Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach

Wambach warming up in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Mary Abigail Wambach[1]
Date of birth	(1980-06-02) June 2, 1980
Place of birth	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position	Forward
Youth career
1994–1998	Our Lady of Mercy High School
1995–1997	Rochester Spirit
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2001	Florida Gators	93	(96)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	Washington Freedom	37	(23)
2005	Ajax America Women	3	(5)
2009–2010	Washington Freedom	39	(21)
2011	MagicJack	11	(9)
2013–2014	Western New York Flash	29	(17)
Total		119	(75)
International career
2001–2015	United States	255	(184)
Managerial career
2011	magicJack (player-coach)
Medal record Women's soccer Representing  United States Olympic Games 2004 Athens Team 2012 London Team FIFA World Cup Winner 2015 Canada Runner-up 2011 Germany 2003 United States 2007 China
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mary Abigail Wambach (born June 2, 1980) is an American former soccer player, coach, and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, who played as a forward.^[2] A six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a regular on the U.S. women's national soccer team from 2003 to 2015. She is currently the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and ranks second in international goals for soccer players of any gender with 184 goals, behind Christine Sinclair.^[3][4] Wambach was awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was included on the 2015 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

Wambach competed in four editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup, winning the tournament in 2015. She won the gold medal at the Olympics in 2004 and 2012.^[5][6] In college, she helped the Florida Gators women's soccer team win its first NCAA Division I Championship. She played at the professional level for Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash.

Wambach is known for scoring goals with diving headers. During a quarterfinal match against Brazil at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wambach scored a last-minute equalizer goal from a precise cross from Megan Rapinoe, which helped the U.S. secure victory. The goal set a record for the latest goal ever scored in a World Cup match,^[7] and received ESPN's ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. Wambach also won the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball. In 2011, she became the first soccer player of any gender to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.

Wambach retired in 2015, playing her last game on December 16 in New Orleans as part of the United States' 10-game Victory Tour following its win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[8] Her 2016 autobiography, Forward, became a New York Times best seller.^[9] Her second book, Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game, based on her viral commencement speech at Barnard College, was a New York Times Bestseller in 2019.^[10]

Wambach was born to Pete and Judy Wambach in Rochester, New York, and was raised in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford. She is the youngest of seven children, with two sisters and four brothers.^[11][12] She began playing soccer at the age of four after her sister Laura tried the sport. Their mother checked out a book from the library explaining how to play, and from then on soccer became a family tradition. In a 2011 interview, Wambach said her large family felt like a team environment which taught her how to compete. She explained that her siblings never let her win, forcing her to earn her victories. She was toughened up by her elder brothers, who fired hockey pucks at her for target practice.^[13] Wambach credited this early competition for her later success.^[14]

While playing in her first youth soccer league at age five, Wambach was transferred from the girls' team to the boys' after scoring 27 goals over three games. As a pre-teen, she eluded defenders by heading the ball over them and then running around them.^[15] Wambach's brother Matthew described her as fiercely competitive; after he witnessed her tackle a neighbor boy at the age of 11 or 12, he felt she was destined for sports success.^[16]

Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester from 1994 to 1998, where she competed in soccer and basketball.^[11] She scored 142 goals during her high school career, including 34 in 1997. Her soccer coach, Kathy Boughton, recalled that Wambach often asked to practice diving headers—a skill which became her trademark as an international player.^[17] Following her senior season, Wambach was named to Parade magazine's High School All-America Team, and was voted national high school player of the year by Umbro and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).^[11][18] In 1997, she was named NSCAA Regional Player of the Year, NSCAA State of New York Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions New York Player of the Year, and cited by USA Today as one of the nation's top 10 recruits.^[11]

Wambach was a three-year captain for the Rochester Spirit club team and was named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 1995 and 1997.^[11] She was a member of the Olympic Development Program U-16 National Team in 1996 and the 1997 National U-20 Player Pool. She trained and played with the U.S. women's national soccer team while competing in the 1997 U.S. Soccer Festival in Blaine, Minnesota. In 1997, she was a member of the first American youth soccer team to compete in Beijing, China.^[11]

Considered the top college recruit in 1997,^[19] Wambach was sought after by numerous colleges, including top soccer programs at the University of North Carolina, UCLA, the University of Portland, and the University of Virginia.^[20] Wambach accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she played for coach Becky Burleigh's Florida Gators women's soccer team from 1998 to 2001.^[11] Florida's program was only three years old, and the challenge of joining a less-established team appealed to Wambach.^[20] As a freshman in 1998, she helped the Gators win their first NCAA national championship over the 15-time champion North Carolina Tar Heels. The Gators also won four consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships from 1998 to 2001.^[11]

Individually, Wambach was the SEC Freshman of the Year (1998), a freshman All-American (1998), a first-team All-SEC selection for four straight seasons (1998–2001), and a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2000, 2001). She twice received SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors (2000, 2001), and was named a first-team All-American her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons in 1999, 2000 and 2001.^[11] In addition to leading the Gators to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament as a senior in 2001, Wambach set school career records for goals scored (96), assists (50), points (242), game-winning goals (24), and hat tricks (10).^[11][21] Wambach was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2012.^[22][23]

In 2002, Wambach was selected second during the first round of the WUSA draft by the Washington Freedom for the second season of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).^[24] The Freedom had tied for last place with the Carolina Courage the previous season, but were able to finish third in 2002 with a berth in the playoffs.^[25][26] The Freedom upset the Philadelphia Charge 1–0 in the semifinal, then lost 3–2 to the Courage in the final.^[27][28] Wambach served one assist during the final.^[29] After leading all first-year players in scoring, Wambach was named 2002 WUSA Rookie of the Year. She was the Freedom's leading scorer with ten goals and ten assists, and was tied for fourth for scoring in the league.^[30] She scored twice in the inaugural 2002 WUSA All-Star Game, and was named MVP of the game.^[31]

During the 2003 season, Wambach tied with Freedom teammate Mia Hamm for first in league scoring, with 33 points.^[32] Her contributions helped propel the Freedom to the championship match of the Founders Cup, where she scored the game-winning goal to defeat the Atlanta Beat 2–1. Wambach was named the MVP of the tournament.^[a] Five days before the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, the WUSA folded, citing financial difficulties and a lack of sponsorship.^[36] In the summer of 2005, Wambach played for Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) club Ajax America Women, alongside national teammate Shannon Boxx.^[37] Wambach scored five goals and served three assists in three appearances.^[38]

In 2008, a new U.S. women's professional league was announced: Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Wambach was assigned to the Washington Freedom during the 2008 WPS Player Allocation, which assigned twenty-one players from the U.S. national team player pool to the seven teams in the new league.^[39] League play began in March 2009. During the fifth week of play, Wambach was voted WPS Player of the Week after scoring two goals during the Freedom's first win.^[40] On May 3, she received a yellow card for a tackle that left St. Louis Athletica midfielder Daniela with two damaged knee ligaments and a crack in the tibia, sidelining her for the rest of the season.^[41] Wambach was suspended for one game after the tackle was reviewed by the league commissioner.^[42] Wambach was named WPS Player of the Week two more times during the 2009 season.^[b] She ended the season with eight goals and was named to the 2009 WPS All-Star Team.^[32]

During the 2010 season, Wambach was named Player of the Week in week 2.^[46] She received the most votes in 2010 WPS All-Star voting, making her one of two captains for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game. Wambach received 100% of votes from the media and coaches, and received the most fan votes with 31%.^[47][48] In 2011, the Freedom relocated to Boca Raton, Florida and were renamed magicJack under new ownership. On July 22, Wambach was named the team's player-coach for the rest of the 2011 season.^[49] She was named Player of the Week for the seventh time in August.^[50] On October 26, the WPS League Governors voted to terminate the magicJack franchise.^[51] The WPS suspended operations in early 2012.^[52]

In 2012, a new professional women's soccer league was announced in the U.S. that featured allocated players from the American, Mexican, and Canadian national teams.^[53] On January 11, 2013, Wambach was allocated to the National Women's Soccer League club Western New York Flash, in her hometown of Rochester, New York.^[54][55] After missing the preseason due to national team commitments, she made her debut on April 14, 2013, during the team's season opener against Sky Blue FC.^[56][57]

During the Flash's second match against the Washington Spirit, Wambach was accidentally struck hard in the face from close range by her teammate Brittany Taylor in the 80th minute. She dropped to the ground and appeared disoriented after standing up.^[58] She played the remainder of the match and even attempted to score a goal with her head, but dropped to the ground after the final whistle and was described by Spirit goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris as dazed and mumbling.^[59][60] U.S. Soccer announced several days later that she had suffered a concussion and acknowledged that the injury should have been handled differently by the referee, coaching staff, and players.^[61] Wambach sat out the next game as a precautionary health measure.^[62]

Wambach made her home debut for the Flash on May 1 and scored the winning goal to defeat Sky Blue 2–1. It was the team's first league win and lifted them to a three-way tie for third place in the league.^[63] Wambach was named NWSL Player of the Week during weeks 5 and 9 of the season.^[64][65] On March 18, 2015, she announced that she was sitting out the entire 2015 NWSL season to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[66] Two weeks later, Wambach's playing rights were traded along with midfielder Amber Brooks and a first-round pick in the 2016 NWSL college draft to Seattle Reign FC, in exchange for forwards Sydney Leroux and Amanda Frisbie.^[67]

In 2001, Wambach's WUSA and collegiate performance earned her a spot at the training camp for the U.S. women's national soccer team. Her first international match occurred on September 9 against Germany at the Nike U.S. Cup in Chicago. The U.S. won 4–1.^[69] She scored her first international goal on April 27, 2002, during a friendly match against Finland in San Jose, California. The U.S. won 3–0.^[70]

In August 2003, Wambach was named to the U.S. roster by coach April Heinrichs for her first World Cup.^[71] She had played in six international matches before the tournament. Wambach made the starting line-up for the first group stage match, a 3–1 win over Sweden. During the second match against Nigeria, Wambach scored a goal as the U.S. achieved a 5–0 victory.^[72] She scored another goal during the third group stage match as the U.S. defeated North Korea 3–0.^[73] Wambach scored the only goal of the quarterfinal against Norway, bringing her team to the semifinals.^[74] The U.S. lost to Germany 3–0 in the semifinal, then defeated Canada 3–1 in a match for third place.^[75][76] During the World Cup, Wambach led the U.S. in scoring with three goals.^[74][77]

After the WUSA suspended operations in 2003, Wambach trained with the national team in preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.^[78] During the team's first group stage match against Greece on August 11, Wambach scored one goal and received a yellow card as the U.S. won 3–0.^[79][80] During the second match against Brazil, Wambach and Mia Hamm each scored a goal to secure a 2–0 victory. Wambach received another yellow card, resulting in an automatic suspension from her next match.^[81][82] She watched from the sidelines as her team played to a 1–1 tie against Australia in the final group stage match. The U.S. faced Japan in the quarterfinal on August 20, with Wambach's goal in the 59th minute lifting the Americans to a 2–1 victory.^[83]

After defeating Germany during the semifinal, the U.S. faced Brazil for a second time in the Olympic final. Wambach's 10-yard header in the 112th minute off a corner kick from Kristine Lilly gave the U.S. a 2–1 victory and the gold medal win.^[84] Her last-minute goal was hailed as one of the five biggest goals in U.S. women's national team history by ESPN in 2011.^[85] Wambach finished the tournament with four goals and one assist.^[74] Her four goals set a new record for goals scored by a single U.S. player at an Olympic Tournament.^[86][87] The Olympic win also marked the start of significant changes for the national team as it was the final competitive international match for veteran players Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett and Julie Foudy, who had played with the team since the first Women's World Cup in 1991.^[88][89] On the significance of the win, Wambach said, "It's the least we can do for the women who have meant so much to us."^[90][91] At the end of 2004, Wambach had scored 31 goals and 13 assists in 30 matches for the national team. She finished fourth in voting for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year.^[92]

After the Athens Olympics, Wambach continued as a major contributor to the national team, scoring goals during the 2005 Algarve Cup and a number of exhibition games.^[74] During group play at the Algarve Cup, one of her goals helped the U.S. set a record for the largest goal margin in an Algarve Cup match after their 5–0 win over Denmark.^[93] At the end of 2006, Wambach had scored 66 goals in 84 international matches, scoring more goals in fewer games than any player since Michelle Akers. She was one of twenty players nominated for the 2006 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and finished fourth in voting for the award.^[94]

Heading into the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, the national team had not conceded a game in regulation time in nearly three years and was considered a favorite to win the tournament in China. Wambach had become a regular on the team for five years and had assumed a new position as leader on the team.^[95] During their first match of the tournament against North Korea, Wambach collided in the air with North Korean defender, Ri Kum-Suk, and landed on the ground with blood streaming down her head. She was sidelined from the pitch for ten minutes while she received five stitches to the back of her head.^[96] Coach Greg Ryan decided not to replace Wambach, who had scored 78 goals in 97 games. The United States was ahead 1–0 thanks to a goal Wambach had scored in the 50th minute, assisted by Kristine Lilly. The squad allowed two goals while Wambach was away for those ten minutes. "When they scored right away as I went off I started to get worried. So I started to run to the locker room to get stitches put in", Wambach said. A few minutes after Wambach returned to the pitch, the United States tied the match with a goal scored by Heather O'Reilly.^[97][98]

The team faced Sweden in their next match on September 14, 2007. Wambach scored two goals and notched up her record to 80 goals in 98 international matches after scoring in the 34th minute on a penalty kick and again in the 58th minute on a left-footed half-volley from a cross from Kristine Lilly.^[99] The U.S. finished group play with their 1–0 defeat over Nigeria on September 18. Wambach provided the assist with a header off a long thrown-in to Lori Chalupny who settled it off her chest and chipped the ball past Nigeria's goalkeeper. The win launched the U.S. to the quarterfinals.^[100]

During the quarterfinal match against England on September 22, 2007, Wambach scored the first goal for the Americans during the 48th minute, followed by two goals scored by teammates Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly, defeating England 3–0. All three goals were scored within 12 minutes.^[101] During the first half, with the match poised at 0–0, English captain Faye White required extensive treatment following an elbow in the face from Wambach. Although Wambach insisted the contact was accidental, the English players and media thought otherwise.^[102] Wambach became the twentieth player in U.S. women's national soccer team history (thirtieth American soccer player overall) to earn 100 international caps.^[103][104]

The United States faced Brazil in the semi-finals in what would become a controversial and game-changing match for the team. Coach Greg Ryan decided to bench starting goalkeeper, Hope Solo, and instead started Brianna Scurry, a veteran goalkeeper who had started in three World Cups and two Olympics, but who had started very few matches since the 2004 Olympics. The U.S. was defeated 4–0 by Brazil.^[105] The loss relegated them to a final match against Norway, which they won 4–1, to secure third place standing at the tournament. Wambach scored a brace with goals in the 30th and 46th minutes. She ended the tournament having scored six goals in six matches, despite her head injury and a previous foot injury suffered during a friendly match against Finland just a month prior to the World Cup.^{[106][107][108]}

On June 23, 2008, Wambach was named to the U.S. squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.^[110] On July 16, during a nationally televised exhibition match against Brazil, she broke her left leg during a collision with Brazilian defender, Andréia Rosa, preventing her from playing at the Games.^[111]

Thirty-one minutes into the match in San Diego, California, Wambach ran at full speed seemingly to take a shot from about 30 yards and fiercely collided with Rosa. Wambach fell to the ground and immediately signaled for assistance. Her left leg was put in a brace and she was taken off the field on a stretcher. After being taken to a local hospital in an ambulance for X-rays, fractures to her tibia and fibula were confirmed. Wambach later underwent surgery to have a titanium rod inserted and was expected to be out of action for three months. The first match for the national team was slated to start on August 6. Wambach was the team's leading scorer at the time and had just reached 99 goals in 127 matches, just one shy of becoming the fifth U.S. player and ninth female player in world history to notch 100 career international goals.^[112]

"Obviously, it's devastating, but above everything else, I'm only one player, and you can never win a championship with just one player", Wambach said of her injury, "I have the utmost confidence in this team bringing home the gold."^[113] Although the team won the exhibition match with a goal scored by Natasha Kai off a free kick from Carli Lloyd and would enter the Games undefeated for the year, Wambach's teammates were unsettled by her injury. "My heart sank", Kai said, "We need her. She's a big piece of a great team."^[114]

Forward Lauren Cheney was called in to replace Wambach at the Games. "There are obviously tons of emotions going through me right now", Cheney said, "I have the deepest sorrow for Abby, but I am excited to be part of the 18 going to the Olympics."^[115] Wambach said during a conference call a few days after the injury, "I called Lauren Cheney from the hospital, 'I want you to go there and not feel bad about being selected in this type of way ... What's important is that the team going into this tournament is feeling that they can win this. At the end of the day, that's what makes you stand at the top podium."^[109]

Despite Wambach's absence, the U.S. took home gold after defeating Brazil 1–0 in the final. Midfielder Carli Lloyd scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute off an assist from forward, Amy Rodriguez, in front of 51,162 spectators at Workers Stadium.^[116] The gold medal was the third for the national team, after winning titles at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Games, the first Olympic tournament that included women's soccer.^[117]

Wambach scored her 100th goal during a friendly match against Canada in her hometown of Rochester on July 19, 2009, her second international match after returning from her injury. Of the goal, she said, "After this year I've had, the heartbreak of not going to the Olympics, all of that pain is worth it. There's nothing more you can ask for than play in front of your home crowd and come through with a milestone like I did today."^[118] She reached 100 goals in fewer games than any of the four other American players who had previously reached 100 goals: Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers and Tiffeny Milbrett.^[119]

On May 9, 2011, the U.S. roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Germany was announced, including Wambach.^[120] The 2011 Women's World Cup was the third World Cup tournament in which she played. After playing without scoring a goal in the first two group stage matches against North Korea and Colombia, Wambach scored in the 67th minute during the team's final group stage match – a 2–1 loss to Sweden. With the loss, the U.S. finished second in their group and went on to face the first place team from Group D Brazil in the quarterfinal.^{[121][122][123]}

Video
Rapinoe's cross to Wambach on YouTube

On July 10, 2011, during the Americans' quarter-final game against Brazil, Wambach scored a header goal in stoppage time after the 120th minute (120th+two minutes of injury time) to even the score at 2–2 against the Brazilians. The U.S. went on to win the game on penalty kicks and advanced to the semi-final.^[6] Wambach's goal set a new record for latest goal ever scored in a FIFA competition.^[124] Her last-minute goal was awarded ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year.^[125] Wambach scored her third tournament goal during the Americans' 3–1 semi-final win over France.^[126]

During the final against underdogs Japan, Wambach's trademark header goal during the first half of extra-time (her fourth in the tournament), made her the United States' all-time scoring leader in FIFA Women's World Cup history with 13 goals, second to Brazil's Marta and Germany's Birgit Prinz (14 all-time goals each).^[127] The U.S. was forced to a penalty shootout after a late equalizer by Japan. Japan won 3–1, with Wambach converting the fourth and only successful penalty for the U.S.^[128]

Wambach's final tally for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup was four goals and one assist, an effort that earned her the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Boot after Brazil's Marta (4 goals, 2 assists, Silver Boot) and Japan's Homare Sawa (5 goals, 1 assist, Golden Boot). All 4 of Wambach's goals in the tournament were scored using her head.^[129] For her efforts, Wambach was awarded the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Ball to go alongside her silver medal and Bronze Boot.^[130]

Wambach scored the first goal for the U.S. at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London during the team's first group stage match against France on July 25, 2012. Down 2–0 after 14 minutes into the first half, Wambach headed the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick from Megan Rapinoe in the 19th minute. By the 30-minute mark, the Americans had tied the game with another goal from Alex Morgan. With another goal from Alex Morgan and one from Carli Lloyd during the second half, the U.S. defeated France 4–2.^{[131][132][133]}

During the United States' second group round game against Colombia, Wambach was struck in the right eye by an opposing player, but went on to score the second goal in her team's 3–0 victory. The goal was her sixth career Olympic goal, which broke the previous U.S. record held by Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett. It was also her 140th international goal inching closer to Hamm's record at 158 for most international goals scored.^[134] In the 38th minute, Colombian midfielder Lady Andrade ran into Wambach's path while the U.S. was pushing upfield and punched her in the face. Wambach fell to the ground in pain. The referees did not seem to see the play and made no call. Ending the match with a swollen black eye, Wambach described what happened, "I'm running toward the goal to get position, and I got sucker-punched", she said. "It's clear. We have it on film, so it's up to the Olympic committee and FIFA to decide what to do."^[135] After reviewing match footage, FIFA officials later imposed a two-match ban on the Colombian player.^[136][137]

During the United States' third group stage match against North Korea, Wambach scored the lone goal of the match during the 25th minute on a play that consisted of a long ball by Lauren Cheney to Alex Morgan. Morgan slid a pass between two defenders to Wambach who easily tapped in her third goal of the tournament. In front of 29,522 spectators at Old Trafford, the Americans finished first in their group with the win and it launched them to the quarter-final against New Zealand. The game also marked the first women's soccer game at Old Trafford in 23 years.^[138] During the quarter-final match against New Zealand, Wambach scored her fourth goal of the tournament during the 27th minute of the match. After sliding onto the ball to score, she then led a celebration of cartwheels – a tribute to the United States gymnastics team. With a second goal scored by Sydney Leroux in the 87th minute, the Americans defeated New Zealand 2–0 and moved onto the semi-finals.^[139] Wambach also scored the game-tying third goal, on a penalty kick, in the United States' 4–3 controversial semi-final win over Canada.^[140]

Wambach scored five goals at the 2012 Olympics and scored in every match except the final. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, at the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich, on January 7, 2013.^[141]

Prior to playing her fourth World Cup, Wambach declared that the Canada 2015 tournament would be her last.^[142] Given that nominal captain Christie Rampone started every game at the bench, Wambach was her first on-field substitute wearing the armband. She was the starting captain in three games, against Australia and Nigeria in the group stage and Colombia in the round of 16. Carli Lloyd, who acted as captain in the other four games, delivered the armband to Wambach as she entered the final against Japan with eleven minutes remaining, and Wambach in turn passed it over to Rampone as she entered at the 86th minute.^[143] During the campaign, Wambach scored in a 1–0 win against Nigeria, her last goal in official competition. The goal ensured that the US would win their group, and they went on to win the tournament.^[144] Rampone and Wambach lifted the World Cup trophy together.^[145]

Wambach retired, playing her last friendly on Dec. 16, at the end of the USWNT's post-World Cup victory tour.^[146]

In her international career, Wambach scored 184 goals in 255 international matches.^[150] Up until January 29, 2020, Wambach was the highest all-time international goal scorer for men and women, until surpassed by Canadian National Team Captain Christine Sinclair.^[150] Wambach (27 goals) and Alex Morgan (28 goals) combined for 55 goals in 2012 – equaling a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by Michelle Akers (39 goals) and Carin Jennings (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in U.S. women's national team history.^[151]

Wambach competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: 2003 in the United States, 2007 in China, 2011 in Germany and 2015 in Canada.^[152] She played in two Olympics tournaments: 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London. All together, she played in 30 matches and scored 22 goals at these five global tournaments.^[6] Along with her U.S. teammates, Wambach won two Olympic gold medals, finished third twice at the Women's World Cup, finished second at the 2011 World Cup, and won the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time,^[153] Wambach was known in particular for her goalscoring ability, and once was the most prolific player in international competitions in soccer history.^[154] Although she was not the quickest or most technically gifted forward, Wambach was known for her physical, effective, and direct style of play, as well as her excellent sense of space and positioning, which allowed her to get onto the end of long balls and crosses, as well as making passes to her teammates with back headers and backheels. Her height and physique allowed her to excel in the air, and she was renowned for her ability to score with her head, frequently producing goals from spectacular diving headers, and in rare occasions, from bicycle kicks.^{[155][156][157][158]} Although primarily a striker, Wambach was also known for her energy and outstanding work rate throughout her career, ranking all-time third in the national team's number of assists behind Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, often dropping into midfield to assist her teammates defensively and help start attacking plays; this enabled her to play anywhere along the front-line, and also to function as a playmaker in midfield on occasion, in her later career.^{[155][159][160][161]} In addition to her playing abilities, Wambach was praised for her determination, tenacity, and leadership.^[162]

Wambach is a six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Federation's U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013).^[163] In 2002, she received the WUSA's Rookie of the Year award for her performance during the 2001 WUSA season.^[30] During the three years that she played for the Washington Freedom and magicJack in the WPS, she was named WPS Player of the Week a record seven times.^[164]

In 2011, Wambach was awarded the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball at the FIFA Women's World Cup.^[165] She was also awarded the 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play for her 122nd-minute equalizing goal against Brazil during the quarterfinal.^[166] The same year, she was named the Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year and received the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, the first individual soccer player ever – man or woman – to receive the award.^[167][168] In July 2011, the mayor of Rochester, New York named July 20 "Abby Wambach Day" and she was given a key to the city.^[169] In August 2012, after returning home from winning gold at the Summer Olympics in London, the city of Rochester honored Wambach by hosting a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony in which the entrance to Sahlen's Stadium was named "Wambach Way".^[170][171]

Wambach was named the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the fourth woman ever, and the first American^[172] since Mia Hamm 10 years earlier, to win the award.^[173] Wambach received 20.67 percent of the votes from national team coaches and captains as well as select media over teammate Alex Morgan (13.5) and five-time winner Marta (10.87). During her acceptance speech, she thanked FIFA and President Blatter, her family, coaching and medical staff, and teammates and said, "... winning any individual award is a total product of the team that you play for. I've never scored a goal without receiving a pass from somebody else. Thanks to all the fans out there who continue to inspire me and the rest of the team to win as many games as we can."^[174][175] Wambach was also a finalist for the award in 2011^{[176][177][178]} and 2013.^[179]

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wambach and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker tape parade in New York City.^[180] Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio.^[181] In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.^[182]

In 2015, Wambach was named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.^[183] The following year, she received the 2016 ESPY Icon Award^[184]

For their first match of March 2019, the women of the United States women's national soccer team each wore a jersey with the name of a woman they were honoring on the back; Alex Morgan chose the name of Wambach.^[185]

Wambach is married to author Glennon Doyle. They reside in Hermosa Beach, California.^[186][187] She previously lived in Naples, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Pittsford, New York.^[188][189]

Wambach was previously married to soccer player Sarah Huffman from 2013 to 2016.^[190] Following their wedding in Hawaii in October 2013, Wambach stated that her marriage was not a political statement and did not represent a coming out, because she had never been closeted: "I can't speak for other people, but for me, I feel like gone are the days that you need to come out of a closet. I never felt like I was in a closet. I never did. I always felt comfortable with who I am and the decisions I made."^[191] In September 2016, Wambach announced that she and Huffman were divorcing.^[192] Two months later, Wambach confirmed she was in a relationship with author and her future wife, Glennon Doyle.^[193] In February 2017, they announced their engagement.^[194] On May 14, 2017, the couple married.^[186]

Wambach has signed endorsement deals with Gatorade, Nike, MVP Healthcare, and Panasonic.^{[195][196][197]} In 2010, she starred in a Dodge commercial with some of her national team teammates.^[198] She signed a one-year endorsement deal with Bank of America in July 2011.^[199] The same year, she appeared in commercials for magicJack phone service and ESPN SportsCenter.^[200][201] In 2012, she received a gold card from Chipotle Mexican Grill which entitles her to one free burrito daily for life.^[202] Although not a formal endorsement deal, Chipotle offers the cards to well-known professional athletes who publicly express a liking for the restaurant.^[203] In the summer of 2013, she signed an endorsement deal with the New York Apple Association and was featured in television, radio, print and online ads.^[204] In 2015, Wambach starred in a commercial for LED lighting company Cree.^[205]

Wambach has done philanthropic work for the Epilepsy Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.^[206] She has participated in Mia Hamm's annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge which raises money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation.^[207] In August 2011, Wambach joined teammates Alex Morgan and Hope Solo in a Bank of America charitable campaign at the Chicago Marathon. $5,000 was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Association on her behalf.^[208][209] In 2013, she became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.^[210] She serves on the board of Together Rising,^[211] an all-women-led nonprofit organization founded by her wife, Glennon Doyle, supporting women, families, and children in crisis.^[212]

Beginning in December 2015, Wambach came out against men's coach Jürgen Klinsmann and dual national players playing for the United States men's national soccer team. "The way that he has brought in a bunch of these foreign guys is not something I believe in wholeheartedly. I don't believe in it. I don't believe in it in my heart."^[213] A couple of members of the men's national team rebuked her for the criticism. Mix Diskerud, who was born in Norway to an American mother, was perhaps the most vocal in suggesting she "think about who you try to disenfranchise."^[214] She reaffirmed her criticism during an interview released in October 2016, stating, "It's just my opinion, and I'm entitled to that. It feels a little bit odd to me that you have some guys that have never lived in the United States that play for the United States because they were able to secure a passport. To me, that just feels like they weren't able to make it for their country and earn a living, so they're coming here."^[215]

Wambach was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) after being pulled over by Portland police on April 2, 2016,^{[216][217][218]} to which she pleaded guilty.^[219] Following the incident, automaker MINI pulled a commercial featuring Wambach.^[220] In her autobiography, which was released several months after the incident, Wambach wrote that she had abused prescription drugs and alcohol for many years and had been sober since her April arrest.^[192]

Wambach was a supporter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 primary election campaign and spoke at several campaign events.^[221] She was included in the 2022 Fast Company Queer 50 list.^[222]

Wambach and Doyle are a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League.^[223]

Wambach appeared in the HBO film, Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team.^[224] She has made appearances on the Today Show,^[225] the Late Show with David Letterman,^[226] The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,^[227] and Good Morning America.^[228] She was featured on ESPN's In the Game with Robin Roberts in June 2012.^[229]

In 2013, Wambach's biography was the focus of a one-hour ESPN documentary, Abby Head On.^[230] The same year, she appeared in the ESPN documentary series, Nine for IX. The Nine for IX documentary, The 99ers, in which Wambach appeared focused on the success and legacy of the national team that won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[231]

In April 2015, Wambach joined Alex Morgan on American Idol to announce that the show's season winner would record the official song for Fox's coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[232] In May of the same year, her likeness appeared on The Simpsons along with Alex Morgan and Christen Press.^[233] In December 2015, she starred in a commercial for Gatorade entitled "Forget Me".^[234][235]

In July 2021, Wambach began hosting "Abby's Places", the first new series in the expansion of the Peyton's Places franchise on ESPN+.^[236]

Wambach posed nude in The Body Issue of ESPN The Magazine in 2012.^[237] Of the experience, she said, "Bodies come in all different shapes. Bodies come in all different sizes. My body is very different than most other females. ... I want to show people that no matter who you are, no matter what shape you are, that's still beautiful."^[238]

Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in April 2015.^[239] The following month, she was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine with teammates Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan.^[240] The same year, she appeared on multiple covers of Sports Illustrated.^{[241][242][243]} The magazine Out named Wambach Athlete of the Year in November 2015.^[244]

Wambach was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series starting in FIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.^[245] In September 2015, she was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 3 women's player in the game.^[246] In February 2016, Mattel unveiled a Barbie doll in her likeness.^[247]

• List of FIFA Women's World Cup winning players
• List of women's footballers with 100 or more international goals
• List of international goals scored by Abby Wambach
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of Olympic medalists in football
• List of players who have appeared in multiple FIFA Women's World Cups
• List of University of Florida Olympians

• Bankston, John (2013), Abby Wambach, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., ISBN 1612284655
• Clinton, Hillary Rodham and Chelsea Clinton (2019), The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 1501178415
• Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
• Kassouf, Jeff (2011), Girls Play to Win Soccer, Norwood House Press, ISBN 1599534649
• Killion, Ann (2018), Champions of Women's Soccer, Penguin, ISBN 0399549021
• Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0810874164
• Longman, Jere (2009), The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How it Changed the World, HarperCollins, ISBN 0061877689
• Orr, Tamra (2007), Abby Wambach, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., ISBN 1584156015
• Stevens, Dakota (2011), A Look at the Women's Professional Soccer Including the Soccer Associations, Teams, Players, Awards, and More, BiblioBazaar, ISBN 1241047464
• Wambach, Abby (2016), Forward: A Memoir, HarperCollins, ISBN 0062466984
• Wambach, Abby (2019), Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game, Celadon Books, ISBN 1250217695

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abby Wambach.

• Abby Wambach – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Official website
• U.S. Soccer player profile
• 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup player bio
• Washington Freedom (WUSA) bio (archived)
• Washington Freedom (WPS) bio (archived)
• Western New York Flash player profile Archived August 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
• Abby Wambach Archived June 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America