Abby Wambach is probably a familiar name to soccer fans. 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. 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 was a breakout star in 2004, scoring 31 goals and providing 13 assists in 30 games. Athens Olympics 2004, her performance earned her a silver medal. In extra time, she scored the winning goal for Brazil. Abby Wambach will play against China Dec. 16 as part of the World Cup victory tour. Before the World Cup, she stated that she would wait to make an announcement about her Olympic future until after it.
FIFA World Cup Champion
Abby Wambach, FIFA World Cup Champion was the best moment of the tournament. The goal tied the match at 122 minutes and forced penalties. The USA won. It was ranked the greatest moment in the tournament by FIFA poll. The American was so overcome with joy that she screamed in joy. Wambach shouted at her teammates, "Score inside 10 minutes." She then kicked the ball towards 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 times winner of U.S. Soccer Athlete. Wambach played a regular role on the U.S. Women's National Team from 2003 to 2015. She earned her first cap in 2001.
Founder of Angel City
Abby Wambach, a former Olympian and Rochester native who became a world star on the international stage, owns the new women’s soccer team. Wambach is the founder investor and first woman to have a majority stake in the NWSL. Wambach's first connection to the team was made after she attended Time's Up in Los Angeles and saw that there wasn't a woman's team.
Investment in women's soccer
It is refreshing to see the recent investment in women's soccer. The truth is that a quarter the FIFA member associations don't have a senior female national team. These include even Pakistan, which had never played competitive soccer prior to the 2015 Women's World Cup. Mauritania invested more that $100,000 in women's football since 2016 and has now played its first official matches with Spain.