At the national team level, countries have ever-deepening talent pools; it’s harder and harder to hold onto your spot. If you get pregnant, that means months on the sideline while a young, hungry replacement is playing in your stead. The mothers who do go for it often face major doubt: it’s dicey to take a chance on a player undergoing both a gigantic physical transformation and a shift in priorities. This is the story of two moms on opposite sides of the world – Australia’s Melissa Barbieri and USA’s Amy Rodriguez – who were cut or traded… and who set out to make a comeback as good as any you’ll find.