The Wait Is Over

The Things We Do For Love

A late afternoon press conference has been called by Atlanta Storm Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra.

Bocanegra: Thank you all for coming. Copies of my remarks will be available at the conclusion of this press conference. Today, Kelley O'Hara made it known to us that she would be retiring effectively immediately. O'Hara was the first member of the Atlanta Storm, being allocated to the club prior to the 2018 Expansion Draft. Her four years of leadership on the field and in the locker room has no equal. A World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, O'Hara leaves the game after playing one season each with FC Gold Pride and the Boston Breakers in WPS, five seasons for Sky Blue FC and four seasons here in Atlanta, along with an 12-year run with the US Women's National Team. I will read a statement she asked be delivered which explains her decision.

I have chosen to end my professional soccer career at this time because my wife and I are expecting our first child. I am currently five months pregnant and our son is due in late June. I have enjoyed every stop on my journey to today, from the four years I spent at Stanford, to playing for Sky Blue FC, to winning three championships while a member of the US National Team. I am leaving not because I have lost motivation or ability, but because the time is right to transition to a life where I can be a wife and mother, watching my son grow and the love of my life continue to accomplish great things in the sport we both love. I do not mourn my departure from the world of professional soccer. I am grateful that I am able to make this decision because I excelled in that world. Go Storm!

Bocanegra: I will now take questions.

"Carlos, why did Kelley choose not to appear at today's press conference?"

Bocanegra: She wanted today to be about her career on the field, not her decisions off of it.

"Morgan Brian was absent from training today. Can you explain why?"

Bocanegra: She was given compassionate time by us. She will return to training on Monday.

"How do you resolve replacing Kelley on the squad?"

Bocanegra: We have a number of trialists in camp, whom we hope will show themselves capable of making the team and filling her void.

"Certain segments of the Atlanta Storm fan base will be profoundly displeased by today's announcement, believing that the club deliberately hid information from them in the pursuit of selling season tickets. How do you respond?"

Bocanegra: We do not disclose off-the-field information concerning our players to the public. We as a club were aware of this possibility, as Kelley informed us at the end of last season that she and her wife were trying to have a child and that, when or if they were successful, she would be retiring. Before that happened, there was no reason to make any public statement. Choosing when to have children is a deeply personal decision, one that no person has the right to police. Good evening and drive home safely.

***

Kristie: Steph, things don't look too good here. Jim has been actively trying to deal me since at least the draft and maybe longer. I was supposed to be part of the blockbuster that sent Abby to Boston.

Steph: What options are you left with?

Kristie: Go wherever they can move me. Seek a release and sign somewhere on my own. Retire and move to Chicago so we can be together. Either the second or third option would require me to do something with my interest in Sporting Chic, either to supplement my salary or to provide for some amount of income while I transition into a post-soccer career.

Steph: Come here and within a week you'll have 50% of what's mine.

Kristie: Is Hoodrat proposing?

Steph: Not exactly. Just giving you some food for thought.

Kristie: Anyways, can you ask Lisa and Arnim if the Red Stars might have interest in my services and how much of a pay cut I'd have to take?

Steph: I'll talk to them tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm booking you a flight out of BWI to come here for the weekend. A lot of what we have to consider needs to be discussed in person.

Kristie: How did I get so lucky?

Steph: I thought I was the lucky one. Sleep well, my one and only.

Kristie: You too, heart of my heart.

Steph opens up her laptop and starts looking into Sporting Chic's financials. With the boost in salary she has received from her national team call-ups, the two of them could make it together without touching her partner's interest in Sporting Chic if she could get a salary somewhere around $30,000 for the season. Armed with this information, Steph begins developing a sales pitch to persuade her coach and team owner to add Kristie to the Red Stars.