Maitane Lopez's recent praise for her teammate, Ali Krieger, is making waves in the soccer world. Lopez's heartfelt tribute to Krieger highlighted her role as a mentor and as the team's “mom,” via Emma Hruby of Just Women's Sports.

“It’s amazing to be next to her on the pitch. She always helps me, and is the mom of the team, helping us and pushing us to be better, Lopez said. “She deserves more than anyone to advance to the next round and hopefully the trophy.”

The praise comes on heels of Gotham FC’s big 2-0 NWSL playoff win against the North Carolina Courage. The win extended Krieger’s playing career and has the team eyeing its first NWSL championship.

Krieger, a former U.S. women’s national team defender, announced that the start of the 2023 season that it would be her last, US Soccer reported.

She played in three World Cups for the U.S., securing titles in 2015 and 2019.

Krieger's farewell journey will continue into the semifinal round of the NWSL playoff is scheduled for Nov. 5th. Gotham FC will continue its hunt for its first champion title.

Another one of Krieger's Gotham teammates, forward Lynn Williams, said the team wants to win the championship “for Krieger.”

“I think we are using Krieger’s career as our motivation. Obviously people have other motivations too, but she’s never won an NWSL Championship. We want to let her retire on such a high note. We just want to win so bad. Like, why else play if you don’t want to win?”

As she prepares for the next round of the playoffs and for retirement, Ali Krieger will also be working through troubles in her personal life, after her wife Ashlyn Harris filed for divorce in September.