Scotland forward Claire Emslie experienced a whirlwind transition into motherhood when her waters broke during a gym session, leading to the birth of her son, Jamie. Just six months later, Emslie is back in action, representing her country and setting her sights on the 2026 World Cup finals in Brazil.

At 32 years old, Emslie returned to training by mid-January and marked her comeback with Los Angeles-based club Angel City on May 10, coinciding with Mother's Day in the United States.

Recently, she donned the Scotland jersey again for the first time in over a year, helping her team secure a resounding 6-0 victory against Israel in World Cup qualifying. The Scots are poised to face Israel again on Tuesday, aiming to fend off Belgium and secure the top spot in Group B4.

Emslie reflected on her transformative journey into motherhood, expressing surprise at how swiftly Jamie's arrival occurred. She shared, "Through my whole pregnancy, my club were brilliant. My body was able to do so much more than we expected, and I could train right up to the day I gave birth."

Her unexpected delivery unfolded after a routine day of swimming and gym workouts with her husband, Jonny. Emslie recalls the moment vividly:

My water broke in the gym. I was doing an exercise and as I stepped back, I felt it and I was like, 'oh man, here we go'.

Emslie's story illustrates the remarkable balance of motherhood and professional sports, as she continues to chase her dreams on the international stage.