{"id":15641,"date":"2024-04-03T02:05:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T02:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/i-couldnt-really-speak-about-it-a-decision-dividing-the-womens-super-league\/"},"modified":"2024-04-03T02:05:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T02:05:39","slug":"i-couldnt-really-speak-about-it-a-decision-dividing-the-womens-super-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/i-couldnt-really-speak-about-it-a-decision-dividing-the-womens-super-league\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I couldn&#8217;t really speak about it&#8217; &#8211; a decision dividing the Women&#8217;s Super League"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media gs-u-mb-alt+ qa-story-body-media story-body__media--lead\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:13.524590163934427%;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-0.0\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media story-body__media--lead\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$video-2\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$video-2.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$video-2.0.0\"><noscript data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$video-2.0.0.1\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--video\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$video-2.1\">&#8216;I thought I would have to hang up the boots to start a family&#8217; &#8211; West Ham&#8217;s Gorry on motherhood and football<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3\"><em data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.$italic-0\">Sign up for notifications to the latest Insight features via the BBC Sport app and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/insight\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.$link-2.0\">find the most recent in the series.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4\">\n<p role=\"introduction\" class=\"qa-introduction gel-pica-bold\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4.0\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-4.0.0\">&#8220;It was all I thought about and dreamed about. I thought about names every minute. I just knew there was something missing. So I went to an IVF clinic and four weeks later I was pregnant.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-5.0\">Katrina Gorry&#8217;s life changed completely after that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-6\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-6.0\">Her home nation Australia was set to host a first Women&#8217;s World Cup less than two years later but Gorry was prepared to give up a lifelong dream to become a mother.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-7\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-7.0\">&#8220;It all went really quickly. I didn&#8217;t really have to think about who I wanted to tell. I kept it to myself. I didn&#8217;t really care about football at that time,&#8221; Gorry told BBC Sport.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-8\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-8.0\">&#8220;For as long as I can remember, I thought I would have to hang up the boots to start a family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-9\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-9.0\">&#8220;But I knew I was in the right place. I knew that I wanted to be pregnant and I wanted to have a little one. And everything fell into place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10.0\">&#8220;The national team were super supportive. They said they would be there if I wanted to return to football. At that time I didn&#8217;t &#8211; I was pretty happy just giving it up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-11\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-11.0\">&#8220;But when I was pregnant I started watching it more; I started getting more invested. Afterwards I started thinking about getting back to the game.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-12\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-12.0\">&#8220;I felt like I loved it more than I ever had before.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-13\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-13.0\">Gorry embarked on a journey as a single mother while playing for Brisbane Roar in 2021, before meeting her current partner Clara.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-14\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-14.0\">They now live in London after Gorry joined West Ham in January from Swedish club Vittsjo GIK, having made a return to football only three months after giving birth to daughter Harper, who is now two.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-15\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-15.0\">Gorry achieved her football dream, helping Australia reach the semi-finals of the World Cup on home soil in 2023, and she has more excitement to come &#8211; Clara is expecting a baby boy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-16\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-16.0\">&#8220;I&#8217;m known more as Harper&#8217;s mum now than as a football player &#8211; that&#8217;s the most special part,&#8221; said Gorry, who is currently recovering from a season-ending ankle injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-17\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-17.0\">&#8220;I wanted to be a mum for so long. I knew Harper was going to be special just because of how much I wanted her. I had her alone and we got to develop the most incredible relationship.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-18\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-18.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-18.0.0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/17DC6\/production\/_133043779_gettyimages-1624952616.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 800px, (min-width: 900px) 624px, (min-width: 600px) 976px, (min-width: 400px) 624px, 400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/400\/cpsprodpb\/17DC6\/production\/_133043779_gettyimages-1624952616.jpg 400w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/17DC6\/production\/_133043779_gettyimages-1624952616.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/800\/cpsprodpb\/17DC6\/production\/_133043779_gettyimages-1624952616.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/976\/cpsprodpb\/17DC6\/production\/_133043779_gettyimages-1624952616.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Katrina Gorry and her daughter Harper after Australia were knocked out of the 2023 Women's World Cup\" class=\"qa-srcset-image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-18.0.0.0\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-18.1\">Katrina Gorry and daughter Harper after Australia were knocked out of the 2023 World Cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-19\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-19.0\">It has not been easy for Gorry. She wasn&#8217;t sure if she could juggle life as a professional footballer and motherhood. It is not something that is widely spoken about outside of the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20.0\">In November 2022 England striker Toni Duggan <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/63604127\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20.$link-2.0\">told BBC Sport:<\/span><\/a><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-20.3\"> &#8220;I don&#8217;t think women&#8217;s football is ready for women to be pregnant.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/68604264\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21.$link-1\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21.$link-1.0\">A BBC Sport study<\/span><\/a><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-21.2\"> released in March found that a third of British female athletes from all sports said they delayed starting a family because of their sporting career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-22\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-22.0\">But Gorry embraced motherhood, moving to Sweden when Harper was six months old and facing challenges like going to the supermarket in a foreign country and trying to find the right baby food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-23\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-23.0\">&#8220;I remember getting there for the first three weeks and thinking &#8216;gosh, what have I got myself into?&#8217; The club were incredible. But it was scary,&#8221; added Gorry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-24\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-24.0\">She was driving to a Women&#8217;s Super League game this year, preparing to face Manchester United, when Harper was sick in the back seat of the car. Gorry called West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-25\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-25.0\">&#8220;There was no panic in her voice whatsoever. It was like &#8216;You just do what you need to do. We&#8217;ll be here when you need us. We have everything ready,'&#8221; said Gorry. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-26\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-26.0\">&#8220;Pretty much as soon as I walked in the dressing room everyone got around me. All the girls asked if Harper was OK and if I needed anything. I ran on and off I went. We won too.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-27\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-27.0\">There is a growing number of mothers in the WSL. West Ham captain Dagny Brynjarsdottir has had two boys &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/68488243\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-27.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-27.$link-2.0\">the club released a documentary on her journey this year<\/span><\/a><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-27.3\"> &#8211; while Everton&#8217;s Duggan became the first high-profile English player to become a mother when she gave birth to daughter Luella in March 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-28\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-28.0\">Arsenal&#8217;s Amanda Ilestedt announced in March that she was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/68557014\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-28.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-28.$link-2.0\">expecting a child,<\/span><\/a><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-28.3\"> following Chelsea midfielder Melanie Leupolz&#8217;s revelation in March 2022, a month after it was agreed players in the top two tiers of women&#8217;s football in England would receive improved maternity pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-29\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-29.0\">The new agreement now forms part of WSL clubs&#8217; licensing agreements. Players are paid 100% of their weekly wage, as well as any other remuneration and benefits for the first 14 weeks, before dropping to the statutory rate (about \u00a3173 a week).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-30\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-30.0\">Finances, structural obstacles and childcare are just some of the barriers to female footballers in the WSL, but overcoming physical challenges of returning following pregnancy is something that differs hugely to male players when they become fathers. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-31\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-31.0\">Morning sickness, which Duggan suffered from greatly, exhaustion and changing body shapes are some of the effects of carrying a baby. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2023\/aug\/03\/elite-athletes-show-they-can-perform-after-pregnancy-but-how-soon-should-they-test-their-limits\" class=\"story-body__external-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1.0\">Research from the Guardian<\/span><span class=\"gs-u-ml- gel-icon\" style=\"height:15px;width:15px;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1.1\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1.1.0\"><title data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1.1.0.0\">external-link<\/title><path d=\"M12 0v5h11.5l-5 5H0v22h22V17.5l-2 2V30H2V12h14.5l-7.8 7.7 3.6 3.6L27 8.5V20h5V0H12z\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.$link-1.1.0.1\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-32.2\"> in 2023 found that pregnancy also &#8220;elevates levels of hormones such as relaxin, which loosens ligaments and joints, potentially increasing the risk of injury&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-33\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-33.0\">Gorry said she had &#8220;no doubt in her body&#8221; to perform upon returning, but it is different for every female, with WSL clubs constantly researching how best to support returning mothers.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-34\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-34.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:58.59375%;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-34.0.0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1521B\/production\/_133055568_leupolz_getty.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 800px, (min-width: 900px) 624px, (min-width: 600px) 976px, (min-width: 400px) 624px, 400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/400\/cpsprodpb\/1521B\/production\/_133055568_leupolz_getty.jpg 400w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1521B\/production\/_133055568_leupolz_getty.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/800\/cpsprodpb\/1521B\/production\/_133055568_leupolz_getty.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/976\/cpsprodpb\/1521B\/production\/_133055568_leupolz_getty.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Melanie Leupolz lifts the Women's Super League trophy with her Chelsea team-mates\" class=\"qa-srcset-image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-34.0.0.0\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-34.1\">Melanie Leupolz (centre, with trophy) returned to play for Chelsea in January 2023 &#8211; three months after giving birth &#8211; and was part of the side that clinched a domestic double that season<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-35\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-35.0\">Meanwhile, Chelsea&#8217;s Leupolz said it is &#8220;crazy what our human bodies are able to do&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-36\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-36.0\">&#8220;I would say sleeping was really difficult in the beginning. My son wasn&#8217;t a good sleeper and I would go to training super tired,&#8221; Leupolz said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-37\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-37.0\">&#8220;But even if I was super tired, I was still able to train at the highest level. That is something that was completely different to what I was used to before. Normally I slept 10 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-38\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-38.0\">&#8220;Your body changes, your life changes, but it&#8217;s still possible to do both.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-39\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-39.0\">Leupolz thinks her decision to carry a son at the age of 26, while playing for Germany and at the peak of her career, may have surprised people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-40\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-40.0\">Her pregnancy was announced just months before Euro 2022, in which Germany went on to lose to England in the final with Leupolz absent while recovering from childbirth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-41\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-41.0\">&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t really speak about it because, as a professional athlete, everyone expects you to play football for as long as you can and at the highest level you can,&#8221; she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-42\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-42.0\">&#8220;I was aware that maybe I wouldn&#8217;t come back on the same level, but with the support from (manager) Emma (Hayes) and Chelsea, it was possible. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-43\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-43.0\">&#8220;We are really lucky to play football. It is an amazing job and so many people want to be in our position. Maybe they don&#8217;t understand the decision to have a family. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-44\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-44.0\">&#8220;But it is our own decision and we are all women. It&#8217;s pretty normal that you would want to have a child and maybe even when you&#8217;re still young. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-45\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-45.0\">&#8220;It was my thought &#8211; I really wanted to have a child while I was still young. It&#8217;s even better that I came back to football and that I&#8217;m able to play at the same level again.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-46\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-46.0\">Leupolz took inspiration from USA legend Alex Morgan, one of several mothers who have competed at a World Cup after giving birth. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-47\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-47.0\">United States stars have had nannies and creches provided for them while at major tournaments and they have long set the standards for motherhood support in football &#8211; but it is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/55191798\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-47.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-47.$link-2.0\">not the case everywhere.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-48\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-48.0\">&#8220;I think being worried is absolutely understandable because there&#8217;s not much support from other clubs or federations. I was really lucky with Chelsea,&#8221; said Leupolz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-49\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-49.0\">&#8220;You hear of many bad stories in Europe of players who didn&#8217;t get that support at all. I really appreciate what Chelsea did for me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-50\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-50.0\">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s just understanding the support around football. It&#8217;s not what happens on the pitch. We are footballers that have to compete &#8211; and that shouldn&#8217;t change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-51\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-51.0\">&#8220;If someone wants to be a mum I think it&#8217;s important they see it is possible. When we came back, we tried to be role models. It gives others confidence that they can do it as well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-52\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-52.0\">&#8220;I would be happy to see more mums in football.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"gs-u-mt0 gs-u-mb-alt+ story-body__media story-body__media--figure qa-story-body-media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-53\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block story-body__media\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-53.0\"><span class=\"gs-u-display-block gs-o-responsive-image\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-53.0.0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/492E\/production\/_133043781_gettyimages-1367796795.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 800px, (min-width: 900px) 624px, (min-width: 600px) 976px, (min-width: 400px) 624px, 400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/400\/cpsprodpb\/492E\/production\/_133043781_gettyimages-1367796795.jpg 400w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/492E\/production\/_133043781_gettyimages-1367796795.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/800\/cpsprodpb\/492E\/production\/_133043781_gettyimages-1367796795.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/976\/cpsprodpb\/492E\/production\/_133043781_gettyimages-1367796795.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Emma Hayes with Carla Ward and her daughter Hartley in January 2022\" class=\"qa-srcset-image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-53.0.0.0\"\/><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"gel-brevier gs-u-ph+ gs-u-pv-alt story-body__media__caption story-body__media__caption--image\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$image-53.1\">Chelsea manager Emma Hayes meets Carla Ward&#8217;s daughter Hartley in January 2022 after playing Aston Villa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-54\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-54.0\">The physical challenges of giving birth, recovering and conditioning your body to return to elite sport is immense but motherhood also takes its toll emotionally &#8211; on coaches as well as players.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-55\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-55.0\">There are four female managers in the WSL and two of them are mothers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-56\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-56.0\">Chelsea boss Hayes will leave at the end of the season to manage the US, with a better work-life balance for her son Harry, five, a factor in her <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/67359837\" class=\"story-body__internal-link\" title=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-56.$link-2\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-56.$link-2.0\">decision to leave club management.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-57\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-57.0\">Aston Villa&#8217;s Carla Ward is also a mother and she admits the relentless nature of her role in the WSL may not be sustainable generally, despite great support from her club.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-58\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-58.0\">Ward lives in Sheffield with her daughter Hartley, four, and has negotiated an early finish at work every Wednesday so she can pick her up from school &#8211; but she still misses out on plenty of milestones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-59\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-59.0\">&#8220;I might not see her for days and that becomes tough,&#8221; Ward said. &#8220;You do start to question whether that&#8217;s something you can do for the long term. Have I got an answer to that? No.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-60\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-60.0\">&#8220;Have I questioned whether I can keep doing it? Of course, because she&#8217;s my pride and joy and I want to spend time with her. It&#8217;s constantly pulling on your head and your heart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-61\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-61.0\">&#8220;You go from one extreme because she loves that I&#8217;m the Aston Villa manager but doesn&#8217;t want me to go to work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-62\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-62.0\">&#8220;A few months ago, Hartley said to me &#8216;Mamma, is it your day off today?&#8217; And I said &#8216;yes&#8217;. She said &#8216;is it my day off too?&#8217; I said &#8216;no baby, you have to go to school&#8217;. She asked why we never have a day off together and it&#8217;s because I work weekends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-63\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-63.0\">&#8220;It&#8217;s mum guilt. It broke my heart. It&#8217;s when I start questioning what I&#8217;m doing and what I&#8217;m doing it for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-64\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-64.0\">&#8220;There&#8217;s many times she will ask &#8216;can we do X, Y and Z?&#8217; and you can&#8217;t. I miss parents&#8217; evenings and shows. That&#8217;s the bit that I really struggle with.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-65\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-65.0\">&#8220;I spoke about it with Emma (Hayes). She is leaving club football and you can see why. It&#8217;s easier I suppose. It probably suits mothers being in the international set-up more than club management.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-66\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-66.0\">But, while it is a taxing job, Ward sees huge benefits for Hartley.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-67\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-67.0\">Her daughter&#8217;s pride is Ward&#8217;s job is clear. She runs around the house wearing an Aston Villa shirt and telling everyone her mother is the club&#8217;s manager. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-68\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-68.0\">Ward hopes she can use that to be an inspiration for her daughter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-69\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-69.0\">&#8220;I would like to think what I&#8217;m doing now is creating a foundation and a base for a better life for her,&#8221; added Ward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-70\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-70.0\">&#8220;You can be a top professional and a mum. You can be a manager and a head coach. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-71\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-71.0\">&#8220;The one thing I always want to show &#8211; let&#8217;s be honest, there&#8217;s still a lot of people out there that don&#8217;t think women should be in football  &#8211; is showing Hartley that she can be anything she wants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-72\"><span data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-72.0\">&#8220;Whether that&#8217;s a police officer, a doctor, a nurse, a firefighter &#8211; as long as she puts her mind to something and has a smile on her face doing it, it will make me happy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-73\"><em data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-73.$italic-0\">You can watch more from these interviews with BBC Sport on the BBC news television channels and across multiple radio stations throughout the week.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"story-body__crosshead\" data-reactid=\".1cchg24xoca.0.0.0.1.$crosshead-74\">Previously on Insight<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/68588538\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8216;I thought I would have to hang up the boots to start a family&#8217; &#8211; West Ham&#8217;s Gorry on motherhood and football Sign up for notifications to the latest Insight features via the BBC Sport app and find the most recent in the series. &#8220;It was all I thought about and dreamed about. I thought [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15641"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15641"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15643,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15641\/revisions\/15643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}