious. Ali can’t help but remember how much has changed for her in the past couple of months. . .
A few months ago:
Jill: “Alright, everyone, take your seats and let’s find out who we are going to beat–I mean, be grouped with for this tournament.” Everyone laughs at their coach’s slip of the tongue–although the team and staff knew she wasn’t technically wrong. The USWNT had been unbeatable for quite some time now; being unmatched in FIFA rankings, and the fact that the USWNT had some of the best funding of any women’s soccer team at that moment in time certainly helped them in more than one way.
The women were starting to quiet down (not Pinoe, but that was to be expected), but the buzz around the room was palpable. Everyone was aware that there were very formidable teams that they could be placed with—even though no one was scared per se; this group of women were ready to beat the best to be the best, as Ali always said.
The announcer had just started pulling the list of names out of mixer: “Group A begins with. . .” Ali doesn’t care much about Group A, since she’s sure she’ll hear about it later, but turns to Syd who sits next to her, “hey, I forgot to ask who you bet will be in our group with us,” says Ali. Syd, always one for betting and gambling like this, decides to get some other people around them in on the game. Syd bets Brazil, Canada, and Germany. Ali and Pinoe immediately share a glance, since they both know Syd is dramatic and likes to think of worse case scenario. Pinoe replies first, “that’s ridiculous! If that’s our group this tournament, then I retire. I’m getting too old for this shit.” Everyone laughs at Pinoe’s statement, as Saurbrunn says, “yeah right, no one here would let you retire. We absolutely need you in our midfield.” Pinoe replies smugly, “I know,” and smirks while looking off to continue watching the draw of the groups.
Finally Group B is ready to be announced. The host begins to start mixing up the names of teams, getting the audience ready for the first draw. The host reaches in the container, grabs a piece of paper, glances at it and grins, “United States!”
Everyone cheers, while Jill, as always, continues to be stoic; now the real anticipation starts.
The host lists off the next three names rather quickly “Iceland. . .Norway. . .Switzerland!” he exudes. There are a few groans and cheers throughout the group, a few winners in the betting pool, and plenty of losers. The losers are forced to run five San Diego Special’s for every team they got wrong. Ali was bummed since her total was fifteen, I really need to stop betting on stuff. . . she thinks to herself. Morgan Brian was the only one on the team who guessed completely right, which she made sure everyone knew.
Immediately after the drawing, Jill turned off the monitor to address the team. “Now that we know our group,” Jill says, “we need to get down to brass tacks.” The team nods in agreement–while Pinoe and Syd snicker to each other, “why is she always talking in idioms?”–knowing they are all there for this reason, to win this tournament before going into the World Cup only a few months after The Algarve Cup.
“That being said, I have decided to add to our roster,” finishes Jill. This creates quite the bustle throughout the group of women. Ali notices several things thrown out, “why is Jill adding??” and, “what part of the team is lacking?”
Jill: “Ok! Everyone quiet down now! I have decided to bring on one midfielder, a defender, and a goalkeeper. Lindsey Horan, as I am sure most of you know from her record breaking run with Women’s team PSG. . .” While Jill was explaining the new additions, the team’s staff was setting up the projector to show pictures and statistics of the new girls.
Ali notices Tobin freaking out about Lindsey coming to play with her again, and Ali remembers Tobin and Lindsey were teammates a while ago on PSG—they were notorious for creating one the strongest midfield connections that the club has ever witnessed.
Jill continues, “. . .the defender is North Carolina graduate Whitney Engen. She is going to be a brilliant addition to our team, so I expect the rest of the defenders to show her the ropes and accept her with open arms,” Jill points towards her group of defenders in the room, while Whitney’s face is flashed on the screen. She’s pretty, Ali sees.
Finally the last addition to the team is projected on the screen. A highly angular face, flowing blonde hair, and hazel eyes; a face with experience and stories to tell. Ali is immediately intoxicated, her body responding by her heart squeezing and her stomach full of butterflies. Her response must not have been just internal because Syd leans over and asks, “Are you ok, girl?” Ali can only nod her head and stare at the screen in awe.
Jill goes on, “This is our last member; goalkeeper named Ashlyn Harris. She also graduated from North Carolina and is extremely close with Whitney Engen, which is good for adjustment period if they both know someone familiar, as I’m sure you’re all aware.” Ali can’t help herself but wonder what Jill meant by “extremely close”. The words spin around and around, does Jill mean dating? Best friends? Adopted sisters??! Ali desperately wished for either of the last two to be true. Why do I care so much?? What does it matter to me if they are dating anyways?
“. . .they’ll be arriving early tomorrow morning. We will have a team breakfast at 8 am sharp to introduce the girls and then a full day of training. Since we are now heading to California soon to train for the upcoming tournament, I will be making adjustments to roommates and whatnot. I expect you all to be on our best behavior and welcome them with open arms,” Jill concludes, “alright, dismissed.”
The rest of the girls started packing up their belongings and head back to their rooms. Ali, rooming with HAO, walks slowly back with her while HAO rambles on about the drawings and the tournament, “. . .I’m just so excited to be going into this tournament! I have such a good feeling about all of this. I know we’re going to totally crush it!. . .” But Ali can’t really focus too much on what HAO is trying to say. Her minds keep drifting back to Ashlyn.
Ali decides to interrupt her, “what do you think about our new teammates?” HAO responds, “OH! I’m really excited for some new blood around here. All y’all are getting old and crusty,” O’Reilly makes sure the girls walking around her can hear what she said.
Abby overheard it and gives HAO a playful but mischievous grin, “I’ll show you ‘old and crusty’ at training tomorrow. . .just you wait.” HAO immediately tries backtracking, “no no no, that came out wrong. Did I say ‘old and crusty’? I meant wise and experienced.” Ali lets her know, “the damage is already done, honey. Anyways, back on topic, what else do you think about the new girls?” HAO says, “Uhm, well I am glad that Horan is on our team. She’ll be a great addition! So will that new keeper, cuz daaaaaaaamn!”, HAO exclaims, “I just hope that goalie doesn’t drag all the girls’ attention away from the tournament.” Ali grins, so I’m not the only one that thinks she’s hot! “Yeah, she’s not so bad,” Ali responds, hoping that she doesn't seem transparent or too suave about this whole thing.
HAO, being incredibly too wise for her age, catches on a bit to what Ali’s talking about. “Oh. I see what’s going on here. I saw the grin, girl,” the slightly older woman says. Ali replies back almost too innocently, “whatever do you mean?? I’m just excited for our new teammates.” Ali runs off ahead to their shared room before HAO can interrogate Ali some more.
Ali already had her mind spinning about the new arrivals. Tomorrow was definitely going to be interesting. . .