Jody Avergan

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In the photo she's talking about, Carly's sitting on a ball in the middle of a field.

Her head is in her hands.

She's staring down at the green grass in front of her.

There's no one else in the picture.

No spectators, no teammates.

It really looks like Carly's alone and in despair.

Most people who saw that photo were probably thinking, oh, she's just really upset.

The U.S.

lost in the semifinals.

They're not going to get a shot at the gold medal.

But there's so much more going on there that we didn't know.

Her last world event.

Before the Olympics, Carly had decided it was time to hang up her cleats, time to retire.

No more Olympics, no more World Cups.

And I'd imagine she hoped her last game on the world stage would have ended with a gold medal around her neck.

But it was not to be.

Well, it's like sports teaching you one last lesson on the way out.

Carly didn't get her storybook ending.

Not every career can end on a high note.