ANNUAL BALLS & GALAS ISSUE: A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE YEAR’S GRANDEST EVENTS
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Members of the Young Nelson Society of Washington representing the Washington International Horse Show
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REAL ESTATE NEWS: DC’S SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE HOME SELLS FOR $15M-PLUS PHILANTHROPIST ANNIE TOTAH’S POTOMAC MANSION WORLD CUP WINNERS ALI KRIEGER AND ASHLYN HARRIS DINE & DISH
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Post Game:
Dishing with the Washington Spirit
World Cup team members Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris join Washington Spirit teammate Crystal Dunn to discuss life on the road, winning a championship and locker room dance parties
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hen I scheduled lunch at How is it different playing on the Shaw’s latest hit restaurant, international stage versus locally? AK: Playing for your country is so much the Royal, with defender more intense than playing club, because Ali Krieger, goaltender Ashlyn Harris you never know when you’ll have that and midfielder Crystal Dunn, I had no opportunity again. Every single game, you idea how fortuitous my timing was. never know if you’re going to be back, Krieger and Harris, both members of representing your country, your family, the women’s World Cup team, have just your friends. That’s such an honor. returned from a month-long media tour AH: You really can’t replicate playing following their championship, which for your country. Putting that jersey on included going onstage at a Taylor Swift and understanding the responsibility that concert, posing for a Sports Illustrated comes with it and the people who have cover and a ticker tape parade through worn it before you, it’s pretty incredible. the streets of New York City. And then CD: You’re constantly being tested by their Washington Spirit teammate the greatest players in the whole world, Dunn informs me they are all leaving so it’s probably the most frustrating, but on an 8 a.m. flight the next morning Ali Krieger, Laura Wainman, Ashlyn Harris and Crystal Dunn talk soccer the most glorifying environment to be in to head to Boston for a game, which over lunch at The Royal (Photo by Tony Powell) at the same time. will be followed by trips to Chicago, super industrial and up-and-coming, but very Kansas City and Portland. Naturally, before we can even begin to talk soccer the clean and modern and a little different from the Where are your favorite international locations to play? conversation shifts to how to survive living out rest of the city. I kind of dig that style. AK: I love Georgetown with all the shops and AH: I was a real big fan of Australia. I got to surf of a suitcase. cobblestone and row houses. there, go on some pretty incredible hikes, hold a koala and check out the kangaroos.To me, that How often do you travel in an average season? Crystal Dunn: We live on airplanes and in When is your off-season? stuff was pretty priceless. But I love Rio too. hotels. There are years when we have slept in a AK: Because we are all on the national team Clearly all my favorite places are going to be the we don’t really have a break until November cool beach towns across the world. hotel bed more than our own bed. Ali Krieger: I’ve been in the same suitcase for and then we have two weeks in December CD: If there’s water, she loves it! six months. I swear. Six months. for Christmas. If you’re only playing in the AK: Mine was Germany. I had a long stint in CD: It’s crazy, but it’s our life and we love it. NWSL, you’d have from the end of September Frankfurt with my home team. And I really miss through March off but most of the players will it. It’s like my second home. Where do you like to spend time when you are go overseas to play to keep game ready, or they CD: I love Japan. I think the people are amazing. in Washington? They’re such a peaceful culture and it’s just so may have another job. CD: This is only my second season here, so I rare how they have taught themselves over don’t feel like I’ve found my go-to spots yet. But Are the majority of the women on the national these generations to be a peaceful nation. I also I have to say, the museums here are really cool. I team also playing in the NWSL? remember going in the parks and there were haven’t ever been that into museums, but here I AK: All but one. It’s important we all play in 98-year-old people just working out! the league to bring attention to it and draw in find myself saying “let’s go to a museum.” Ashlyn Harris: I like the Navy Yard the best. It’s fans. How do you make yourselves a part of the
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Ali Krieger (Photo by Chris Colvin/Washington Spirit)
COMMUNITY WHEN YOU’RE IN A NEW PLACE, WHETHER YOU ARE JUST VISITING OR WHEN YOU ADOPT A NEW CITY AS HOME? AH: We have a lot more interaction with fans than most male sports figures. I think we have a responsibility to make intimate connections with fans. AK: Why do you think that is? AH: It’s because we have to work for people to come to our games. The men just show up and the fans are always there. There’s a culture around say the Nats of enjoying a hotdog and a beer and a good game. Ours is much more family-oriented. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT FOR WOMEN AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT GO? AK: Well, now I feel like it’s been a huge jump forward because we won the World Cup and the final was the most watched game in U.S. soccer history for both men and women’s soccer. We proved that we are worth watching and worth supporting. I feel like we’ve earned that and hopefully this goes to show FIFA that we are worth fighting for, we are worth paying attention to and supporting. AH: The question is now, how do we sustain that moment? AK: Especially at the club level. AH: Yeah. Like how do we keep selling tickets? We’ve sold out all three of our games we’ve played since we’ve been back.The buzz is there, but how do we keep that buzz? SO, WHAT’S THE ANSWER? CD: I think media plays a huge role. The fact that people were able to watch the World Cup made a huge difference. In the NWSL, teams are
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
Ashlyn Harris (Photo by Chris Colvin/Washington Spirit)
getting some TV games, but if we can continue getting more games on TV, having more soldout crowds, then people are going to be aware of our sport and be on board with progression. YOU’VE ALL ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AT SUCH YOUNG AGES. BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS YOU’RE STILL WORKING TOWARDS? AH: I think my next step is the normal life. I’d
“We have to work for people to come to our games. The men just show up and the fans are always there.” love to have a family and be settled a little bit. I don’t get that time to put into relationships and that is what I am looking forward to — the nice big family that I’ve always dreamed of and never had. AK: I agree, we put our career first and foremost and everything else goes on the backburner. But you come to a certain point in your life, after you’ve accomplished such a big dream its time to start focusing on the personal part of it. CD: Let me just say, I’m only 23 so there will be no babies anytime soon for me! I’m at the stage where I’m still trying to define myself through this sport. Our careers take off and theres no slowing it down. It’s about finding myself and getting better, growing as an athlete and working hard every day. ALI AND ASHLYN, HOW HAS LIFE POST-WORLD CUP BEEN?
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Crystal Dunn (Photo by Chris Colvin/Washington Spirit)
AK: I think I speak for both of us when I say it was such a high, an ecstasy feeling that was so intense and emotional and incredible. And then after that it was just like OK, everyone’s got to go back home and that’s it; it was over. Obviously the momentum carries on for a bit but it was such a high that it was a bit depressing coming off that. Now we are adjusting to normal day to day life and adjusting playing with a team that we missed out on a for several months.That was probably the most difficult part.
Lightning Round: GOOFIEST TEAMMATE? (Ali and Ashlyn both point to Crystal) CD: I don’t know why they are pointing at me! We have such a great group that for me it’s like OK, cool, I can come out of my shell, not that I ever had a shell, and be myself. AH: She literally dances like no one’s around. AK: She’s the best part of walking in the locker-room. WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE? AH: Angelina Jolie. CD: I have to go with her too. I just saw Salt and she is so amazing in that. Love her. AK: I don’t know maybe Mila Kunis? IF YOU COULD SIT NEXT TO ANYONE AT A DINNER PARTY, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? AK: Either my brother or Oprah. CD: Will Ferrell or someone who is hilarious making everyone almost pee their pants at the table. AH: I would love to sit next to someone like George Washington, someone super old who was super influential. Especially during that time when life was super simple, I’d love to hear about it.
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