Lauren Holiday

Former USWNT star Lauren Holiday diagnosed with brain tumor mid-pregnancy

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:42 p.m. ET

Thomas Hautmann

Former U.S. women's national team star Lauren Holiday is set to undergo brain surgery to remove a benign brain tumor just weeks after she is to due to give birth to her first child.

Doctors made the shocking diagnosis back in late June, but said the tumor is operable and unlikely to threaten the health of Holiday's unborn daughter, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

The 28-year-old Holiday, who won two Olympic gold medals and the 2015 Women's World Cup, and NBA star husband Jrue Holiday were expecting to have their first child in October, but plan to induce labor earlier in order to expedite her surgery, which will be performed about six weeks later. Doctors expect Lauren to make a full recovery.

The New Orleans Pelicans star announced he will miss the start of the coming NBA season to be by his wife's side through both the birth and the surgery.

"My family comes before basketball," Holiday told the Times-Picayune. "I'm obviously blessed to play this game and be in the position I am in, but my wife is the most important thing in the world to me. She comes before anything else."

Lauren Holiday retired last year, two days after scoring the team's third goal in the Women's World Cup final, citing her desire to start a family. She also won the 2014 and 2015 NWSL championships with FC Kansas City, was the league's MVP in 2013, and was the 2014 U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year.

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