Abby Wambach has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately. On Sunday, she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, and at her initial court appearance, court documents revealed that the retired USWNT player had tried cocaine and marijuana ten years ago, per the BBC. Her lawyer has entered in a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
Michelle Lomnicki is talking about her injured back. A lingering injury, notoriously fickle, and one that played a hand in her decision to retire.
“It’s something that had always kind of been there. You knew that there was going to be an end at some point.”
Even though the MLS has trouble attracting international superstars young enough to be of some use on a soccer field, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has no such problem.
Case in point: the Portland Thorns just signed French international Amandine Henry, who is very good at soccer and just 26 years old.
Henry, a midfielder won the Silver Ball award as the second-best (behind Carlo Lloyd) in last year's World Cup
It is hard to think of women’s soccer in the USA without Abby Wambach’s face (or perhaps, feet) immediately coming to mind.
The 2012 Women’s Ballon D’Or winner and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner has scored 182 goals for the USWNT in 243 appearances, making her the greatest international goalscorer of all time, easily eclipsing Ali Daei who holds the men’s record with 109 international goals.
After years of dominance with the United States Women’s National Soccer team, forward Abby Wambach announces retirement from soccer following the USWNT’s World Cup celebration at the White House today.
As she leaves the game, Wambach holds the record as the leading scorer — for both men and women — in international soccer, with 184 goals in 252 international appearances.
Her USWNT swansong will be the final four games of the team’s 10-game victory tour, with her final match coming on Dec. 16 against China in New Orleans.
According to Sports Illustrated, the newly-formed Orlando Pride have made a move for USWNT and Portland Thorns striker Alex Morgan.
The NWSL has grown by one more team. Earlier today, Orlando City SC announced the formation of a sister club called the Orlando Pride. The NWSL Orlando team will begin play in 2016, and will be the 10th team in the league.
Introducing Orlando Pride, starting @NWSL play in 2016. pic.twitter.com/aUrLQDmGu4
Last Thursday FC Kansas City beat the Seattle Reign in the NWSL Championship match. It was a huge occasion for the league; the game was played in Portland in front of 13,000 fans and broadcast nationwide. Being a part of such a showcase event was obviously a huge honor for both of the teams, but only one could be named champion. FC Kansas City came out on top of a hard fought affair with a 1-0 victory.
Sometimes things just start with a friend.
“My really good friend in school when I was about 7 started playing soccer, so I signed up, just to take part and really soon after just started to enjoy it.”
It’s a little frustrating to hear that a professional soccer player started playing the game so, well, randomly. Here is someone ostensibly living a dream, and it all started off with an “I guess I’ll do that.”
“If it had, by default, been an instrument or a different sport I think I kind of just would have gone with it.”
The Seattle Reign and FC Kansas City are about to face off in the final of the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs tonight at 9:30 PM EST on Fox Sports 1. If you didn’t know that, you are not only not alone, but you have come to the right place.