"And when she leaves, all the joy, fun and beauty she brought to the field will leave with her. Set aside, for a moment, her accomplishments, which are considerable: She played in five World Cups, made five Olympic teams, played in four of the biggest leagues in the world and captained Angel City in the club's first game. What she'll be remembered for the person she is."
""She really is an incredible person," said Kelley O'Hara, who played with Riley at Stanford and with the Pali Blues before they both made four World Cup rosters. "She always brought enthusiasm and positivity to every locker room and every field she was on. "She is going to be remembered for the quality of her character, which is very high.""
"Few athletes in any sport treated others better than Riley did. That doesn't mean she was a pushover or naive; she took names and kept receipts of those who had done her wrong. Then she killed them with kindness. After leading New Zealand to its first World Cup victory in the opener of the 2023 tournament in Auckland, Riley was approached postgame by a couple of local journalists who had trashed her and the team before the game."
Ali Riley will retire at the end of the season after a long career that included five World Cups, five Olympics, stints in four top leagues, and captaining Angel City in its first match. She captained New Zealand a record 50 times and delivered the nation's first World Cup victory in 2023. Teammates praise her enthusiasm, positivity, and high character, noting her ability to treat others kindly while standing up for herself. She often responded to criticism with composure, saving clippings and confronting detractors with grace. Riley remains optimistic about future roles in broadcasting, health coaching, and with Angel City.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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