Carli Lloyd returns but at what cost?

Houston Dash midfielder and USWNT star Carli Lloyd returned to the fold on Monday morning at Houston Sports Park but at what cost to team unity or her reputation? Outwardly, players welcomed her back without any visible reservations. Before the season began, head coach Randy Waldrum made it a point to try and build more cohesiveness between Lloyd and her teammates knowing that she would be gone for the Rio Olympics. Her extended absence and the reasons or lack of reasons have put whatever unity was built in jeopardy.

Noticeably absent for17 days since the USA side was eliminated from the Rio Olympics, the veteran spoke to the media following training but did nothing to make anyone feel better about her disappearing act just when the Houston Dash needed her most.

“It has been pre-approved, went through all the channels. I’ve sacrificed my life to the game of soccer. I’ve never missed a game, I think except for one time in 2013 for something personal. So I have sacrificed just like everybody else on this field. I am getting married this year. It is impossible to plan your life. There is really nothing else to talk about other than I am here and ready to go, ready to finish out five more games.” Excerpt from Houston Chronicle report Corey Roepken interview

Those remarks are clearly indicative of human nature, one that is sometimes selfish and self-absorbing. There is no I in team but there is in Carli and for one moment in an otherwise illustrious last couple of years human nature had the best of the world’s best player. With a professional sports life comes the sacrifice of things many of us take for granted. Professional athletes are not immune to human nature but they are called to understand and accept that they do not have the life of an everyday Joe. Lloyd is such an athlete.

It is unfortunate that she chose her own relaxation over her team. While the veteran midfielder was rejuvenating from a grueling grind of the last few of months, her team was struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive. While Lloyd was in New York, the Washington Spirit were in Houston with their own USWNT player on the pitch. Defender Ali Krieger who admittedly said she may not have played as much as some at the Rio games said it was important for her to help her team do all it could to win an NWSL title and that playing with those teammates meant just as much as playing for the national team. That is the example of a leader.

The question the organization from the top down to the fans who she hopes will show up on September 3rd have to be wondering is would Carli Lloyd have shown up like Ali Krieger did if her team had been in first place instead of near the bottom of the table? It’s always easier to show up when the going is good or there is something to play for but with your team at the bottom of the heap, it’s a little more difficult to suck it up and show up.

With 15 of 17 USWNT players having shown up for selection this past weekend, it’s an understatement to say that the two most visible faces in women’s soccer were conspicuously absent. One (Hope Solo) because she had no choice, the other because she chose to be.

Lloyd made matters worse stating “Actually, as we all know, our schedules are not drawn out a year ahead of time,” Lloyd said. “The NWSL (schedule), I believe, came out in late February. So I have had a personal commitment that really is none of anyone’s business, that was scheduled in the beginning of the year. Obviously, you knew the Olympic schedule window. That’s that.”

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What Lloyd doesn’t realize is that she opened this can of worm when she tweeted out her concert shenanigans while her team was busy preparing for a soccer game against one of the league’s best team’s. The privacy she sought was gone because at that moment everyone knew where her priorities stood. In addition to her concert going there was some planning going on by Lloyd while she was gone including scheduling of her book tour which coincidentally begins the day after the season ends. Her actions and her comments have left her coach, the team and the organization blowing in the wind. .

Assuming Lloyd will be in the starting eleven on Saturday, she will have the opportunity to play five more games this season and seven in all for the Houston Dash. An MCL strain left her on the sidelines as she worked to get healthy for U.S. Soccer who pays her contract and the Rio Games. Over the past two seasons, the midfielder will have played 19 games in two seasons assuming she plays out the string and as she says finishes strong. Difficult to swallow if your club is in search of a championship title and the leader is nowhere to be found.

Now its time for some scrutiny and accountability.

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