Ali Krieger Will ‘Forever Cherish’ Her Friendship and ‘Deep Conversations’ with Megan Rapinoe (Exclusive)

Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe’s friendship is stronger than ever.

As both soccer stars prepare to close a chapter in their competitive careers with Saturday’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship game, Krieger, 39, and Rapinoe, 38, know only one of them can hang their hat with a win.

“I’m just excited to share the court with her one last time, not only as a former national team teammate, but as a friend,” Krieger tells PEOPLE ahead of the highly anticipated matchup between the OL Reign and Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

“It’s going to be very difficult because one of us has to lose, and it probably won’t be me,” laughs Krieger.

The Gotham FC player continues: “Regardless of what happens, I’m still very proud of her and I’m proud of us and what we’ve given to the game and what we’ve given to each other – that’s pretty much what this game is all about .”

Krieger says she and Rapinoe will “give it our all” in pursuit of the title, “and that’s the way we can respect each other the most.” She notes, “At the end of the day, our friendship will never detract from this game and what we give it.”

Megan Rapinoe reflects on ‘really special’ final match with Ali Krieger: ‘We planned it perfectly’ (Exclusive)

Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger.

Kayla Oaddams/WireImage; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Whatever the outcome on Saturday, “I know she’ll always have my back and I’ll always have hers no matter what,” says Krieger. “And that’s what I can walk away from this realization. We’ll cherish and cherish it forever.”

Rapinoe and Krieger have shared countless moments on the court over the years, but Krieger tells PEOPLE that the two “recently discovered a new friendship through personal things that we’ve both been through.”

The athletes bonded through “deep, deep conversations,” says Krieger, “just talking about family and growing up and childhood and just certain things that we went through.”

Soccer stars can also bond with each other as they navigate life in the public eye. “And then obviously we talk about life and football and work and life outside of football and work because you have to go to events and you’re a public person and you do all those things,” Krieger says, adding that “sometimes it’s nice to just sit on the couch or sit in a restaurant and anyway, and just don’t judge.”

Kreiger says he “really appreciates” being able to “share certain things that maybe I wouldn’t share every day” with Rapinoe, “And I know she appreciates that with me.”

Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris attend the 2023 New York Human Rights Campaign Dinner at The New York Marriott Marquis on February 4, 2023 in New York City.

Roy Rochlin/Getty

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Gotham FC’s championship hopes come amid the star’s divorce from former NWSL player Ashlyn Harris after four years of marriage.

Harris, 37, filed for divorce from Krieger on Sept. 19 in Florida, PEOPLE confirmed via the Seminole County Clerk’s website. They have two children: daughter Sloane, 2½, and son Ocean, 14 months.

Rapinoe’s wife, former WNBA star Sue Bird, has also become close friends with Krieger over the years.

Bird, 43, joined Gotham FC’s ownership group in 2022 but will be forced to watch her NWSL team compete against her wife Rapinoe’s on Saturday.

Seattle Storm number 10 Sue Bird and soccer player Megan Rapinoe during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns on November 19, 2021 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photo, User agrees to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Sue Bird on Supporting Fiancée Megan Rapinoe During Retirement: ‘It’s Never Easy’ (Exclusive)

In a post on her Instagram stories, Bird poked fun at the conundrum with a nod to Donna Kelce, who is known for her split NFL jerseys cheering on sons Jason and Travis Kelce and their teams. “Anyone get a cap on a Donna Kelce type jersey?” Bird wrote, tagging both Jason and Travis, as well as Krieger and Rapinoe.

Krieger told PEOPLE she found Bird’s request “ridiculous.” But “Pinoe hated it,” he jokes, referring to the preferred nickname teammates use for Rapinoe.

After Rapinoe’s OL Reign and Gotham FC advanced to the finals, Krieger says she “immediately texted Pinoe and said, ‘Who do you think Sue’s going to root for?’ ”

Krieger says Bird is a “huge part” of Gotham FC’s success and it’s “really great” to have her support as a friend and team owner. “Obviously it’s hard when your partner is playing the game too,” she explains. “You have to back her 100% first and foremost. So we know we can come second, but if we win I think she’ll be really excited too.”

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