Former US Women's National Team icon Carli Lloyd has shared joyous news with her followers, announcing that she and her husband Brian Hollins are expecting their second child. The 43-year-old soccer legend confirmed the pregnancy through an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, accompanied by heartwarming photographs featuring the couple and their daughter Harper Anne Hollins.
Family Expansion Confirmed
In her social media announcement, Lloyd expressed profound gratitude and excitement about their growing family. "Our family is growing, and we couldn't be more grateful!" the two-time World Cup champion wrote. "We're soaking in every bit of gratitude, love, and excitement as we prepare to welcome another little miracle into our lives."
The former attacking midfielder added: "Being blessed with another baby still feels hard to believe, and our hearts are so full. Baby #2 coming September 2026." The photographic series showed Lloyd and Hollins posing with their firstborn while proudly displaying ultrasound images, prompting an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans and fellow athletes.
Previous Fertility Challenges
This pregnancy announcement carries special significance given the couple's previously documented struggles with conception. Before welcoming Harper in October 2024, Lloyd had openly discussed their "rollercoaster" journey toward parenthood, which included unexplained infertility and multiple rounds of IVF treatments.
"We are so grateful for all the love and support we had from our family and friends," Lloyd reflected. "My story is currently a happy one, but I know there are other women who are facing challenges in their pregnancy journey. I see you and I understand your pain."
The former USA captain has become an advocate for greater awareness around fertility issues, stating: "My hope is that more and more women will speak up about this topic, because their stories helped me. I also wish for more resources, funding, and education around fertility treatments. There is much to be done, and I hope I can play a role in helping!"
Post-Retirement Family Focus
Lloyd's path to motherhood involved significant personal and professional recalibration. After retiring from professional soccer in 2021 at age 39, the athlete shifted her focus from the pitch to family planning. "When I retired in 2021 at age 39, I'd spent 34 years of my life playing soccer, 17 of them professionally," she revealed in a Women's Health article.
"Having a baby was on our mind, and I thought putting it off for a little bit longer to enjoy life wouldn't pose an issue. For the first time, soccer wasn't my priority. I could actually choose what I wanted to do and spend time with Brian, my family, and my friends without soccer consuming my mind and body."
Reflecting on her fertility journey, Lloyd acknowledged: "In retrospect, I wish I had been more educated about pregnancy and how to prepare for it, and that I looked years ago into the options I had for freezing my eggs." She described the conception process as something that "began to eat me alive," ultimately requiring three rounds of IVF treatment.
Soccer Legacy and Commentary
Lloyd's retirement decision was partly influenced by her family aspirations. When asked in 2021 why she didn't extend her career like football quarterback Tom Brady, who played until age 45, Lloyd responded: "Well, Tom Brady doesn't have to have kids, that's the one thing, for starters. My husband, Brian, and I are eventually going to start a family, so the clock's kind of ticking on that."
The decorated athlete boasts an impressive soccer legacy, ranking third on the USA's all-time scoring list with 134 international goals, trailing only Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158). During her illustrious career from 2005 to 2021, Lloyd won two Women's World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and had a loan stint with Manchester City in 2017.
Since retirement, Lloyd has transitioned to sports commentary, serving as a prominent analyst for Fox Sports during the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She offered critical perspectives as the USWNT, defending champions and historically the most successful women's soccer team with four World Cup titles, suffered a surprising Round of 16 elimination by Sweden via penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.
The pregnancy announcement marks another chapter in Lloyd's post-soccer life, blending personal joy with her ongoing advocacy for fertility awareness and women's health issues.
