Ashlyn Harris has opened up about the difficult end of her marriage to fellow U.S. Women's National Team star Ali Krieger, revealing intimate details about their relationship during an appearance on the Naked Sports with Cari Champion podcast. In a candid conversation on November 25, Harris claimed that the couple was not intimate throughout their entire marriage, describing it as a painful and challenging experience.
“I just felt like I wasn’t a priority,” Harris shared, explaining that the relationship became dominated by soccer, work, and their children, with little emotional or physical connection. As a "touchy-feely" person, Harris felt disconnected and struggled to maintain intimacy, adding, “I could only give so much until you really have nothing left.” She reflected on how she had become adept at dissociating to manage the emotional strain, often putting others’ needs before her own, which she believes prolonged the marriage longer than it should have.
In an effort to save their relationship, Harris revealed that she suggested an open marriage, even though it didn’t align with her true self. She expressed feelings of deep shame over the state of their intimacy and shared her embarrassment about not knowing how to express that to those close to her. “I felt so embarrassed and I felt so much shame that I didn’t know how to tell people that, like, oh, my wife doesn’t want to touch me or doesn’t want to be intimate or doesn’t want this,” Harris confessed.
When asked by podcast host Cari Champion if Krieger would disagree with her assessment, Harris firmly stated, “No, she can’t say that because we weren’t intimate the entire part of our marriage.” For Harris, this statement was a clear and painful truth, one she had come to terms with after much reflection.
As the relationship ended, the couple went through a formal divorce in late 2023, following a series of emotional challenges. Harris filed for divorce in September, with Krieger filing her own papers later in December. Despite the difficulties, both women have continued their lives separately, with Harris finding love with One Tree Hill alum Sophia Bush, while Krieger has openly discussed her readiness to date again.
Reflecting on the end of her marriage, Harris’ story serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional complexities that come with public relationships and the personal battles that often remain unseen. For her, it was not just about the end of a marriage, but about learning to prioritize her own needs and desires in the aftermath of deep emotional struggles. As both women move forward, it’s clear that the journey toward healing and growth continues.
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