Abby Wambach will be familiar to anyone who is a fan. Two-time Olympic gold champion, FIFA World Cup champ, and U.S. women’s team captain, Wambach has been making headlines for a variety. She has a long list of accomplishments and has been a regular contributor in the media. What's her current position? How does she fit into the world of professional women's soccer?
Abby Wambach was twice a Olympic gold medalist
Abby Wambach was an outstanding player in 2004, scoring 31 and providing 13 assists over 30 games. Athens Olympics 2004: Abby Wambach won a gold medal for her performance. She scored the winning goal against Brazil in extra-time. Abby Wambach, who is on a World Cup win tour, will be playing against China in her last game for the U.S. She had said she would wait till after the World Cup to decide about her Olympic future.
FIFA World Cup Champion
FIFA World Cup Champion Abby Wambach's incredible goal against Brazil on July 20 was one of the most memorable moments in the tournament. The goal tied the match in the 122nd minute and forced penalties, which the USA won. It was ranked the greatest moment in the tournament by FIFA poll. The American was overcome with joy and screamed in joy. "Score within 10 minutes," Wambach shouted at her teammates. She then sent the ball in the direction of the back goal.
U.S. women's national soccer team captain
Mary Abigail Wambach was a former American Soccer player, coach and member of The National Soccer Hall of Fame. 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.
Angel City's Founder
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, who was the founding investor of the NWSL, is also the first woman in a majority ownership role. 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
A welcome development is the recent investment made in women's football. 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 invested more that $100,000 in women's football since 2016 and has now played its first official matches with Spain.