Abby Wambach, a soccer fan, is most likely familiar to you. 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 has many accolades to her name and is often cited in the media. What's her current position? How does she fit in the professional world of women's soccer for women?
Abby Wambach was an Olympic gold medalist twice.
Abby Wambach, who scored 31 goals and provided 13 assists in 30 games in 2004, was a rising star. Athens Olympics 2004 saw Abby Wambach win a gold and silver medal. She scored the winning goal over Brazil in extra overtime. Abby Wambach's final game against the U.S. in this World Cup victory tour will be against China on December 16. She stated that she would not make a decision about her Olympic future before the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup Champion
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 match was tied in the 122nd minute. This resulted in penalties which were won by the USA. It was voted the best moment of tournament in the FIFA poll. The American was so happy that she shouted joyously. Wambach shouted to her teammates, "Score within 10 mins." She then headed the ball into the back of the net.
U.S. Women's National Soccer 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 times winner of U.S. Soccer Athlete. Wambach, who was a regular on the U.S. national women's soccer team from 2003-2015, earned her first cap at age 41 in 2001.
Founder of Angel City
Abby Wambach was an Olympian before she rose to fame on the global stage. Wambach is a founding investor, and the first woman ever to hold majority ownership in the NWSL. Wambach's association with the team began when she attended a Time's Up Los Angeles event and realized that there wasn't any women's soccer team.
Investment in women's soccer
The recent investment in the development of women's soccer is a welcome change. A quarter of FIFA member organizations do not have a senior women’s national soccer team. Even Pakistan, a country that had barely played competitive soccer in the years before the 2015 Women's World Cup was held, is one among these. Mauritania has been playing its first official match in Spain since July 2016, after having invested more than $100,000 into women's soccer.