Why World Cup Soccer Star Ali Riley Chose Mira to Track Her Hormones During IVF Why World Cup Soccer Star Ali Riley Chose Mira to Track Her Hormones During IVF

Share

7 minute read Updated on 10th July 2025

Why World Cup Soccer Star Ali Riley Chose Mira to Track Her Hormones During IVF

Written by Shelby Hale
Medically reviewed by Katerina Shkodzik, MD, Ob&Gyn

When the game paused, she focused on her future.

After a career-threatening injury and the heartbreak of missing the Olympics, Ali Riley — captain of New Zealand’s Women’s National Team and defender for Angel City FC — found herself in unfamiliar territory. 

“So many parts of my life this year felt up in the air,” Riley shared. “But one thing I knew I wanted, when I couldn’t play soccer or be with my team, was to do something for my future. And that was to have the option of having a baby.”

Unsure if motherhood was even a possibility, Riley began monitoring her hormone levels with the world's first fertility tracker using real-lab technology — Mira. 

Navigating Fertility in a Time of Uncertainty

From recovery to fertility — reclaiming agency through hormone tracking.

“For my recovery and overall well-being, it was an important time for me to listen to my body. With Mira, I felt like I had a roadmap in front of me,” she said. “And when I saw that I was still in a late reproductive phase, I felt a sense of hope.”

After realizing it was still possible to get pregnant, Ali decided to pursue IVF and continued using Mira throughout her cycle — all whilst recovering in rehab and rebuilding after the loss of her family home in the Los Angeles wildfires.  

Coping with the emotional weight of an injury, personal loss, and pursuit of pregnancy was challenging, but using Mira to know exactly what was going on inside her body brought Ali a sense of control. One less uncertainty to deal with. 

“Tracking my hormones gave me clarity. It helped me understand when my body was ready to start this next chapter, even while juggling everything else.”

Why She Chose Mira 

Why Ali Riley trusted Mira with her most personal journey. 

Choosing the right hormone tracker for this journey was not a decision Ali made lightly. She had used regular at-home trackers and ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) before, but their ranges were limited and not suitable to support fertility treatments. 

Ali needed answers that she could trust, not vague data. 

By choosing Mira, Ali is now able to test her exact hormone levels at home with lab-grade accuracy, which is backed by independent studies that show a strong correlation between Mira test results and traditional blood tests. 

This level of sensitivity and precision is a first for at-home fertility tracking — empowering women, like Ali, to track even the smallest hormone changes from the comfort of home. 

This technology is the foundation for why Mira is the first at-home hormone monitor validated for fertility treatments, with one study showing a correlation between Mira’s urine E3G testing and the number of eggs retrieved during IVF as standard blood-based estradiol testing. 

“Being able to track my hormone levels at home during IVF gave me peace of mind between doctor’s appointments — I wasn’t left wondering what was happening inside my body.”

The Bigger Picture: A New Era for Women’s Hormone Health

Ali’s story is powerful because it’s personal — but she’s not alone. 

Millions of women walk a similar path every day: juggling careers, relationships, workouts, and fertility treatments — all while navigating the silent complexity of their hormones.

For too long, women have been expected to “just deal with it.” To push through the pain. To keep trying, without real answers.

“At Mira, we believe it’s time for a change. We created Mira to give women real data, real control, and real clarity — whether you’re training for the World Cup or trying for your first baby. Because your hormone health isn’t a side note. It’s the core of your well-being, your fertility, and your future,” says Sylvia Kang, Mira co-founder and CEO. 

Ali is one of many women using Mira to take back control. And now, you can too.

Science That Matters

Science That Matters

Like any transition in life, planning a pregnancy demands trust — in yourself, in the process, and in the tools that guide you. 

When you use Mira to plan a pregnancy, you can be confident in knowing you’re using the most accurate hormone tracking tool available. 

Here’s why:

  • Mira utilizes fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay technology. This is similar to the technology used in real laboratories, and it empowers you to measure and track your exact hormone concentration levels in urine with lab-grade accuracy.  

  • When tracked over time in the Mira App, Mira’s advanced AI algorithm learns everything it can about your unique cycle patterns. This allows you to identify your most fertile days, predict ovulation, and confirm when ovulation occurred. 

Over 2,000+ healthcare professionals recommend Mira — but it’s not just about the hormone data. It’s about empowering women to take control of their bodies and reproductive health. 

For women undergoing fertility treatments, one study found that testing with Mira enhances patient experience, with most study participants finding self-monitoring to be both convenient and empowering. 

A similar sentiment was revealed in a recent Mira customer survey, which found that 97% users feel more in control of their fertility journeys with Mira. 

Ali’s doctor, Dr. Rachel Mandelbaum, MD also weighed in on the power of hormone tracking with Mira from a clinical perspective. 

“When it comes to planning an IVF cycle, the more data the better. Particularly when patients have an IUD and don’t get a period or if they get irregular periods, this data really helps me time when to start an IVF cycle. We get very few outward signs of where the ovaries are in their monthly cycle (a period being the main one, and sometimes cervical mucus, ovulation pain, or premenstrual symptoms), so a beautiful E3G, PDG, and LH curve is such a treat!“

More Than Hormone Tracking

Ali’s story is about more than IVF and hormone tracking. It’s about listening to your body, reclaiming agency, and demanding better care. 

“Mira gave me a routine. It gave me concrete information to rely on. Having this resource was powerful.” 

Whether you're navigating fertility, perimenopause, or major life transitions, Mira is a lifelong guide — helping you gain control, clarity, and confidence when you need it most.

“This year reminded me that life throws you unexpected challenges. But knowledge is power. I feel more prepared and empowered — for motherhood, and for getting back on the pitch one day.“

To learn more about how Mira can empower you along your unique journey, visit How Mira Works

For more on Ali’s IVF journey: 

Our Commitment to Women in Professional Sports

Ali’s experience shines a light on the systemic gaps in professional sports, where reproductive health is rarely addressed and still taboo in many teams. 

For most female athletes, fertility preservation or IVF can only happen during the offseason, and often without much institutional support. “There are so many decisions we’re forced to make without the right information or resources,” said Ali. “I was lucky to have access to Mira and a strong support system, but so many of my colleagues are flying blind. That has to change.”

To help bridge this gap, we are offering to donate hormone-tracking kits to football clubs interested in providing their athletes with better fertility and hormonal health resources. Clubs looking to participate can reach out to us directly at press@miracare.com.

Science helps you get

Get the real-time accuracy Mira has to offer and reach your fertility goals.