I think it's my personality to overcome things, learn from them and become stronger, both personally and professionally. To be honest, I welcome those hardships.

People didn't put pressure on me. I just played for the love of the game.

I put all of my energy into building the game and giving women opportunities and, to put everything into it and then to be deemed selfish or not a good team player or outspoken, it's been hard. But at the same time, I'm going to get the critics and I know that.

I don't just want to focus on soccer, soccer, soccer. You're going to look back 20 years from now and of course you're going to remember the games. But I'm going to remember seeing my family in the stands.

My life goes in four-year cycles. The World Cup is every four years and the Olympics are every four years.

In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

I've had marriage proposals, invitations to military balls and even a few prom offers from 18-year-old boys.