Quotes from Jessica McDonald

Sometimes women's soccer can be political.

Both of my parents were both multi-sport athletes. Their mindset was, be an athlete as long as possible, up until they became parents. And so they dropped their dreams for their children.

For me as a mom, not an allocated player, there have been some years that have been a difficult journey because NWSL doesn't really support mothers.

Just getting paid for six months out of the year is unacceptable in any kind of job.

I became a starter in Portland, and then I lost my spot, but for what reason? It wasn't explained to me. I thought it was unfair.

I'm trying to take care of my kid, and the only way to do that is obviously being financially stable.

That's what pushes me every day to want to be successful on the soccer field - being able to not only take care of my kid on a financial level and be stable but, most importantly, to inspire my child.

There hasn't been any positive steps for moms in the NWSL. Now we're kind of getting our heads together, getting ideas together, and so now we can start somewhere as moms... Child care is not cheap. And if you look at our paychecks and you look at child care, there goes our paycheck. How are we going to eat?

My journey has been up and down a little bit. Everything that has to do with success for me has sort of become a shock to me. You work so hard, you work so hard, and it happens; you're like, 'What? Wait, it's happening to me?'

Everyone has their opinions about the Bible and God.

My parents gave up on their dreams in sports because they were athletes, and they had me at such an early age. I didn't want to do that.