Hello,

I'm Alexi Lallis, and welcome to a special State of the Union podcast

where we look at the beautiful game on and off the field

through the lens of red, white, and blue-colored glasses,

joining me, uh-oh, yeah, it's happening. It's happening.

Soccer legend Carly Lloyd, who finds herself this week

winding down an incredible career

with her final U.S. women's national team game happening Tuesday, October 26 on FS1

versus South Korea from St. Paul, Minnesota and of course the continuation of

her NWSL season with Gotham FC and fingers crossed a long playoff run so there are limited

amounts of time where you can and opportunities to see this incredible athlete and this legend play as we get through here 2021.

Carly welcome. I'm going to jump right into it. I know you've been asked this question

but just to kind of overview so for maybe for people that haven't heard it why now you know I think a few

things I think the timing just felt right I think in my heart you know this is, as you know, you've been a part of it.

It's so many things that you have to sacrifice, the dedication to not only, you know, get to the top, but to stay at the top for so long it's gruesome you know and it's not it's not meant for

everybody not everybody gets to have a long run some some players you know only come in for a couple of years but for me I just

felt ready I felt ready from just a life perspective. Physically I still feel really

good so for me it's just about spending more time and

having more time with my husband my friends my family and you know just kind of

gearing up for the next chapter being able to live my life.

Well, you deserve it.

Okay, so you can see I'm sporting the colors here, the Rutgers colors.

...