Finding Peace After the Storm: Ashlyn Harris’ Journey to Authenticity
For soccer legend Ashlyn Harris, the road to happiness wasn’t a straight line. The former U.S. Women’s National Team star is now stepping into a season of deep reflection and raw honesty, sharing the intimate details of her life transitions, including her high-profile divorce and her current relationship with actress Sophia Bush.
In an exclusive conversation regarding her upcoming documentary, Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story, Harris reflects on the bravery required to leave a life that no longer served her. Despite the pain involved in her separation from ex-wife Ali Krieger, Harris maintains a perspective of gratitude for the life they built together, while acknowledging that it simply wasn’t the right fit for her long-term future.
The Courage to Choose Happiness
Divorce is rarely easy, especially when children are involved. Harris, who shares two children—daughter Sloane and son Ocean—with Krieger, describes the agonizing process of trying to make a marriage work until the emotional toll became unbearable.
- n
- The Struggle: Harris admits to facing periods of deep unhappiness, where simply getting out of bed felt like a challenge.
- The Realization: She questioned whether staying in an unhappy marriage was truly serving her children, her friends, or herself.
- The Decision: Recognizing that “life is too short,” she made the difficult choice to walk away to find her own identity.
A New Beginning with Sophia Bush
After the dust settled from her divorce in September 2023, Harris embarked on a journey of self-discovery to figure out who she was outside of her public brand. This period of healing paved the way for a new chapter of love. Since October 2023, Ashlyn Harris has been dating Sophia Bush, a relationship that coincides with what Harris describes as the happiest period of her life.
“I love myself,” Harris shared candidly. “I don’t remember the last time I woke up being like, ‘I love the person I’m looking at in the mirror.’” This newfound self-love and the support of Sophia Bush have allowed her to move past the weight of a life she no longer wanted to live.
‘Gamechangers’: Sharing the Scars
All these emotional milestones—from her rebellious teenage years and her legendary career with U.S. Soccer to her romance with Bush—are explored in her new documentary. Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story is set to premiere on June 8 on The Roku Channel.
Harris emphasizes the importance of authenticity in a world dominated by the “shiny objects” of social media. By sharing her struggles and her “scars,” she hopes to create a genuine connection with her audience, reminding them that the life portrayed online is rarely the full truth.
“I think sharing your scars is one of the most beautiful things you can do.” — Ashlyn Harris
