Abby Wambach is a soccer 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 has a long list of accomplishments and has been a regular contributor in the media. But what's her position now? How does she fit into the world of professional women's soccer?
Abby Wambach was a two-time Olympic gold medalist
Abby Wambach was a star in 2004, scoring 31 goals in 30 games and providing 13 assists. 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 last game for the U.S. will be against China on Dec. 16, as part of a World Cup victory tour. She stated that she would not make a decision about her Olympic future before the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup Champion
Abby Wambach, FIFA World Cup Champion was the best moment of the tournament. The match was tied in the 122nd minute. This resulted in penalties which were won by the USA. In the FIFA poll, it was ranked as the best moment of the tournament. The American was so happy that she shouted joyously. "Score within 10 minutes," Wambach shouted at her teammates. The ball was then headed into the back of Wambach's net.
Captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team
Mary Abigail Wambach was a former American Soccer player, coach and member of The National Soccer Hall of Fame. She was a sixtime U.S. Soccer Athlete-of-the Year winner. Wambach was a regular for the U.S. women's national team from 2003 to 2015, earning her first cap in 2001.
Angel City's founder
Abby Wambach was an Olympian before she rose to fame on the global stage. Wambach is a founding investor and the first woman to hold a majority ownership position 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
A welcome development is the recent investment made in women's football. One quarter of FIFA member countries do not have a senior national women's soccer team. Even Pakistan, which barely played competitive soccer before the 2015 Women's World Cup, is one of these. Mauritania invested more that $100,000 in women's football since 2016 and has now played its first official matches with Spain.