I set my own personal goals; I'm not playing to satisfy fans.

It really does frustrate me when I watch MLS, and I see our best U-17 players - who, again, are so talented and so capable - being rostered... but then not being put on the field much to actually play. I watch that, and I just think about how I was given a chance... a real chance... and it changed my life.

Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.

I just try to do the best I can for myself and the people around me.

I can jump high; I can dunk - nobody really believes that I can.

When I left the U.S., I sort of left that frustration and that pressure to make the national team behind me.

In the U.S., my whole life, I felt like I had to be the best and score more goals and run with more fitness so I could be the one in the limelight. I think that when I went to Sweden, I found the joy of being part of a team and contributing to everybody's success.

We want more opportunities for women's players throughout the world.

It's something special being able to build a program up.

I didn't have any natural instincts toward heading. It cost me lots of opportunities to score.

The hardest thing to do is to fail and keep pushing at the same time.

I think sharing your experiences with younger players is something that's hugely valuable for your team, for your program. It kind of gives me a sense of self outside of just connecting your passes, scoring your goals - it's being a part of the larger picture.

I've always preferred a 4-3-3. It's a more fluid and dynamic system, and I think it plays to my strengths better.

You can be one inch from the national team and the opportunity to make so much money and a life out of it. That's why people hang on so long.

I've learned to love my body and myself over time by being a little more accepting and having grace with myself.

It took me a while to learn, but we are allowed to make mistakes and have flaws.

I think I approach pressure by having discipline and learning to be calm in everyday life. I do this with a daily mindfulness practice and commitment.

I have butt muscles, thigh muscles, and then my upper body is super skinny - except for in my shoulders, which you need for a little bit of strength to hold other players off the ball. So I think I've developed muscles 100 per cent from just shooting the ball and running. Every single thing about my body looks like soccer.

I'm 100 percent a byproduct of my sport. I always tell my teammates that I only have muscles where they get to play.

No Tinder, no Match, nothing. I don't mind going up to people when I'm out. I have a better chance of getting a read on them that way.

Of course I have other passions and other interests, but soccer's always my priority.

I've stayed away from the actual L.A. scene for most of my life.

I don't really own a lot of makeup. Usually, though, I don't leave the house without mascara. That is so essential for me. I love playing with lip color, too. I'm just really basic.

I really feel gratitude every day in my life that I'm able to do what I love, and I think, because I have that passion and spirit, I've had success.