Lloyd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a two-time FIFA World Cup champion with the U.S. women's national team, is also a two-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year a- nd at the 2015 World Cup, won the Golden Ball as the best player at the competition.
“There was no greater honor than wearing the red, white and blue,” Lloyd said. “Yes, it was extremely hard. There were countless sacrifices along the way, but every bit of it was worth it, because I loved the game, the lessons I learned, the relationships that I forged and the experiences I gained were more than I ever could imagine.”
Rimando, who played in 553 games in 20 MLS seasons, also made 22 appearances for the U.S. between 2002 and 2015.
“I stand here today, not because of the games or the records, but because I never stopped believing through the setbacks, the noise and the rejection,” Rimando said. “If my story says anything, that would be this: You’re always more than what they say you are.”
Armas, who played in MLS' first 12 seasons, was named to the league's postseason Best XI five times, and played in four MLS Cups, including one victory. For the USMNT, he made 66 appearances between 1998 and 2005. He is currently the head coach of the Colorado Rapids.
“People say, ‘Do you love to win or hate to lose?’ ” Armas said. “I’m not so sure. All I know is that the fire is burning bright, and I learned at a young age that I had to empty my tank in pursuit of that victory.”
Harvey, who was the goalkeeper on the U.S. team that claimed victory at the first FIFA Women's World Cup in 1992, also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.
“I learned that the national team is about excellence,” Harvey said. “It’s about being the best you can be, the best teammate you can be, and about doing incredible things together. Today, I challenge people on the teams that I manage to develop an awareness about how what they say and what they do impacts everyone around them and their ability to perform.”
Abbott was MLS president and deputy commissioner for 10 seasons, from 2013 through 2022, and previously was the league's VP for business affairs.
“I had a cool job, and I got to do a lot of cool things, but the thing I always appreciated the most was being a part of a community,” Abbott said. “That community had a common objective of trying to make our league as accessible as it could be.”