#868. What happens when you dedicate your entire life to the game you love… and then it’s suddenly gone?

This week, Kaitlyn sits down with 2x World Cup Champion Ashlyn Harris, who opens up about the extreme competitor she’s always been (spoiler: don’t challenge her in beer pong), the brutal toll pro soccer took on her body, and what it really feels like when the dream ends overnight. She shares how she found purpose after retirement, why she walked away from the “traditional” post-athlete path, and what it means to raise her kids with intention. Ashlyn also gets candid about being openly gay in sports, how her journey of identity shaped her, and yes — she spills on her love story with Sophia Bush.

Hit play, because if you think you know Ashlyn Harris… think again. And don’t miss her new podcast, Wide Open, produced by iHeart Women’s Sports!

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• (5:57) – The brutal toll pro soccer took on Ashlyn’s body—and what it really feels like when the dream ends overnight.
• (21:15) – Her decision to retire: mental, physical, and why the love of the game eventually faded.
• (35:03) – Being a gay woman in sports, representation, and the reality of living openly in the locker room.
• (44:54) – Her love story with Sophia Bush, how they met, and why Ashlyn calls her “a saint.”

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