Abby Wambach will be familiar to anyone who is a fan. This two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup champion, and U.S. women's national soccer team captain has been making headlines for a variety of reasons. She is a prolific recipient of numerous accolades and has often contributed to the media. But, where does she stand now? How does she fit into the professional women's football world?
Abby Wambach was twice a Olympic gold medalist
Abby Wambach was a breakout player in 2004, scoring 31 goals, and providing 13 assists in thirty games. Her performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics earned her a gold medal after scoring the winning goal against Brazil in extra time. Abby Wambach's last game for the U.S. will be against China on Dec. 16, as part of a World Cup victory tour. Before this year's World Cup, she said she would wait until after the World Cup before making a decision about her Olympic future.
FIFA World Cup Champions
Abby Wambach was FIFA World Cup Champion and scored an incredible goal against Brazil in July 20. It was one the most memorable moments of the tournament. The goal tied match in the 122nd minutes, forcing penalties that the USA won. It was the most memorable moment of the tournament according to the FIFA poll. The American was so overwhelmed by joy that she cried in joy. Wambach shouted at her teammates, "Score inside 10 minutes." She then headed the ball into the back of the net.
U.S. women's national football team captain
Mary Abigail Wambach (ex-American soccer player, coach, and member of National Soccer Hall of Fame) is a former American Soccer player. She was a six-time U.S. Soccer Athlete. Wambach was an American women's team regular from 2003 to 2015. She won her first cap in 2001.
Founder of Angel City
The new women's soccer team is owned by former Olympian Abby Wambach, who was a Rochester native before becoming a star on the world stage. Wambach was a founder investor and is the first woman to own a majority of the NWSL. Wambach's connection with the team began after she attended a Time's Up event and realized there wasn't a women's team in Los Angeles.
Investment in women's soccer
It is refreshing to see the recent investment in women's soccer. One quarter of FIFA member clubs do not have an established senior women's team. These include even Pakistan, which had never played competitive soccer prior to the 2015 Women's World Cup. Mauritania, which has made more than $100,000 in women’s soccer since 2016, played its first official matches against Spain in July.