UNITED STATES—The World Cup-winning US National Women’s Team is losing a valuable member of its group. Lauren Holiday, 27, the midfielder and forward announced her retirement from the team following 10 years as a member.

According to ESPN, Holiday cited a desire to move on into the next chapter of her life as the main reason for leaving the team, saying “I chose this team for 10 years, and now I’m going to choose my family.”

Holiday made her announcement on July 7, just two days after the US prevailed over Japan 5-2 in the FIFA World Cup Final. Holiday, along with the team, returned from that accomplishment to a hero’s welcome in the States that included a large celebration at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and a coveted ticker-tape parade in New York City.

Holiday and the rest of the United States Women's National Team celebrates their victory over Japan in the 2015 FIFA World Cup Final.
Holiday and the rest of the United States Women’s National Team celebrates their victory over Japan in the 2015 FIFA World Cup Final.

Throughout the 2015 World Cup tournament, Holiday did not score until the final game, where she netted a loose ball just prior to Carli Lloyd’s final goal of her hat trick.

During her tenure with the team, Holiday recorded 24 goals in 130 games appeared. In all, she participated in two FIFA World Cups, two Olympics, and a number of other world tournaments. She will leave the team having accumulated one World Cup silver and gold medal, earned in 2011 and 2015 respectively, and two Olympic gold medals, from 2008 and 2012.

Though Holiday will permanently hang up her jersey for the national team, she will continue to play until the end of the season for FC Kansas City in the National Women’s Soccer League, for which she is the all-time highest goal-scorer and assists leader.

A UCLA soccer legend, Holiday achieved the rare feat of receiving the NSCAA/Adidas First Star All America honors for all four years of her attendance at the school. She broke the school records for most points, with 173, and most game-winning goals, with 28.

Holiday is married to NBA star and New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday, who also attended UCLA for college.