Ashlyn Harris Opens Up About Soccer Career and Finding Love with Sophia Bush Former U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, a key figure in the team’s back-to-back World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, is sharing the story of her life in a new Roku documentary titled Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story. The film explores her journey from a troubled childhood to her rise as a professional athlete, the challenges of retirement, and her current life as a mother and partner to actress Sophia Bush. Harris, now 40, reflects on the sacrifices she made to achieve success in soccer and the emotional toll of leaving behind the identity she built as a player. Harris grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida, where her passion for soccer became an escape from a fractured home life. As a child, she was the only girl on a boys’ team, embracing her tomboyish nature and thriving in the sport. However, her family’s stability was disrupted when her father nearly died in a boating accident, leading to years of instability, including his drinking, marital strife, and Harris feeling unsafe at home. By age 12, she had already begun smoking and drinking, and her older brother, now sober, struggled with substance use. Soccer became her refuge, and by 13, she committed to a full scholarship at the University of North Carolina. Her professional career spanned 13 years, during which she played for teams like the Washington Spirit, Orlando Pride, and Gotham FC. Despite her success, Harris admits that the financial rewards of soccer were limited, and she often felt the pressure to prioritize performance over personal well-being. “We never made enough money to live a life where we could take a break in retirement,” she says. Yet, she remained determined, believing in her ability to overcome obstacles.#university_of_north_carolina #washington_spirit #orlando_pride #ashlyn_harris #sophia_bush
San Diego Wave FC Return Home to Host Orlando Pride San Diego Wave FC will host the Orlando Pride at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, May 24, in a crucial NWSL matchup. The game is set for a 4:00 p.m. PT kickoff and will be broadcast live on Victory+. The two teams have a storied history, with the Pride maintaining an edge in their eight previous encounters across all competitions. The Pride’s 5-1-2 record against the Wave includes a recent victory on September 26, 2025, when they defeated the Wave 2-1 at Snapdragon Stadium. That game saw Orlando take an early lead through Lizbeth Ovalle in the eighth minute, but the Wave responded with a goal from Dudinha just two minutes later. Orlando reclaimed the lead in the 54th minute via a strike from Carson Pickett, securing the win. Despite their recent success against the Wave, the Pride have struggled to maintain consistency in recent weeks, with their latest match ending in a 3-1 loss to Denver Summit FC on May 16. San Diego enters the match following a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dash on May 20 at Shell Energy Stadium. The Wave took an early lead in the 20th minute when Dudinha scored after receiving a pass from Lia Godfrey and striking from distance to the far post. Houston equalized in the 70th minute through Kate Faasse before taking the lead in the 89th minute on a strike from Kat Rader. However, San Diego found a late equalizer in stoppage time when Trinity Byars capitalized on a rebound in extra time. The draw highlights the Wave’s attacking prowess, as they have attempted 152 shots through the season’s opening stretch, 73 more than their opponents—a margin exceeding that of any other NWSL team. Orlando’s recent performance has been marked by inconsistency, as evidenced by their 3-1 loss to Denver Summit FC on May 16.#snapdragon_stadium #victory #nws_l #san_diego_wave_fc #orlando_pride
