US Women's National Team legend Carli Lloyd and her husband welcomed their first child last week.
Taking to social media, the former soccer announced that she had given birth to her daughter, Harper Anne Hollins, who weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces.
The 42-year-old and her husband, Brian Hollins, a former professional golfer, welcomed their bundle of joy into the world in the early hours of October 18.
'So very grateful for this amazing blessing in our lives,' the former midfielder, who ranks second in total appearances made for the Star and Stripes, wrote on Instagram.
'By far the hardest thing I have ever endured but the best thing I've ever done!
US Women's National Team legend Carli Lloyd and her husband welcomed their first child
The former soccer announced that she had birth to her daughter, Harper Anne Hollins
'I am so thankful for the amazing team that surrounded us and helped Harper enter this world. You all got me through this and are truly the best of the best!! Erica O'Leary @capassoleary Dr. McCrosson @stacymccro @mcobgyns and Dr. Manara!
'We just can't get enough of this little peanut. We love love you so much and will do our best to give you the tools necessary in life to be a good human being!'
Lloyd broke the news that she was expecting with husband Hollins, who she has been married to since 2016, back in May when she opened up on the couple's 'rollercoaster' journey to get pregnant.
'We are so grateful for all the love and support we had from our family and friends,' she said. '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.
'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!'
More recently, the former USA captain detailed her 'secret journey involving unexplained infertility and multiple rounds of IVF treatments' in a Women's Health article earlier this month.
She revealed that she had always wanted to be a mother but admitted that it hadn't always been a priority with her focus fixated on soccer.
'When I retired in 2021 at age 39, I’d spent 34 years of my life playing soccer, 17 of them professionally,' she wrote in the emotional article.
The 42-year-old and her husband, Brian Hollins, welcomed their bundle of joy on October 18
The former USA star shared a photo of Hollins, a former professional golfer, with Harper
'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.'
'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 added.
The two-time World Cup winner chronicled her attempts to get pregnant - a journey which she said 'began to eat me alive' and involved three rounds of IVF.
When Lloyd retired in 2021, she was asked why she decided to hang up her boost rather than follow Tom Brady 's career trajectory, which lasted until the quarterback was 45.
'Well, Tom Brady doesn't have to have kids, that's the one thing, for starters,' the former attacking midfielder said.
'My husband, Brian, and I are eventually going to start a family, so the clock's kind of ticking on that.'
Lloyd - a former attacking midfielder - has been married to golfer Hollins since 2016
The ex-USWNT captain announced her pregnancy back in May, sowing off her baby bump
Lloyd, who's won two World Cups and two gold medals for USA, is third on her country's all-time scoring list with 134 goals, ranking behind Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158)
Lloyd, who had a loan stint at Manchester City in 2017, won two Women's World Cups and two Olympic medals during her international career (2005-2021).
She also ranks third on the USA's most goals scored list (134) behind Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158).
Lloyd was one of the leading critics of the USWNT at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on Fox Sports, where the Star and Stripes were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Sweden on penalties after a scoreless draw.
The USA, considered as the most successful international team in women's soccer history with four World Cups, had gone into the tournament as reigning champs.