Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back... play for her.

I got to experience soccer at the highest level at a young age; I decided I wanted to be part of that for as long as possible.

Follow your heart and make it your decision.

I know I wouldn't be here, and all of us wouldn't be here, without certain sacrifices and certain stands that people have made -- not just women, but men stepping up and supporting what we do and how we do it.

I was given a tremendous gift in terms of athleticism. Maybe it was because I wasn't so confident in other areas.

No-one gets an iron-clad guarantee of success. Certainly, factors like opportunity, luck and timing are important. But the backbone of success is usually found in old-fashioned, basic concepts like hard work, determination, good planning and perseverance.

If you've got hips, you can't be a gymnast or dancer. That ruled me out.