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Goalkeeper Mary Earps has openly declared that her freshly launched autobiography was never intended to “damage others” and voiced unease that media response has been “misrepresented.”

Controversial Comments and Public Criticism

The retired international player, who had a vital part in the championship win, faced backlash from followers and Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor after making remarks about ex-colleague Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman.

In her memoir, Earps allegedly stated told Wiegman she was “encouraging negative conduct” by reinstating Hampton to the national team after dropping her for being “problematic and undependable.”

“I’ve found it quite intense to see how some things have been distorted,” Earps told reporters.

Clarifying Her Purpose

Earps clearly stated that her memoir was not designed to harm individuals.

• “My memoir wasn’t created to criticize others in any manner.”
• “That doesn’t reflect my character as a person.”
• “This is real life. It has consequences. It is not entertainment.”

She also discussed how female soccer has entered a space that has become “almost like performance,” where individual stories are scrutinized heavily for audience entertainment.

Relationship with Wiegman

Earps wrote about losing the starting position as the first-choice keeper prior to Euro 2025 and how that strained her relationship with Wiegman.

She explained it was “not a sudden deterioration” in their dynamic—just a divergence in opinions—and she still respects the head coach.

“Certain events that occurred during that period that I hoped had unfolded otherwise,” Earps added.

Personal Struggles

In her memoir, Earps shared details of the bullying she suffered at school, describing it as a “particularly challenging” chapter to go back to because it revived past pain.

• “I didn’t stand up at that time.”
• “I always believed that people didn’t like me for the majority of my years.”
• “I was trained to feel like people were indifferent.”

These feelings led to anxiety episodes, and Earps shared she faced challenges with body image and turned to alcohol during the lockdown period to manage emotional difficulties.

Relationships and Goals

Earps openly discussed that she is in a relationship with a woman and shared her happiness about her relationship.

She also discussed her hopes for motherhood and revealed she has preserved her eggs for later fertility treatment.

“I would love to be a parent and have a household,” Earps said. “I enjoy my football career, but I wish to have a child later down the line.”

Earps described the medical treatment as “intense and intrusive” and advocated for more studies tailored to players undergoing comparable treatments.

During her remarks, Earps emphasized that she has no second thoughts about her sports path or personal choices, highlighting that she always proceeded with principle.