The Wait Is Over

25 Weeks To Go

The Chicago Red Stars arrived in Boston on Friday afternoon and, after checking into their hotel, caught the complimentary shuttle to the restaurants and shops on Harvard Square. Steph and Kristie met up with Sam and Abby at Border Cafe for dinner, where the four caught up on non-wedding stuff.

Abby (to Kristie and Steph): I've missed the two of you. Being stuck here in Boston while the three of you were at the tournament in Orlando stunk, plus having been with you for the entire off-season and now you're in Chicago after having you, Kristie, with me last season in DC...it hasn't been fun. Maybe once I get to playing again, all that will change.

Kristie: Sis, if we can get back here, we will, but that might not be for a while. We'll have the off-seasons together, so long as you don't mind us crashing in your spare room on-and-off.

Steph: You never know what can happen in this league. One day, they want to break you up, the next they'll move boulders to get you together somewhere.  The interview the four of us did with Kate for the season preview show about the "kinder and gentler" NWSL I hope gives coaches and execs in the league something to think about when it comes to moving players willy-nilly.

Sam: Kristie, I know that if Steph gets moved, you'd follow her, but would you want to still play or call it a day at that point?

Kristie: If there's space both on the roster and under the cap, I still think I have two or three good years left in me. If not, then I'll move onto running Sporting Chic and be happy with that. I was willing to do it this year if I couldn't get a move to be with Steph, and I'd do it in the future if it were necessary.

Abby: I have a bit of good news, girls. The doctors at the Cantu Center say that they cannot find any signs of residual trauma, and if the same is true when I see them next on Wednesday, they will release me and clear me for contact.

Steph: Awesome! Being off the field HAS GOT to be bugging the ish out of you.

Abby: It is, but the long-term implications of doing this are more important than me missing a few games at the start of the season. Sam, should we disclose to these two about next year?

Sam: If we don't and then spring it on them after the fact, they will be SO PISSED!

Kristie: Spring what on us?

Abby: I might have to miss a few games at the start of next season as well, if everything goes to plan between now and the end of the season. Now that I will be cleared to play again, Sam and I are going to start trying to have a baby.

Kristie: Whoa! You sure about that, Abby?

Abby: Sure enough that I'd be willing to miss the start of next season if we can have a baby while we still have good years left ahead of us. Seeing what others are going through here has made me think hard about it and not wanting to run the clock too far down before getting serious about it.

Steph: And you're good with this, Stretch?

Sam: When she proposed, she laid out where her heart was with respect to having a family.  It matters so much to her that she'd rather not play again than to be apart from me or not have the chance to have a child.

Kristie: Our little Sammy is growing up!

Sam: Watch it, Kratch. I'm not THAT much younger than you and I AM older than your wife.

Steph: Anyone heard any good gossip around the league lately?

Sam: Well, apparently things are not going well in the Ertz house. I talked to Emily on Wednesday about Love 4 All on May 14th, and she told me that Julie flew down to Atlanta on Tuesday evening. Someone sent her a link to a video of Zach out with Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris in Orlando during the tournament, and there was another woman with them, hanging all over him.