Casey Krueger: Iron Woman of the USWNT
The USWNT has been blessed recently by the number of youth players available. The national team already has a roster that hopefully will last for a long time. But along with this youthfulness, we can’t forget about the few veterans remaining. These veterans are passing the torch to the new generation while some of them are playing at a great level. One of them is Casey Krueger who we can call the iron woman of the USWNT.
At 34 years old, Casey Krueger is playing like she is just starting her career. Her journey to the USWNT and to this level of excellence wasn’t easy, but her iron character and strength made her reach it.
Casey Krueger Being An Iron Woman Off The Field
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Krueger isn’t just an iron woman while playing for the USWNT or for her club, the Washington Spirit. She is also an iron woman off the field; she will probably always be. When Krueger got called to the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she and her partner decided to put pregnancy plans on hold. Then she came back and started trying to get pregnant.
“Making the decision to start a family is huge. Starting a family by giving birth adds another layer to that choice; doing all of that and returning to your full-time job is yet another layer of complexity. So you can imagine what it means to choose to start a family by giving birth, and then returning to work as a mother when professional soccer is your full-time job,” Krueger said previously during CarMax’s series In Their Own Words.
Krueger met one of life’s challenges, but this time off the field. She, unfortunately, went through a miscarriage which isn’t just affecting physically but also mentally. Despite such a challenge, the iron woman in Krueger appeared. “But I remained determined, and thankfully got pregnant again shortly after my miscarriage,” she said.
Taking A Break From Soccer
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Krueger’s determination carried itself into her life away from soccer, and she quickly realized that she needed a break from soccer. Whenever a player gets pregnant, there is this question that everyone asks, including themselves: will they play again? Krueger asked herself that question once she was pregnant, and the answer presented itself soon enough.
“It wound up taking me sitting in the stands and cheering on my own club team in the bone-chilling Chicago cold, taking in the atmosphere from a different vantage point as a fan, that I realized it wasn’t just that I wanted to come back to soccer after I had my baby — I had to. I missed it,” she said.
Krueger’s realization that there is nothing that says she can’t be a mother and a soccer player is one to be grateful for. Here is a wonderful player with grit and determination, who can easily be seen as an iron woman, making her way back to soccer. Even after a rough pregnancy and a c-section, Krueger found her way back to the field. This time with her son Caleb cheering for her while waving at reporters whenever he gets the chance.
Krueger Making A Return After Her Maternity Leave
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Going through a c-section isn’t easy at all, and Krueger quickly realized that. The 34-year-old needed 3 months of rehab. She went through recovery just to be able to come back to the game she loves while her son watches her. After Krueger’s maternity leave, she made her way back to the Chicago Red Stars which was her team back then. Her dream wasn’t over yet.
“The joy I experienced on my first day back training with the Red Stars in January reminded me of how I felt when I first started playing soccer when I was 7 ½ years old,” Krueger said in the CarMax series. She still has that fire inside of her which “is burning even more.” We got to see Krueger’s return to soccer after a rough period that might have deterred anyone. But she is an iron woman.
Suffering From Multiple Injuries
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Perhaps what made Krueger find her way back to soccer after her maternity leave and pregnancy is that she has always done that. Before her pregnancy, Krueger suffered from multiple injuries during her career. Starting from an ACL tear in her knee in 2011 right before her junior year at Florida State University. She then got the same injury in 2013 and ended up missing her rookie season in the NWSL.
The injuries didn’t stop there because Krueger also missed playing in 2014 due to additional knee issues. Finally, she missed half of 2018 due to an ankle issue. One common thing in all these injuries is that Krueger always found her way back to soccer. Some players might have given up, but not her. It takes an iron woman and player to keep coming back even when life keep throwing at you one challenge after another.
Casey Krueger’s Time With The USWNT
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Krueger’s first cap for the USWNT was in 2016. Since then, the 34-year-old managed to prove herself as a valuable player. She went on to win an Olympic bronze medal in 2021. Her success with the national team didn’t end at that. The iron woman of the USWNT also has an Olympic gold medal under her name for 2024. These achievements couldn’t have been possible without Krueger’s determination and strong character. She made her way back to the USWNT after her return was surrounded by doubt. That in itself is quite admirable.
Emma Hayes is one of the many people who admire an iron woman such as Casey Krueger. “What a tremendous mum, first and foremost. She’s having to manage being a mum in camp, as well as a footballer,” Hayes previously said according to The Athletic. “She’s experienced; she adds a lot of qualities.” Hayes then continued, “She’s so coachable, even someone with such experience.” When one listens to what Krueger’s coaches and teammates say about her, it becomes clear that she is a player to be watched and admired. Even if one looked at Krueger on the field without listening to anyone’s opinions, it’s hard not to recognize her talent.
Casey Krueger Becoming Washington Spirit’s Iron Woman
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The Washington Spirit got lucky when they managed to sign Krueger to a three-year deal. She quickly showed how she can adapt to the environment surrounding her. Now, it feels right to call her the Washington Spirit’s iron woman. Something changed in Krueger, but it changed to the better. The defender worked on her attacking and now she is even more of a threat to opponents. Even her USWNT teammates noticed the change in Krueger.
“I feel like this season, she’s playing with a really special type of fire and passion. I don’t know exactly what that might be attributed to — maybe just a change of scenery, different coaching, different players around and being in a new environment. Maybe that did reignite something, but I feel like this has been a really special season for her so far and obviously that has paid dividends,” said Tierna Davidson according to The Athletic. This change just shows how Krueger is playing at 34 like she is just starting an unforgettable career.
Casey Krueger Will Always Be An Iron Woman
Krueger’s career is filled with many challenges and changes, but there is one thing for certain: she will always be an iron woman. Time after time Krueger proved that she can probably face anything, and it’s easy to believe that. The 34-year-old is a professional soccer player, a mom, and maybe add a beast as well. “To be a mom now and be an Olympian, I think that would be something incredibly special. I get emotional thinking about it,” she said to The Washington Post.
The versatile defender still has a lot to offer. No matter what setbacks might happen in the future, there is this belief that Krueger will find her way back to the pitch. She is determined to always do her best, and she does it while staying calm. The veteran isn’t just an iron woman, but a source of inspiration to everyone around her. Whether on club level or with the USWNT, any team is lucky to have a player like Casey Krueger.
Image via @uswnt on Instagram
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