This week on the SoccerGrlProbs Podcast, we sit down with Dutch international and current Liga MX Femenil defender Merel van Dongen for a raw and inspiring conversation about what it means to thrive in chaos. From shattering her nose mid-season to becoming a new mom, bouncing between countries, and qualifying for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 with the Netherlands—Merel has lived five years in one.

We talk about her time setting assist records at Alabama, the emotional attachment to winning and losing, and the mindset shift that helped her stop obsessing over outcomes and start focusing on what she can control.

“I love not knowing what’s going to happen on Monday,” Merel tells us. “For some people that’s stressful—for me, that’s living.”

Whether you’re an athlete, a new parent, or just someone trying to stay grounded in a whirlwind of change, this episode will hit home.