ting everyone know that it ’ s okay to have a bad day . Just a few more questions while we are still on the soccer topic . As a GK you ’ ve made countless saves , but does one stand out in your mind as your favorite of all time ? Oh gosh . That ’ s really tough . I can ’ t even think of any . In 2011 I saved the last PK to win the WPS championship in my rookie season . I would say that ’ s probably pretty high up there .
You ’ ve been on the USWNT since you were a teenager . With the soccer aspect aside , what have you taken away from this long tenure with the team ? Of course the relationships I ’ ve built over the years with these strong , fantastic , independent women have been phenomenal , but being on the road since I was a kid and having to be independent and having to take care of myself was a challenge . Really learning who I am and having the time to really figure out ,‘ Who is Ashlyn Harris ?’. For me , I never wanted my job to define who I am , so I think it ’ s cool to have the opportunity to reflect and figure out who Ashlyn is outside of soccer .
Switching gears to talk a little about tattoos … When did you become interested in tattoos , and when did you start your collection ? I had my first tattoo when I was 18 or 19 . I got a little butterfly on my side for my grandmother who had just gone through radiation the 2nd time for breast cancer . She put butterflies all over her house and said ‘ This is what ’ s going to cure me and this is what brings me happiness .’ I thought that was special and I went and got the tattoo right under my left breast and that was the start of everything . It was so important to me just to show her that she is one of the strongest women I know . She taught me everything I know about who I am and what it takes to be a strong woman . I ’ ve seen her go through some incredible things and she is still standing . It ’ s a testa-
ting everyone know that it ’ s okay to have a bad day . Just a few more questions while we are still on the soccer topic . As a GK you ’ ve made countless saves , but does one stand out in your mind as your favorite of all time ? Oh gosh . That ’ s really tough . I can ’ t even think of any . In 2011 I saved the last PK to win the WPS championship in my rookie season . I would say that ’ s probably pretty high up there .
You ’ ve been on the USWNT since you were a teenager . With the soccer aspect aside , what have you taken away from this long tenure with the team ? Of course the relationships I ’ ve built over the years with these strong , fantastic , independent women have been phenomenal , but being on the road since I was a kid and having to be independent and having to take care of myself was a challenge . Really learning who I am and having the time to really figure out ,‘ Who is Ashlyn Harris ?’. For me , I never wanted my job to define who I am , so I think it ’ s cool to have the opportunity to reflect and figure out who Ashlyn is outside of soccer .
Switching gears to talk a little about tattoos … When did you become interested in tattoos , and when did you start your collection ? I had my first tattoo when I was 18 or 19 . I got a little butterfly on my side for my grandmother who had just gone through radiation the 2nd time for breast cancer . She put butterflies all over her house and said ‘ This is what ’ s going to cure me and this is what brings me happiness .’ I thought that was special and I went and got the tattoo right under my left breast and that was the start of everything . It was so important to me just to show her that she is one of the strongest women I know . She taught me everything I know about who I am and what it takes to be a strong woman . I ’ ve seen her go through some incredible things and she is still standing . It ’ s a testa-