Keeper Mary Earps has emphatically said that her newly released memoir was not designed to “damage others” and shared worry that audience feedback has been “misrepresented.”
Controversial Comments and Supporters’ Disapproval
The former England goalkeeper, who played a key role in the tournament success, encountered disapproval from supporters and Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor after making remarks about past Lioness Hannah Hampton and coach Sarina Wiegman.
In her book, Earps wrote that she told Wiegman she was “encouraging negative conduct” by reinstating Hampton to the national team after leaving her out for being “problematic and undependable.”
“I’ve found it quite intense to see how certain aspects were twisted,” Earps shared in an interview.
Explaining Her Motives
Earps clearly stated that her memoir was not designed to hurt others.
- “This book wasn’t written to criticize others in any manner.”
- “That doesn’t reflect my character as a person.”
- “This reflects reality. It has consequences. It is not entertainment.”
She also commented on how female soccer has evolved into a realm that has become “somewhat similar to show business,” where private matters are analyzed in detail for people’s enjoyment.
Connection to the Coach
Earps wrote about losing her spot as the first-choice keeper before the European Championship and how that strained her relationship with Wiegman.
She explained it was “not a rapid decline” in their relationship—just a difference of perspectives—and she still respects the manager.
“There were things that occurred during that period that I hoped had unfolded otherwise,” Earps remarked.
Private Challenges
In her memoir, Earps shared details of the mistreatment she experienced at during her education, describing it as a “particularly challenging” chapter to revisit because it reawakened old wounds.
- “I failed to defend myself at that time.”
- “I just assumed that people didn’t like me for a long time.”
- “I became accustomed to feel like people were indifferent.”
These emotions led to anxiety episodes, and Earps revealed she faced challenges with self-perception and turned to alcohol during the Covid pandemic to cope with anxiety and depression.
Relationships and Goals
Earps openly discussed that she is in a same-sex relationship and stated she is proud about her partnership.
She also mentioned her desire to be a mother and revealed she has frozen her eggs for later fertility treatment.
“I really want to be a parent and have a family,” Earps stated. “I am passionate about soccer, but I aspire to have a child later down the line.”
Earps characterized the egg-freezing procedure as “intense and intrusive” and pushed for more investigation tailored to athletes undergoing comparable treatments.
In her statements, Earps reiterated that she has no second thoughts about her sports path or personal choices, highlighting that she always behaved honestly.
