AceShowbiz - Former U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has publicly opened up about the challenges and ultimate end of her nearly four-year marriage to fellow soccer star Ali Krieger. In a deeply moving interview on the "Naked Sports with Cari Champion" podcast, Harris detailed the emotional turmoil and the difficult decisions that led to their split in October 2023.

Harris, who shares two children, Sloane (3) and Ocean (2), with Krieger, explained that toward the end of their marriage, she felt increasingly overlooked and unloved. "I just felt like I wasn't a priority," she said. "I didn't feel that sense of connection whether emotional or physical... It was soccer, job, kids and somewhere down the line it was like, 'OK, what about me?' "

In a last attempt to salvage their relationship, Harris even suggested an open marriage, a move she later realized was not true to her desires. "That's just not even me, dude," she admitted. Despite these efforts, Harris felt the need to take her "power back," stating, "I was at probably the lowest... Honestly, I was like, I can't survive this."

While Harris has been candid about her pain and the reasons behind the split, Krieger's perspective remains more reserved. In January, she shared in an interview with SELF that she was "devastated" upon learning about Harris filing for divorce while she was at soccer practice. However, she later noted she felt she was in a "healthy space" and was working through her emotions.

The public nature of their separation added another layer of complexity. Harris expressed her frustration about being labeled a "cheater" in the media, especially once her new relationship with actress Sophia Bush became public. "I'm constantly pegged as a cheater, which that is so far from the truth and she knows it," Harris said.

Krieger, who referenced Beyonce Knowles' infidelity-themed album "Lemonade" on social media, has so far refrained from delving deeply into the reasons for their split. Yet, she echoed Harris's sentiments about their different post-soccer interests contributing to the marital strain.

Despite the pain and public scrutiny, Harris asserted the importance of acknowledging that both she and Krieger had their own experiences and suffering. "Everyone has an experience, however only one experience played out in the media, which was quite difficult," she reflected.

Now, with Harris and Bush finding new beginnings and Krieger focusing on her personal growth, the turbulent episode serves as a profound narrative about resilience and the complexities of love, both on and off the field.