US Women’s soccer star Ali Krieger made a stop in Washington DC Thursday after taking home the gold medal at the 2019 World Cup earlier this month.
Krieger was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Thursday as the Washington Nationals took on the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. Krieger was joined on the visit by her USWNT teammate, fiancee, and fellow two-time World Cup champion, Ashlyn Harris.
Krieger is a native of the Northern Virginia area. Born in Alexandria, she grew up in Dumfries and then spent several seasons playing for her hometown NWSL team, the Washington Spirit, before being traded in 2016 to the Orlando Pride.
The local soccer star showed she has one heck of a pitching arm, putting to shame some other famous first throws–ahem, Alex Ovechkin.
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Ali Krieger to Yan Gomes for the first pitch. pic.twitter.com/FCCJGcb8WD
— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) July 25, 2019
Krieger’s ceremonial first pitch was from the mound, behind the rubber, with very excellent form. That’s got to be a strike.
You guys…@alikrieger throws 🔥🔥🔥@USWNT // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/du5Q6mDyk7
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 25, 2019
Before the game, Krieger and Harris visited the locker room and met with several Nats players. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the team watched several of the World Cup games on TV inside the Nats clubhouse.
Krieger said she was happy to hear she had the support of the Nats and that she feels at home in the DMV.
“I’m just thrilled to be here,” Krieger said. “I know the Nationals have supported me, individually and the team, throughout the tournament and throughout my career here, also playing with the Washington Spirit a few years ago. It’s just nice to be back and feel home.”
Ali Krieger of the U.S. women’s soccer team and her fiancée and teammate, Ashlyn Harris, chat with Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Krieger will throw out the first pitch today. pic.twitter.com/Ec1ypQaRHD
— Ben Nuckols (@APBenNuckols) July 25, 2019
They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here. They're here.
*Breathes into paper bag*#OneNationOneTeam // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/UcY6WDGRis
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 25, 2019
Krieger and Harris also took a few swings in the batting cage.
You guys…@Ashlyn_Harris can RAKE!
🔊 on // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/VMfMNMIT9j
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 25, 2019
Krieger spoke with the Athletic about building on the momentum of the USWNT’s World Cup success.
“It starts even here, having other sports and other sports organizations truly supporting us and inviting us to games and just sharing that mentality, that winning mentality and that success, I think is going to carry over to our sport,” Krieger said. “The change is good and we are going to keep fighting for it every day.”
Krieger will be back in DC again on August 24, when the Spirit take on the star-studded Pride at Audi Field.
Headline photo: @Nationals
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