Angel City’s Claire Emslie on Training While Pregnant, NWSL Salary Cap, & Making World Cup History

Summary

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Podcast Summary: BFFR with Sydney Leroux & Ali Riley

Episode: “Angel City's Claire Emslie on Training While Pregnant, NWSL Salary Cap, & Making World Cup History”

Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Sydney Leroux & Ali Riley
Guest: Claire Emslie (Angel City FC, Scotland National Team)

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Overview

In this heartfelt, funny, and wide-ranging episode, Ali Riley sits down with her “Scottish queen” and Angel City teammate, Claire Emslie, for a candid conversation about pregnancy while training as a professional footballer, the evolving support for mothers in the NWSL, making World Cup history, and all the personal and professional transitions along the way. Expect stories about navigating club and league policy, behind-the-scenes support from Angel City, updates on Claire’s growing family (including her chef husband Johnny), and reflections on friendship, ambition, and the future of the women’s game.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Evolution of Support for Pregnant Players

• Gratefulness for Past Pioneers: Claire emphasizes how the path has been paved by players before her, transforming the landscape for pregnant footballers.
  • “I never felt like I had to pick between my career and having a baby, which is how I felt growing up.” – Claire Emslie [00:00, 08:51]
• Angel City’s Proactive Support: The club’s medical staff, from athletic trainers to physios, have embraced Claire’s journey, using technology like high-end ultrasounds and ensuring her continued inclusion.
  • “Even like just the staff, like just having the female staff that are trying to relate and feel it... Being able to share that with them and also our teammates, that was really cool.” – Claire Emslie [14:05]
• Changing Mindsets in Younger Players: Claire notes that seeing a pregnant teammate thriving has demystified family planning for her peers, showing that combining motherhood and a football career is possible.

The First Trimester: Secrecy and Struggle

• The Challenge of Hiding Pregnancy: Claire describes the difficult early weeks, having to “play pretend” with a fake hamstring injury to hide her condition.
  • “That was the worst bit, honestly. The first 12 weeks... Having to lie to people and not having an explanation of why, like having to make stories up and why I'm not myself.” – Claire Emslie [11:35]
• Ali Riley’s Perceptiveness: Ali recalls suspecting something deeper was going on and being supportive despite not knowing the full story. [10:26]

Gender Reveal & Sharing the News

• Low-Key Announcements: True to her Scottish roots, Claire opted for modest announcements—no public gender reveal, just telling friends “over pizza” or in casual texts.
  • “We didn't want to do a big gender reveal. We just kind of told people over pizza.” – Claire Emslie [16:36]

Family, Friends, and Everyday Joys

• The Role of Partner Johnny (the Chef):
  • Their meet-cute: Johnny, a Michelin-trained chef, slid into Claire’s DMs after seeing her on TV; their banter about who made the first move is playful and sweet. [22:30–24:27]
  • Johnny’s culinary support during pregnancy: Mixing up smoothies and boosting Claire’s iron intake (“If anyone's single and thinking, what do I want in a partner? Highly recommend the chef.” – Claire [27:13])
  • Upcoming adventures: Johnny’s pending move and plans to be the ultimate baby-food chef.
• Baby Shower “With a Twist”:
  • Ali hosted a non-traditional baby shower with games like “Who Did Claire Sleep With?”—a play on generating AI baby photos of Claire and her teammates, much to the surprise (and panic) of Johnny. [51:19].
  • Blind baby food tastings and “newlywed” style questions kept things lively and inclusive, especially for teammates new to U.S. customs (like Hina and Miyabi). [50:33–52:57]

NWSL Salary Cap and Motherhood Policy

• Policy Frustrations:
  • Limitations on club spending for child care (“money that they can spend on nannies... counts towards a salary cap... It’s not a competitive advantage to have a child and it shouldn’t count towards the salary cap.” – Claire [53:53])
• Ongoing Advocacy:
  • While changes have been made, Claire highlights the need for further policy reform, motivated by the mothers before her and her own desire to leave a better environment for the next generation.

Professional Achievements and Reflections

• Angel City Memories:

  • Best professional moment: “Second year when we qualified for the playoffs, when we beat Portland at home.” [46:30]
  • Fondness for team culture, even through off-field chaos and typical league struggles.

• 2019 World Cup – Scotland’s First Goal:

  • Claire cherishes making history, scoring Scotland’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup goal.
    • “Do you know what, being there though... that was the big thing for us. Obviously, we would have wanted to get out the group... it makes that one appearance even more special.” – Claire [44:17–45:41]

• Returning to Play After Pregnancy:

  • Ali remarks on Claire’s current energy and glow, questioning if she’ll be able to retain this laid-back demeanor once back on the pitch. Claire is optimistic but honest: “I hope I'm gonna be a better version of old Claire in every way... We'll see.” [40:17]
  • Claire’s continued sharpness: Despite being seven months pregnant, she hits 87% on her sprints (“Please stay above 80%!”) and continues to inspire both teammates and fans. [56:42]

The Power of Friendship & Transitions

• Support Amid Career Crossroads:
  • Ali reflects on her own impending retirement and the importance of dreaming about life beyond football, emphasizing the emotional lifeline that friendships like Claire’s provide. [35:09]
  • “Having a vision and a dream that partially is in your control...having a friendship and something to hold on to in my darkest moments has been just such a gift for me.” – Ali Riley [35:09]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I never felt like I had to pick between my career and having a baby, which is how I felt growing up. Which is nice now.... If the environment had been like this five years ago, I maybe would have done it earlier.” – Claire Emslie [00:00, 08:51]
• “Having to lie to people and not having an explanation of why, like having to make stories up and why I'm not myself. So I think everyone just thought I was having a mental breakdown for a while.” – Claire Emslie [11:35]
• “It's not a competitive advantage to have a child and it shouldn’t count towards the salary cap” – Claire Emslie [53:53]
• “If anyone's single and thinking, what do I want in a partner? Highly recommend the chef. Free food, free cooking.” – Claire Emslie [27:14]
• “We have dreams... Claire has the baby, she has a glass of wine in her hand. We're hoping maybe I would be pregnant. And we're sitting outside next summer...” – Ali Riley outlining shared future hopes [34:32]
• “You hit 87 [percent sprint] that week. The next week I hit 84. I've got my run test tomorrow, so tomorrow's the next one. So I'm like, please stay above 80%!” – Claire Emslie [56:36]
• “Blind tasting baby food. One had pea, spinach, and zucchini. That was the least popular and the hardest to figure out what was in it.” – Ali Riley [50:33]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early gratitude & intro to support for pregnant players: [00:00–08:51]
• Hiding pregnancy during first trimester: [10:26–12:15]
• Team ultrasound experience at Angel City: [13:39–14:54]
• Gender reveal customs & low-key announcements: [16:03–17:45]
• Introducing Johnny, the chef husband, and their story: [22:30–24:27]
• Baby shower recap, humorous AI baby games: [49:09–52:57]
• NWSL salary cap and motherhood policy discussion: [53:53–55:59]
• Return-to-play conversations & professional milestones: [56:36–57:21]
• 2019 World Cup and making history: [44:17–45:41]
• Favorite Angel City moment: [46:30]
• Reflection on friendship, careers, and future dreams: [35:09–37:39]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is authentic, warm, and peppered with the sort of inside jokes, gentle teasing, and emotional openness that only genuine friendships allow. Both hosts and Claire balance candor about the tough parts of elite sport and pregnancy with irrepressible humor and optimism for the future.

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Conclusion

This episode is a celebration of progress in women's soccer, the power of supportive community, and the ordinary yet extraordinary moments that define the athlete experience—on and off the pitch, with or without a baby bump. For anyone curious about the realities (and hilarities) of pro athletes as mothers, or simply looking for stories about courage, change, and love, it’s unbeatable BFFR content.

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Transcript

[Claire Emsley]

I'm so grateful for everyone that's come before me and made changes to clubs and leagues and you know, made it acceptable thing to do and changed the narrative on how people see female soccer players that are pregnant and knowing that they can come back and knowing they can be just as good when they're back, if not better. Like I never felt like I had to pick between my career and having a baby, which is how I felt growing up. Hello. What.

[Ali Riley]

What'S up everyone? Welcome back to another episode of BFFR. Make sure you're following @BFFR. Show on all the socials and hit that subscribe button on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Today I am joined by my Scottish queen, my partner in crime at Angel City, and the only woman I know who can pull off a seven month baby bump and a sprint, Claire Emsley. Let's get right into it. It's Hispanic Heritage Month and Macy's is celebrating in a way that actually makes a difference right now. When you shop at Macy's online or in store, you can round up your purchase or donate to support the Hispanic Federation, an incredible organization empowering Latino and Hispanic communities across the country. Your donation helps fund education and mentorship programs that support college students with leadership opportunities, internships and real tools to succeed. Macy's is also highlighting Latino and Hispanic owned brands all month long. One that caught my eye is Mixed up clothing. They've got super fun colorful prints that that I need to buy for real and I'm definitely treating myself to some bath products from Toa Waters for a little self care moment. So if you're shopping anyway, this is a way to give back and support culture and community. Head to macy's.com or stop by your local Macy's to join in. So I just announced my retirement which still feels surreal and honestly this whole transition has me thinking about how I want to take care of myself in the next chapter. I've spent years focused on training and recovery, but soon it's going to be about the everyday stuff like what I'm putting into my body even when I'm not on the field. That's why I've been taking rituals essential for women 18 plus multivitamin. It's just two capsules a day with nine key nutrients. I love that they're designed to be gentle on the stomach and the minty taste is amazing. What I really appreciate now is the transparency Vegan Non GMO Project Verified Gluten and Major Allergen free and every bottle is made traceable so you know exactly what's inside. Instead of striving for perfect health, it's about supporting foundational health. Get 25% off your first month only at ritual.com BFFR start ritual or add essential for women 18 + to your subscription today. That's ritual.com BFFR for 25% off. Hello.

[Claire Emsley]

What do you want now?

[Ali Riley]

I feel like we see each other and talk to each other all the time, so we're gonna have to really dig deep here to have a episode like conversation, but I feel like it's just like having a video call with you.

[Claire Emsley]

Do you know what? There's so much that goes on every day, so we've got lots to chat.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, Claire, it feels like I've known you a lifetime. It is actually very strange to think that we never even got to play with each other at Orlando and that we really have only been teammates for four years.

[Claire Emsley]

I know, but that time at Orlando, you know, when it was during COVID and just everything was so intense and, like, just having any human contact was like, oh, my God, thank God we. And that's when I first met you. So I think the bonds was quite strong from there.

[Ali Riley]

That is true. Those were traumatic times. And it was like, can we see each other? Do you have the hand sani ready? We had actually, we had played against each other, but we had also met each other over zoom before you came into market and you called me the.

[Claire Emsley]

The weird girl on the boat. So, nah, it was a zoom call with the whole team, like, just introducing each other, and everyone pops up in kinder at home, and then there's just this Asian girl on a kayak on a random boat. And I was like, I'm sure that's Ali Riley. And there. And it was you.

[Ali Riley]

And then we were going to become best friends. Yeah, I went out on the kayak every day during COVID It was the way I could get my exercise and feel safe. And, yeah, I happened to be out on my kayak when we had this team introduction. And. Yeah, I think you even said on the call, who's in the boat?

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Ali Riley]

Marta was playing the guitar, right? Someone was playing the guitar.

[Claire Emsley]

She was playing the guitar, and I was singing in Spanish. I was singing despacito with the one word I knew and despacito. Yeah. And then da, da, da, da, da, despacito. So, yeah, that was a good call.

[Ali Riley]

So we briefly. You were roommates with Shalina, and we kind of formed a bubble for a very short period of time. We were not able to play in the season. You headed back off to Everton, you went back to the uk, I went back to Sweden. And then I remember when Angel City signed you in the expansion draft.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

What were you thinking in that moment?

[Claire Emsley]

When I was at Otluana Everton, I always wanted to return to the NWSL cause I'd only been there like 4 months before COVID hit and then our season got cancelled. So when Angel City was creating a team I saw it and I was like, wow, like what a club. And my brother lives in LA so I could move here with him. So yeah, it was kind of like when they were speaking to me it was like a no brainer and I just couldn't wait to come. So yeah, easy decision.

[Ali Riley]

Well, we've gone backwards now. I need to go just to present day because we can't ignore the fetus sized elephant in the room that you are pregnant and training. And so right now in this moment, how far along are you and how are you feeling?

[Claire Emsley]

So I've just turned seven months, just gone into my third trimester and I actually feel great. Like I didn't expect to feel like this. I just feel a bit bigger and like bending over now like to put my sleeves on is a wee bit like, oh, I can't really squash the baby here so maybe I need to do things another way. But apart from that, honestly, like normal, like I've been lucky, like I've not been sick. Really, like, yeah, I've had a good pregnancy. Oh my gosh.

[Ali Riley]

Oh my gosh. Well, we are just so excited. The club is so excited and I think it's been very powerful for all of us to see you go through this journey to see the club supporting you, how far we've come from some of our teammates and what their experience was when they got pregnant, when they have been bringing their kids along with them to games and traveling and their experiences and just what the, the mothers in this league have, have been fighting for. And it feels like you are just like how we have been fighting to have the future generations have it better than us. You are in this phase where you actually get to experience the consequences. The amazing benefit of having these women fight to make sure that players like you could have more support. And I, it must be opening our younger teammates eyes to what is possible as a woman and in this league. Now have you talked to any of the younger players about. Yeah, what, how do, how do they approach this? How do they talk to you about your pregnancy?

[Claire Emsley]

It is amazing. As you said, I'm so grateful for everyone that's come before me and made changes to clubs and leagues and made it acceptable thing to do and changed the narrative on how people see female soccer players that are pregnant and knowing that they can come back and knowing they can be just as good when they're back, if not better. People have proven so. Yeah, I definitely feel lucky to be at this stage in my career and the games at this point now where it is supported really well, especially at Angel City. So it has been amazing. Like, I never felt like I had to pick between my career and having a baby, which is how I felt growing up, which is nice. Nice now. Like, I think if the environment had been like this five years ago, I maybe would have done it earlier, to be honest. But as you say, you want to leave the game in a better place. And at least I've managed to benefit now and now. Hopefully when I see the younger players now, I've had a few conversations with them and I think they are like, okay, I can do this earlier and I don't have to wait till I retire. Which is quite nice because I think, as I say, I have been lucky in my pregnancy and I've been healthy and I've been able to keep training as much as normal. And I think the girls are looking at me thinking, how are you still training? Like, how do you feel? And stuff. And I'm like, I'm actually fine. Like, I'm good. Like, so it's been nice to see them kind of open their eyes and be like, wow, like, this is really possible.

[Ali Riley]

Well, it was really cool. For me, we have not really overlapped. When I was doing my return to play, you were still training with the team. And so we had a brief overlap when you were pregnant, but pretending you had a hamstring injury before you announced and were really ready to and felt safe about telling everybody.

[Claire Emsley]

Remember that day when we were overlapped and when the team would travel to the bay and I was having, like, I couldn't tell you I was pregnant, but I was having a hormonal day and I was stressed and I was like, I don't know what rubbish I made up that what was wrong with me?

[Ali Riley]

But you couldn't really say. And I was like, I don't think this is about her hamstring. You were like, I need to be home, I need to be home. And I was like, okay, we need to take care of her.

[Claire Emsley]

And I couldn't explain it. And I was like, just tell her. And I was like, nah, it's too soon. Like I don't know.

[Ali Riley]

So I've never seen you cry like that before. I feel like I've seen you cry angry tears when we've lost a game. But this has been a very different.

[Claire Emsley]

Been plenty of angry tears over the years, tell you that. But yeah, no, it was. Yeah, you caught me at one of them moments where I was just. That was the worst bit, honestly. The first 12 weeks was the worst. Having to lie to people and then knowing that I couldn't act normal, like I couldn't fly into challenges and I couldn't like make the runs as much as normal because I was feet fatiguing too quick and not having an explanation of why, like having to make stories up and why I'm not myself. So I think everyone just thought I was having a mental breakdown for the, for a while. But.

[Ali Riley]

Well, we all understood when you announced and we're very excited and it is one of those things you and I have spoken about in terms of how early you wanted to tell people and even documenting it because yeah, it's, you know, you don't. There's no guarantees and I think you. But I'm so glad that now in the mid to later stages of your pregnancy we have been able to take some amazing videos we have when. When we use this ultrasound. So we got this high tech, state of the art ultrasound at Angel City not that long ago and I feel like our athletic trainer and our physios, our athletic trainer Holly knows how to use this thing and so she was able to start using it on injuries and just see some of the muscle tearing and see inflammation. Yes, exactly. She saw no inflammation in Claire's hamstring but so she started using this and it's been so helpful for the players for treatment and for diagnosing injuries or non injuries. And then one of you had the brilliant idea to use it on your belly and that.

[Claire Emsley]

Oh, there she is.

[Ali Riley]

This was when we shrieked. Yeah, you still have a six pack here.

[Claire Emsley]

That was, I don't know how far along it was then, but that was only the second time I'd seen it. So like for me that was a shock seeing that because I hadn't seen it since. It was like not even. It was looked like a little Haribo. And then I seen that and I.

[Ali Riley]

Was like, oh my God, look at Holly.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, Holly was buzzing. But even like just the, like the staff, like just having like the female staff that are trying to relate and like understand and like feel it, like it's so nice and like Being able to share that with them and also our teammates, like, that was. That was really cool, like, just seeing everyone's reaction and how excited everyone was. Because being in football, like, you don't get. You don't have many friends that have, like, had babies. Like, there's not many people that have done it. So for a lot of people, even myself, it was like the first ultrasound they'd ever seen. So, yeah, no, it was definitely, like, such a nice moment, and it's so cool we have that at Angel City. And even, like, every now and then, Holly will be like, you want to look at the baby? And I'm like, yeah, let's go.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, I'm due. I'm due for a little. A little peek here. I felt the baby kick.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, you did.

[Ali Riley]

And I don't think I've ever felt a baby kick before. Like you say, I have missed weddings. Your wedding is maybe one of three. I've been to of my friends. I have so few friends who have children, and if they do, I wasn't there for when they were pregnant. I have now met their children or I met their babies, but I really haven't been around babies that much. I adore Cassius and Rue, but I. Cashius, he was already running around. He was already a kid. Rue was already. I want to say, I guess, yeah, two, three. So I still really missed that. That time. I was lucky to. To spend time with Sloan, Ash and Ali's baby when they first adopted her, and that was really, really special. And that is one of the first babies I have ever held. And so this is such a new experience and feeling. Can we say the gender?

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ali Riley]

Okay. Feeling him.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ali Riley]

Feeling him kick or punch or headbutt. I don't. I don't know what he was doing in there, but it was.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. Headbutt. He's coming for me.

[Ali Riley]

I didn't know what it. What it would feel like, and it was just a tiny little.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, that was a wee one. Honestly, the. The ones at 2, 3 in the morning. Jeez, I need to take a video. It's. He's going mental in there.

[Ali Riley]

Our gender reveal. Our gender reveals a huge thing in Scotland.

[Claire Emsley]

Not really. Like, it is, like, it's definitely. Some people take it on, like, if they want to party and, like, make a big deal about. Of it. But I'd say the majority of people are very subtle and don't make a too big deal about anything. So for us, it was like, we didn't want to do a big gender reveal. We just kind of told people over pizza, like, you, I think I texted you the gender. I told you I was pregnant over dinner, which I thought was a nice thing. I was just going to tell you after change Monday.

[Ali Riley]

This was wild behavior. Be for real. That was. We had finished dinner, we had spent the whole afternoon and evening together. And I'm kind of.

[Claire Emsley]

I didn't want to just bring it up. I thought, I don't want to be one of them pregnant people. That's just like, well, I'm pregnant. You know, I'm pregnant. Like all this. So I was kind of just like, right, let's not make it too big of you.

[Ali Riley]

So she just. We're talking about all these other things going on, and then she just says, oh, I'm pregnant.

[Claire Emsley]

You, space was like, you just.

[Ali Riley]

I didn't believe you. I didn't believe you at all. She had to get the ultrasound up. I still was like, this could be AI, you know? You know, these days you can't believe anything you see. And then now I see her in the shower and I'm like, yep, she's pregnant.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, telling. Telling people, like, as I say, that first 1212 weeks when it's kind of like you want to just make sure you're like, in a good place and stuff. And of course, Ben went. Then when it was. I could tell people up, I was like, oh, that scene. People's reactions was like, literally everyone's was the same. They didn't thought I was joking. I had to repeat myself at least three times to the same people and like, show the picture before they realized, which I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing because they think what she can't be.

[Ali Riley]

Well, I think it's really beautiful because if anyone has played with Claire or spent time with Claire, you know that football means everything to this woman and it controls your emotions. And you are so serious. You always, you're. You're one person. I think that you can tell how much you're fighting for professionalism and standards and you, you respect. You know, I, I have all these side hustles, obviously we're on this podcast right now. But you truly believe that women should be able to play football. That is your job. That is what you should be able to arrive every day at your training facility and do and go home. And your life, if you want it to, should be able to revolve around that. And I think it's so healthy and important that you have this perspective in the way you play. And your passion. And that is what we want. These young players and they're getting so much closer to having that life and. Yeah, and. But that is why it was so surprising when going into the season and you. You extended your contract and you got this new rental house and we're figuring out how to get Johnny here, your husband, if we haven't mentioned Johnny's her husband.

[Claire Emsley]

And.

[Ali Riley]

And then you get pregnant.

[Claire Emsley]

To be honest, I surprise. We surprised ourselves as well. I'm not gonna lie.

[Ali Riley]

Johnny did well there.

[Claire Emsley]

That was. He's only take the one. But yeah, it was. To be honest, I'm really like, I'm so happy it's happened the way it's happened. Obviously you can't really plan these things because you don't know, like going into. Like I planned, you know, what if we want to have a child? Like, there's a high chance we won't get pregnant straight away. Like, it's, you know, we don't know. Actually, we were finding out our fertility status, but I was already pregnant, which we didn't know. So like this year was meant to be the journey of. Okay, let's just. We still don't even live together. Like, we're still waiting on Visa. So it was like things have sped up now there's me. But we need to get a help. Yeah, but we're. We're lucky. Like, we. We were just like didn't think it would happen so quickly and it did. And we just feel so lucky and now we're ready work to take it on. So. Yeah, it's an exciting time.

[Ali Riley]

Hey, if anyone understands that life comes at you and you can't predict things and you just have to. You make it work and you smile through it. And if you have support around you, you're really lucky. That's me. And it's been. You've been such a important source of support for me. Everything that I've gone through and with my family and with my injury, you're just someone that I can call and tell you anything and you always have some quirky piece of advice or some. Some very, you know, strong Scottish. You can do this. You've got this. Them that you've got this ally. And that's really helpful.

[Claire Emsley]

You overthink everything and you care too much about everyone else. And hell, like, it's great. Like, it's your. Your like superpowering, your weakness. Like, you just want to help everyone. You just need to help yourself sometimes. So I'm like, ali, like, shut up. Like, no, like, do you need to do what's best for you and look after yourself for once.

[Ali Riley]

So yeah, that's exactly the toughest that I get.

[Claire Emsley]

I will be that to you. I know.

[Ali Riley]

Okay, well, we gotta. We gotta talk a little about. About Johnny. We gotta give this guy some love. This is a Michelin trained professional chef that slid into your Twitter DMs.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, he did.

[Ali Riley]

Is that right? Yeah. He saw you. He saw you what? Playing. He saw you on tv.

[Claire Emsley]

So romantic.

[Ali Riley]

And how did he know about you?

[Claire Emsley]

He's wandered over now. He's hairy name.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, there, look at this.

[Claire Emsley]

This is him.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah. Johnny. Johnny. How did you know who she was? Why did you slide in?

[Johnny]

Well.

[Claire Emsley]

Oh, here we go. Yeah, go on.

[Johnny]

But that's not the whole story, to be honest with you. The actual start of the story is there was a video done on me on the BBC and this lady decided that she like, like what she saw, shall we say?

[Ali Riley]

Wait a second. Claire has not told me this.

[Johnny]

It wasn't the food. Because there was no food on my Twitter.

[Claire Emsley]

Yes. No, the video.

[Ali Riley]

So she liked something on Twitter first?

[Claire Emsley]

No.

[Johnny]

So she saw the video on Twitter, I assume, and thought.

[Claire Emsley]

You assumed.

[Johnny]

I like a bit of that boy. And then that was it. I wooed her.

[Claire Emsley]

Oh my God. Well, that's.

[Ali Riley]

How did you make contact? Who made first contact?

[Claire Emsley]

Oh.

[Johnny]

Oh, that was me.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah.

[Johnny]

Yeah, that was me. I slid in. I slid in and.

[Claire Emsley]

Terrible pattern.

[Johnny]

Horrific, horrific chat.

[Claire Emsley]

And then my reply was actually about, I can't like women because I just moved to Man City. There was a video of him cooking for Kevin de Bruyne. And I thought, oh, like this is cool. A private chef get recipe. And then he DMS me. And then I was thinking, I don't get paid enough to afford a private share. But he didn't want money, did he?

[Ali Riley]

No, he wanted something else. And let me tell you, he got it.

[Claire Emsley]

Okay, Right. Going. Stealing my language. Wait, wait.

[Ali Riley]

This might be the perfect time. Chelsea, show everyone the picture of the AI baby. What? A AI predicts that Johnny and Claire's baby is going to look like. Look at that. Look. I mean, I definitely see Johnny. The eyes.

[Claire Emsley]

The eyes.

[Ali Riley]

I feel like his eyes will be blue.

[Johnny]

But no, we haven't got it up.

[Claire Emsley]

No, we can't see it on that. We actually. Do you want to tell Ali what happened to that picture? Was it last night?

[Johnny]

The other night? Yeah, it was bad actually.

[Ali Riley]

Let me find it.

[Claire Emsley]

What happened? It's in the bin now. It was smashed to pieces. Yeah, you knocked it off the table.

[Johnny]

I Knocked it off and it just.

[Ali Riley]

Went.

[Claire Emsley]

Right before bedtime when the dogs are about to go in the reds and we had to clean it all up so no one got glass in.

[Johnny]

Their paws, you know, because we go, we go to. Well, we had enough time because we go to bed at like half eight, eight o' clock here in this house because of her. So we had enough time but clear it up before any, any normal person goes to bed. So it's fine. I'll leave you to it.

[Ali Riley]

Oh my gosh. So is Johnny going to be making the baby food from scratch?

[Claire Emsley]

I think he will. Are you gonna make baby foods? Oh, of course.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, that could be a new series. Johnny is, Johnny's an influencer. Johnny is a very highly followed. He's got a lot of great videos on, on the Gram on Tick Tock, I think very recognizable man here. And we're gonna, we're gonna make things happen here in the US when he is allowed to work here. So.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, when he's legal.

[Ali Riley]

Call the hotline guys. Comment dm. Who needs a private chef? This could be.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, seriously expensive though. He's got a good, good track record.

[Ali Riley]

And he, he's gonna have a baby to feed. So we need to.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, if anyone needs a private chef in la, just give us a dm. Yeah, Chef Johnny Marshall.

[Ali Riley]

Has he been cooking you anything special? Any cravings while you've been pregnant?

[Claire Emsley]

He's been giving me spinach, banana, strawberry, avocado, smoothie things.

[Ali Riley]

Oh my gosh, that sounds amazing.

[Claire Emsley]

All my vitamins and stuff. So in my recent blood test I was like, showed up a bit anemic which is not like normal during pregnancy. So yeah, I'm on the iron supplements and then he's like hammering me with the food. So it's coming useful actually.

[Ali Riley]

You made the right choice.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. Do you know what? If anyone respond to that dm, if anyone's single and thinking, what do I want in a partner? Highly recommend the chef. Free food, free cooking.

[Ali Riley]

So you and Johnny, you had your wedding at the end of 2023 in Edinburgh and Lucas and I were able to attend. It was. Oh my gosh, it was a very beautiful formal affair. I've never seen Lucas in a ton of tuxedo and he looked so good and it was such an amazing trip. I. Your wedding was so beautiful. You also had a magician. That blew my mind dancing with you, Kaylee. Dancing.

[Claire Emsley]

Is that Kay dance from you?

[Ali Riley]

Okay, you guys should have seen me. I learned these dances by the end. We probably did this for an hour I had to take my shoes off the gay garden. I was telling. I was telling the Scots how to do the gay Gordons.

[Claire Emsley]

Okay.

[Ali Riley]

Like, I was full in. That was one of the best nights of my life. But you and Johnny had actually tied the knot earlier that year.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, we had. On a very special day, actually. So, yeah, we did the paperwork earlier on in the year because we were in the US and just to get married legally in Edinburgh, we had to be there six months before. Anyway, timing wasn't right. So we called you after we got married. We were sitting celebrating, and I was like, let's call Ali. Not realizing what day it was or what time it was, but knowing you were at the World Cup. We called you and you're answering your bed, and I'm like, we've just got Mommy's, like, blah, blah, blah. And then I noticed, I think, hold on, what time is it for her? And then I clicked like, oh, it's like opening. Opening day at the World cup. Like the home captain, the home nation is about to play. And we've called you about absolute nonsense because you're obviously trying to focus for the biggest game in your life. But I'm not being funny. It brought you luck and it worked. Smashed is a.

[Ali Riley]

Another reason, a reason that I haven't spoken about enough, that that day was the best day of my life.

[Claire Emsley]

That was an incredible day.

[Ali Riley]

And we were just laughing when you were like, oh, what time is it? You're in bed. And I was like, oh, I'm just about to nap before the game. And you were like, oh.

[Claire Emsley]

I was like, I'm so sorry. So sorry to like, interrupt your game day prep, because that was perfect.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah, I wish you had called me before the other two games. Oh, and then fast forward. I mean, so Claire and I, we have spent so much time together. We have just experienced a lot in the start and the growth of this club and fighting for.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

What we have now, this facility and these amazing players. And it has been. It hasn't been easy, but. But through. Has felt like a circus sometimes. But through it all, we would try to focus on all of the positive and our friendship. And we have these dreams and we talk about these images and so when Claire and Johnny obviously tied the knot early in October and then. Sorry, earlier in the summer, in July. And then Lucas and I actually also eloped. Not a lot of people know this. In October. So we had eloped, but neither of us had had a wedding yet. And so we talked about, like, oh, you and Lucas are going to come to Edinburgh and, like, we're going to show you around and. And then you guys are going to get married. Claire and Lucas practiced standing where we wanted to get married at. At the Lauren and Drew holidays. Before we had planned anything. And we just had these visions.

[Claire Emsley]

I had one. I had one wedding and thought I could plan everyone else's. I was. I was like, right, I'll come. This is where you're going to ste. Do this. You should do that. But it was amazing. Yeah, no, yours was class. Yours was up there. Because we, as you say, we never get to go out. And of course, we. We planned our weddings when we knew football was off. So, yeah, it was good. We actually could be there for once and again that night, for me, Johnny was. We'll never forget it.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, my gosh.

[Claire Emsley]

Very eventful.

[Ali Riley]

So the best way, at some point, after a couple dances in the reception, it was time for me to change into this little Sally dress that I had gotten that I loved. It had these Chinese details. And I just went up to Claire on the dance floor and I said, oh, could you come up to this little room and help me change my dress?

[Claire Emsley]

You went like that. You were like, I've been looking for you. And I was like, oh, like, felt so honored. You know when it's like a wedding and the bride wants to speak to you? I was buzzing. I was like, what? And you were like, can you help me do the dress change? And I was obviously, I'd been to the venue before. I knew this little room up the stairs that only the bride and groom were meant to go to. And I got invited to go up. And in that moment, I felt I was like, I'm not even a bridesmaid and I've been picked to change your dress, so. Nah, I was buzzing. I felt so important that day.

[Ali Riley]

It was so sweet that you were so into it. And we changed. And for the rest of the night, whenever Claire and I made eye contact, she would say, point at the room. She pointed at the room and was like, we did the dress change together?

[Claire Emsley]

No. But I didn't realize the wedding dress to take off had all them little buttons down the back.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, yeah.

[Claire Emsley]

There was hundreds of them. And I was like, obviously my eyes weren't really focusing anyway.

[Ali Riley]

And you didn't have your glasses.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, I still remember, like, just trying to concentrate, like, don't. Because I knew Maggie had made the dress. And I was like, don't, like, rip anything. Like, do it so carefully. But, yeah, I'll always remember that.

[Ali Riley]

And now our. Our vision is in the backyard of your house. The boys on the barbecue. You will definitely have a baby. You will be able to have a glass of wine. If not, we found a really lovely New Zealand de. Alcoholized wine.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, we did. I actually had to check the bottle after because I was thinking there definitely wasn't alcohol.

[Ali Riley]

We were feeling so good.

[Claire Emsley]

We were feeling it. I was feeling tipsy. I don't know if it must have just been the thought of it.

[Ali Riley]

It was the petty.

[Claire Emsley]

Petty. The company.

[Ali Riley]

It was the company. And the amazing dinner you made with the. The homemade Nando's and that petty. What do you. What do you.

[Claire Emsley]

Petty. Petty sauce.

[Ali Riley]

The petty, petty sauce. The pe.

[Claire Emsley]

Yes.

[Ali Riley]

So, yes, Claire has the baby. She has a glass of wine in her hand. We're hoping maybe I would be pregnant.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

And we're sitting outside next summer.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. Because we all. The last vision that we. We got was when we were in the tiny apartments and Johnny hasn't moved over. Lucas hadn't moved over at that, like early days. And we were like, okay, one day we're going to live in a nice house and we'll have a big backyard for the dogs and you and Lucas will be here and you'll come round and we'll have a barbecue. And we've done it. So let's. We've got the next dream with the kids. Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

And I'm not being funny, having those dreams. We talk as athletes about our mental health and Claire and I. Claire's still going, obviously. I am now, by the time this comes out, probably could be one week away from my retirement. And it's hard. There are really hard times and we've lost a lot of games at Angel City. And I know Claire came in with very, very high expectations and hopes maybe was sold a bit of a dream there, year one. And, you know, just with the. With the injury, with the Olympics. Yeah. Trying to get Johnny over here, trying to get Lucas over here. It is your friends and your life having that balance. Having a vision and a dream that actually partially is in your control because injuries, playing time, trades we've seen now, this season, a lot of them and dear teammates leaving. But having a friendship and having something like that to hold on to in my darkest moments has been just. Yeah. Such a gift for me and something that now at the end, with these huge life changes, it's really special because I.

[Claire Emsley]

We're.

[Ali Riley]

We're gonna do it and we're getting closer, Sally.

[Claire Emsley]

God, don't go any deeper. That's plenty Nah, it's really nice you say that and you know, you know, I do feel the same and I just don't express it as much. I'll just bring you some cake or something. But yeah, that's fine. It's okay.

[Ali Riley]

I want you to be yourself.

[Claire Emsley]

You are right. Being away from family and like not having Johnny here, I have relied on you a lot. So to be honest, I'm absolutely gutted you're not going to be here next year. But you'll be here. We'll just see more of each other off the field. But not seeing you every day is coming and not having the little catch ups every day because something crazy has happened. I mean I'll still voice, not you what's happened but, but you've done so well. Like you're ready, like you've got your next stage of life set up which is stressful for a footballer when they're coming to their retirement and not knowing what they're going to do. And you've been so clever and smart and sensible and how you've approached it. So fair play to you. Fair play Ally.

[Ali Riley]

Thank you Claire and thank you. I know you're an avid listener of BFFR. I know you watch it on your TV. You put that YouTube on there. You, your friends watch it when they were visiting, they wanted to watch it.

[Claire Emsley]

They're like, finally we can watch it on the big massive TV.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah, you, you. There's a TV behind where Claire's sitting right now and about 10ft to her right there is a huge. A second tv.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. Just so I don't have to put my glasses on all the time because then when I lie down the glasses get in the way and it's like, my God.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah, soccer girl probs. Do you. How do you feel like you've changed with this pregnancy? Like have you changed maybe your, I don't know, your perception, like your perspective, your approach to every day. Obviously your boobs are huge, your belly's big.

[Claire Emsley]

Anything else apart from my body like obviously changing, like. Nah, I think I'm just in a different environment right now which obviously I'm just showing parts of me that don't normally come out that can come out now. Like when I'm in obviously football mode and I'm competing and training, as you say, I'm so serious. But now I'm not competing for the starting spot, I'm not competing at the weekends against other teams. There's not that whole build up in that full pressure every single day. Like, like you perform, perform Perform like now it's just about looking after myself which, you know, as an athlete, like we have such, we have such good sense, our bodies and we eat healthy, we don't drink much. Like we don't go out, we go to bed early anyway, so all that stuff, I've just, I've not had to change any of that, so. So to be honest, like, it's just been nice. Like I felt really relaxed. It's kind of been like a holiday. To be honest, this is the most.

[Ali Riley]

Relaxed I've ever seen you, you're glowing. Your hair is like. We both have a. Like our scalp. When we are stressed, our scalps let us know. I won't get more into that, but this is BFFR and this is, this.

[Claire Emsley]

Is the reality of a scalp problem. I'm going to be bald. I'm going to when I'm older.

[Ali Riley]

But you're, I mean your hair and just skin and just. You are smiling every day. She's watching training, she's laughing with the staff. I mean, I've never seen this. Do you think you'll be able to bring any of this with you when you return to play? Well, I hope you do, Claire.

[Claire Emsley]

I hope you do. It's funny, they get the, the staff have been saying because obviously we've had quite a big staff turnover and a lot of them haven't seen pregnant Claire. Oh, and they were talking, they were talking today about, yeah, we don't know what post pregnant Claire's gonna be like. We don't know what she's gonna be like. And honestly, I have no idea. I have no idea. I hope I'm gonna be a better version of old Claire in every way. I hope we'll see. I don't know. All the best.

[Ali Riley]

Okay, well, we. There is one pre pregnancy Claire story that we have to tell and it was you had just come to la, so you missed the beginning of the season. You were finishing out the season with Everton. Is that so when, when did you come then? May. April. May.

[Claire Emsley]

And I think it was be easy.

[Ali Riley]

To find out when that game was because.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, whenever that game was, it was either May or June, I think.

[Ali Riley]

I think I'm gonna, I'm gonna say okay, yeah, I, it was. Did you really miss that much anyway?

[Claire Emsley]

I don't know.

[Ali Riley]

No. Earlier I arrived.

[Claire Emsley]

We were. It was literally exactly halfway through the season. Yeah, I arrived on the Tuesday and we were playing San Diego on the Friday night, I think or Saturday night. And I got there, I was in a hotel for the first while before we started an apartment. And obviously, you being Ali, invited me round for dinner on my second or third day. Because the first two days was trying to sort a car, trying to sort the bank account, get a phone, all that sort of stuff. So you were like, come round. And at this point, I hadn't. I think I'd trained once. And then normally, I'm very, as, you know, serious about my match day, minus one what I eat. And I'll always.

[Ali Riley]

I was surprised.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, I'll always have my spag ball and my garlic bread, and that's what I have. Like, don't never change it. But I was like, oh, do you know what? Ali's invited me around. Like, I need to get to know the girls. Like, it's so nice of her. I'll go around. And then you were like, oh, I've made a vegan enchiladas. And I was thinking, oh, my God, Like, I've never had vegan enchiladas. And it's the day before again, but. And I'm looking at things, okay. I love food. Like, I knew it would be nice, but I was like, claire, it's fine. You're probably not gonna play. You've been here two days. You're fine. Just like the superstition going on in my head. Anyway, yeah, we had the tea. It was dead nice. And it was the recipe for success because we ended up both scoring the next day, and we won against San Diego at home. So it was classic.

[Ali Riley]

I mean, Claire, she didn't even know the other girls on the team's names.

[Claire Emsley]

No.

[Ali Riley]

Electric came in, scored, and we were like. It was the vegan enchiladas.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. Yeah. And then, to be honest, I was hoping you were going to invite me around every night before the game after that. So I was like, that worked. But, Ali, you scored. I hadn't seen you for ages, like, years. And then I'm like, oh, Christ. She sitting on the bench the first half. And I'm like, she's quite good, actually. I've never seen you play. I just knew you. I was like, all right, okay. But, yeah, no, that was such a great start to Angel City for me. And just already feeling like, okay, like, Ali's got my back from day one. So that was nice.

[Ali Riley]

Always. Always. Well, I knew you were very good. You made history as the first player to score in a World cup for Scotland in 2019. I know the World cup didn't go as exactly as you would have wanted.

[Claire Emsley]

Do you know what siege has been there, though, exactly Exactly. That was the big thing for us. Obviously, we would have wanted to get out the group, and I think we should have to be honest.

[Ali Riley]

It was so close. Yeah, that was heartbreaking, but it was. It was amazing. It was. That was such an accomplishment for your national team, and you were part of that.

[Claire Emsley]

No, it is so special. Like, you know me, like, the national team's everything to me, like, representing Scotland and it's. It is hard. Like, I feel like New Zealand, when we talk about kind of the associations and where we're at and the funding and kind of the league at home, like, there's been quite a lot of similarities between us and you. And I think, yeah, obviously us trying to qualify from Europe is just so hard and, like, so us to get to go to a tournament was so special and, like, it's never guaranteed. So. Yeah, it was definitely something that I thought we'd experience more, but it just. Over the campaigns when we haven't qualified, it's just been so devastating. So it makes that one appearance even more special because it doesn't come around a lot.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah, it was. Again, we didn't know each other at that point, but Aaron Cuthbert was a close friend of mine and just. Oh, the passion. The passion. And it is. I mean, I. I definitely identify with that. Like, you say, we fought so much and we don't have the same investment and resources, and obviously New Zealand has a much easier qualifying path. But it just. It means so much. And you know what it means.

[Claire Emsley]

And even, like, the fact you travel. You travel so far to. To represent them, and you've done been there for so many years. It's. It's amazing.

[Ali Riley]

Well, it's all coming to an end now, which is a crazy. But what has been your favorite Angel City memory, besides the vegan enchiladas?

[Claire Emsley]

Besides that, there's been so many funny ones, like, so many funny moments. But for football, it was definitely the second year when we qualified for the playoffs, when we beat Cortlands at home, 5:1.

[Ali Riley]

I mean, that's the best game.

[Claire Emsley]

Wow. Like, yeah, that was, like, easily the best so far.

[Ali Riley]

And I was like, I had to make a speech after, and I was like, we're not done yet. And then we lost a few days later. And he just kept sending it to.

[Claire Emsley]

Me, being like, we are or the game. San Diego away, when it was Becky's first game and we won that game and we were going, celebrating to the fans.

[Ali Riley]

Oh, my gosh.

[Claire Emsley]

Oh, we were so happy. And, like, the fans were amazing. Like, that. That was Such a nice moment as well.

[Ali Riley]

It means so much, Claire, and I can't wait to see you out there when you have your son watching you from the stands. That's going to be really special, and.

[Claire Emsley]

I'm excited one day.

[Ali Riley]

Is there anything that you are using the, like, I'm pregnant card for?

[Claire Emsley]

Do you know what? I actually haven't used it, but Lily used it. Lily used it? Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

How did she use it?

[Claire Emsley]

So we were at the free concert and it was like an all standing venue. And there was like the disabled section with, like, the seats right next to the front. And there was like a lot of empty seats. No one was sitting in it. And she's like, okay, I'm just gonna. We'll go sit in there. Like, I'm like, no. Like, we don't have a past. Like, you know. And she's like, yeah, but you're pregnant. And I wasn't. I wasn't even really showing. She's like, tuck your shirt in. And she just marched up to the security guy and was like, oh, my friend's pregnant. Like, do you mind if she sits down? And he was like, yeah, yeah, it's fine. So, like, me, Lily and Mads got in the seat section, so that was actually a great perk.

[Ali Riley]

You also got something for free.

[Claire Emsley]

What was it? Recently, I got a sweet green. They gave me sweet green for free.

[Ali Riley]

That's like 20 bucks right there. That's a 20 something dollar salad.

[Claire Emsley]

I know. I was like, I wish I'd got double protein in, like, the focaccia bread, but I was buzzing. It was nice. And you get such a buzz. Like, it is nice being pregnant, to be honest. I like it.

[Ali Riley]

Claire, I'm so happy for you. Well, I think we need to talk about the baby shower before I let you go.

[Claire Emsley]

Yes.

[Ali Riley]

I have never been to a baby.

[Claire Emsley]

Shower.

[Ali Riley]

But there was no way I wasn't gonna host this baby shower for Claire. So it might not have been very traditional, but now when I talk to everyone, everyone's like, I hate baby showers. Like, it's so this, that and the other. And then I say what we did, and they're like, that sounds like a party.

[Claire Emsley]

So, yeah, Ali, you absolutely smashed it. Because I'll be honest, I was quite like, no, no, I don't want a baby shower at the start because I just had this vision of. It was like me sat there and just everyone, hands stuffy. And I was. I was like, oh, no. Like, I'm not going to ask people for anything. Like, it's not Really a huge thing. I've never been to one. Like.

[Ali Riley]

Yeah, leading the blind.

[Claire Emsley]

But, like, I was like, obviously, I trust you. And I'm like, I know it's going to be a good time if you are organizing it. So, yeah, I was like, you know what? Ali's organizing it. This is going to be like, we're going to remember this. It's a good event. Like, let's do it. And you absolutely smashed it. It was so fun. We played games. There was prizes. Yeah, it was so good.

[Ali Riley]

So in case anyone wants to plan a little bit of an. A different baby shower that we thought was fun. So I had everyone tasting baby food. That was just to get people going.

[Claire Emsley]

You know, blind tasting.

[Ali Riley]

Blind tasting. And had to guess what the ingredients were. One had pea, spinach, and zucchini. That was the least popular and the hardest to figure out what was in it. That was just like a little bit of a mingle game. And then we had a game show. So I kind of. We didn't get to throw Claire bachelorette party either. And I had wanted to do that before. And so this became kind of like a newlyweds competition. So it was Claire versus Johnny, and they had to guess, you know, right on a whiteboard, what the other person would answer. I think the showstopper was the game called who Did Claire Sleep With?

[Claire Emsley]

No, no, Ali. I. My heart dropped. I was thinking, shoot. And then Johnny was right behind me, and he turned around. He's like, what did she just say? And I was like, please don't tell me she just said that. Because I was thinking. I was thinking, I know you, like, you come up with some wacky ideas sometimes. And I'm like, surely not. I was like. And then when you explained it, I was like, thank God. Johnny was like, are you telling me I'm not dead? And I was like, oh, my God.

[Ali Riley]

Like, seeing the look on their face when I said this, I kind of thought, have I missed something? Did she sleep with someone else? Because the panic on their faces. No, it. So I obviously made the AI baby of Claire and Johnny, but I went ahead and made AI babies of Claire and some of our teammates. And the babies were so cute. So we can see this. No one. No one guessed this one. This is a cutie. This is Kristen Press. So this is a Claire and Kristin. Emily. Emily Press. This is Miabis.

[Claire Emsley]

Miabis. Miabis was the best. I mean, yeah, we guessed that one.

[Ali Riley]

But so we had Hina. It was Hina's second day in Los Angeles, and I obviously Invited her to come. And Miyabi and Hannah. Hannah were there. And so everyone knew that it had to be one. One of theirs. And they were looking at each other like that Spider man meme and Miyabi and Meowbi was, like, pounding her chest.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. She was like, that's my baby.

[Ali Riley]

I'm the father. I am the father. Oh, my gosh. It was. It was very funny. But, you know, you were so loved, and it was so cool. And I. I really. I. We have talked a lot about motherhood and supporting mothers and those resources and the salary cap. And that is something. I think Sid has been very outspoken about it as well. This is not something that should be treated as some crazy advantageous benefit to support our mothers or family planning and future moms. So you have talked a little bit about that and now going through it yourself, what are your feelings about something that Angel City obviously got punished for last season?

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah, I think, obviously I feel like next season when I've actually got the baby and then I'm living it and going through and to see how the childcare works and how it's going to work when I'm traveling, I think it would not be till next year. I really understand what it's like, but just kind of from what I've heard off, obviously last season and Angel City just want to help so much with the kids and childcare. And unfortunately, the money that they can spend on, say, nannies or traveling the partners to look after the kids, it counts towards a salary cap. And the salary cap's already a huge issue. So anyone that has a kid and needs care for their kids is going to cost way more than someone that doesn't have a kid. So obviously teams are going to be like, well, we're not having her. She's a mum. But it's just like a toxic road to think like that. So all the mums and the pa, like, did a great job in trying to change for the better, and they did change a few rules going into next year. So, yeah, we'll see how that goes. I do think there's still a cap on how much they can give you and how much they can help, but there should not be a. A limit on how much they can spend that they want to provide to help you as a player, because it's not a competitive advantage to have a child and it shouldn't count towards the salary cap. So I think there's. There's still some movement to go there. Yeah. But. Yeah, no, I just. It does make me Appreciate the moms that have come before me and made things better. Because as I say, like, I'm coming into this really lucky that there are things set up in place now to. To give me good care and the baby goods care. But yeah, I want to make sure to make it even better for future.

[Ali Riley]

And I know you will. And I'm so proud of you and I'm so glad that you let me video some of you. Your training, that was. I kind of got. That's what I was going to say earlier when we hadn't overlapped very much. And then I finally. I was recovering from my most recent injection when the team was in Louisville and you were training and I got to actually watch you in all your glory and you were so amazing. Still just so sharp on the ball. You did decide maybe you didn't need to be shooting from, you know, 30 meters out anymore. But you were so fast. You hit.

[Claire Emsley]

What did you hit that day? I think I hit 80. Was it 84 or 87?

[Ali Riley]

I think it was 87.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. I hit 87 that week. The next week I hit 84. I've got my run test tomorrow, so tomorrow's the next one. So I'm like, please stay above 80%.

[Ali Riley]

But no. And it's. It's been inspirational for all of us in, in the environment sharing it with you. But also it's so cool to post these videos and share with everybody else because women are amazing and can do anything and you're showing that and it's so important. So I just. I know you don't like when I get all here, touchy feely, emotional. But it has been really special.

[Claire Emsley]

We. We balance each other out, I think because I'm too far the other way. So. Yeah.

[Ali Riley]

And like even you, I lay it on thick with you.

[Claire Emsley]

I love it. Yeah. When you take the videos and like post it and stuff. Like, I. I would never have done that because you. I'm terrible on social media. But you. It actually made me realize, you know what, I should share it and I should. Like, so many people responded to that and was like inspired and was asking me for advice because they, they were going through it and what did you do here and what do you think of this? And I was like, it's. I've definitely realized like there's like a mum Network. Like moms just want to help. Huge community.

[Ali Riley]

Yes.

[Claire Emsley]

Yeah. And I'm like, wow. Like, this is amazing. And like people have been so helpful to me and reached out and being so helpless me. So I'm like, okay, if I can help anyone else and share what I've done, then I'm happy to do that. And you brought that out with me, to be fair. Otherwise I'd just keep my head down and not tell anyone.

[Ali Riley]

Well, we're going to keep it going, Claire, because the journey is not over yet. And soon I will have more time on my hands. Or not. I don't know. But thank you so much for being a wonderful guest on the BFFR show.

[Claire Emsley]

Thank you.

[Ali Riley]

I'll text you later. I'll see you in a few hours.

[Claire Emsley]

Thanks, Sal. You're doing a great job. I love this show so much.

[Ali Riley]

That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Thank you. Go, Go rest. All right, it is time for ADD to cart, presented by Macy's, where each week I'll share one thing I'm loving right now. It could be a vibe, a trend, a person, a moment. And you can always find your faves@macy's.com. this week, I'm adding showgirl energy to my cart because T. Swift dropped her new album, the Life of a Showgirl, and I'm obsessed. So far, I'm thinking my favorite is the Fate of Ophelia. The music video is amazing. She looks so good. Honestly, she's never looked better. Her press tour, incredible. I was cracking up when she was on Jimmy Fallon. The girl is yapping. The ring, the outfits, the glow. She is so happy. I love this version of her. I did go to the Eras tour and I was blown away. The fire, the dancers and I just. Taylor, I want to be your friend. I'm trying to figure out as I listen to this album which song is going to be that one that just stays with me forever. Because right now, the song that stays with me forever, it will not get out of my head is Wildest Dreams. I also do love that music video, but I don't love that music video as much as my dear friend, football fern star Katie Bowen. Bowen. I'm going to find out if you listen to my show as you say you do, because Bowen was visiting me when I was in Sweden and we both, we were listening to the song over and over again. The next morning, I had to wake her up because it was morning and we were gonna have breakfast, whatever. And as I shake her to wake her up, she fully punches me in the face and was so mad at me because she was having a dream that she was in that music video and she was kissing Scott Eastwood.

[Claire Emsley]

Sorry.

[Ali Riley]

Not sorry, Bowen. Anyways, showgirl energy is officially in my cart. If you need all the essentials and the perfect look for your main character moment, Macy's big fall sale is happening now. 40 to 60% off fall must haves including coats, cashmere dresses, handbags, diamond jewelry and more. Shop@macy's.com or in store. All right, that's it for this week's episode of bffr. Thank you so much to Claire for taking time out of her busy schedule building things for the nursery to hang out with me after I have already spent all day with her. Don't forget to subscribe on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, wherever you listen and follow us. FFR show on all socials and keep those DMS coming. I'll see you next Monday.