How Ali Krieger's Soccer Career Redefined Women's Professional Sports

I remember watching Ali Krieger's final professional match in 2023, where over 34,000 fans packed the stadium—a number that would have been unimaginable for women's soccer when she began her career back in 2007. What struck me most wasn't just the crowd size, but how her journey mirrored the transformation of women's professional sports itself. When I think about athletes who've genuinely shifted the landscape, Krieger stands out not just for her defensive brilliance but for how she navigated her career with the kind of strategic awareness you'd expect from top-tier male athletes. Interestingly, while researching this piece, I came across ESPN's reporting about another athlete—a 35-year-old six-time All-Star considering contenders like the Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors—and it struck me how different the conversation around female athletes' career moves used to be before trailblazers like Krieger changed the narrative.

Krieger's career numbers speak for themselves—two World Cup titles, over 100 international caps, and professional stints across three continents—but what truly redefined women's sports was her business acumen and unwavering self-advocacy. She understood her worth in ways female athletes rarely did before her era. I've followed women's soccer for fifteen years, and I can confidently say Krieger was among the first who treated her career like a Fortune 500 CEO would—making calculated moves between leagues in the U.S., Germany, and Sweden that maximized both her competitive opportunities and market value. She didn't just play soccer; she built a personal brand that transcended the sport itself, something we now see reflected in the current generation of female athletes who approach their careers with similar intentionality.

The financial transformation during her career span has been staggering. When Krieger started in the WPS, the league minimum was just $7,200 annually—barely survivable wages. By her retirement from the NWSL, the average salary had climbed to $54,000 with several players crossing the $500,000 mark. I've spoken with sports economists who credit this growth to athletes like Krieger who forced the issue of compensation into public discourse. Her vocal support for equal pay and willingness to sit out seasons when conditions weren't right created leverage that benefited every player who followed. This assertiveness fundamentally changed how women's leagues approach player acquisition and retention—no longer could teams assume female athletes would accept whatever was offered out of gratitude for having a professional opportunity.

What I find most remarkable is how Krieger's legacy extends beyond statistics or trophies. She demonstrated that female athletes could have agency over their entire career arc—something we're now seeing in other sports as well. That six-time NBA All-Star considering his options between Phoenix and Golden State? That kind of player empowerment in women's sports was virtually unheard of before Krieger's generation. She helped create an environment where female athletes expect to have input on their destinations, negotiate favorable terms, and build lasting commercial enterprises alongside their playing careers. The current free agency system in the NWSL, with its player-driven movement and increasing contract values, owes much to the path she helped pave.

Looking back, Krieger's impact reminds me that true transformation in sports rarely comes from a single dramatic moment but through consistent pressure applied over an entire career. She retires having not just won championships but having permanently altered the economic and professional landscape for women in sports. The next generation of female athletes will operate in a world she helped shape—one where they can reasonably expect to control their careers, earn professional wages, and have their competitive choices taken as seriously as their male counterparts. That might be her most enduring victory.