Abby Wambach facts for kids

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Abby Wambach

Wambach in 2025

Personal information

Full name

Mary Abigail Wambach,

Date of birth

June 2, 1980 (age 45)

Place of birth

Rochester, New York, U.S.

Height

5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)

Position(s)

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

(96)

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2002–2003

Washington Freedom

(23)

2005

Ajax America Women

(5)

2009–2010

Washington Freedom

(21)

2011

MagicJack

(9)

2013–2014

Western New York Flash

(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
Gold	2004 Athens	Team
Gold	2012 London	Team
FIFA World Cup
Winner	2015 Canada
Runner-up	2011 Germany
Bronze	2003 United States
Bronze	2007 China

*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mary Abigail Wambach (born June 2, 1980) is a retired American soccer player, coach, and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She is famous for her amazing goal-scoring skills. Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award six times and was a key player on the U.S. women's national soccer team from 2001 to 2015.

As a forward, she scored 184 goals for the U.S. national team. This makes her the team's highest all-time goal scorer and second in the world for both men and women, just behind Canada's Christine Sinclair. In 2012, she was named the FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2015, Time magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Wambach played in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments and two Olympic Games. She won two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup championship in 2015. She was known for scoring goals with powerful diving headers. One of her most famous goals was a last-second header against Brazil in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. This goal tied the game and helped the U.S. team advance to the final.

Wambach announced her retirement on October 27, 2015. She has written two best-selling books, Forward and Wolfpack.

Early Life and Soccer Beginnings
College Career at the University of Florida
Professional Club Career
International Career with Team USA
Style of Play
Personal Life
See also

Early Life and Soccer Beginnings

Abby Wambach was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in the town of Pittsford. She was the youngest of seven children. She started playing soccer when she was only four years old. Her family loved the sport, and it quickly became a big part of her life.

Growing up with four older brothers helped make her a tough competitor. When she was five, she was so good that she moved from the girls' soccer team to the boys' team after scoring 27 goals in just three games.

Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School from 1994 to 1998. She was a star in both soccer and basketball. During her high school soccer career, she scored an incredible 142 goals. She practiced diving headers often, which later became her signature move. After her senior year, she was named the national high school player of the year.

College Career at the University of Florida

Many top colleges wanted Wambach on their soccer teams. She chose to attend the University of Florida and play for the Florida Gators. In her first year, 1998, she helped the team win its first-ever NCAA national championship. They even beat the famous North Carolina Tar Heels, who had won the championship 15 times before.

During her four years at Florida, Wambach was a star player. She was named the SEC Player of the Year twice and was an All-American three times. She set school records for goals (96), assists (50), and hat tricks (10). She is still the all-time leading scorer for the Florida Gators. In 2012, she was added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional Club Career

Wambach during a Washington Freedom exhibition game in 2004

Playing for Washington Freedom

In 2002, Wambach was drafted by the Washington Freedom, a team in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). In her first year, she was named the WUSA Rookie of the Year. The next year, she helped the Freedom win the league championship, called the Founders Cup. Wambach was named the MVP of the championship match after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime.

Return to Pro Soccer

Wambach at Harvard Stadium in August 2011.

After the WUSA ended, a new league called Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) was formed. Wambach returned to play for the Washington Freedom. She continued to be a top scorer and was named to the WPS All-Star Team.

In 2011, the team moved to Florida and was renamed magicJack. Wambach became the player-coach for the team. She continued to play well, but the league and the team eventually folded.

Hometown Hero in the NWSL

July 4, 2013; Chicago Red Stars vs Western New York Flash; Abby Wambach-20 marked by Taryn Hemmings-14

In 2013, a new league called the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) began. Wambach was chosen to play for the Western New York Flash, a team based in her hometown of Rochester, New York. Fans were excited to see their local hero play.

Wambach was a leader for the Flash and won the NWSL Player of the Week award multiple times. In 2015, she decided to sit out the NWSL season to focus on preparing for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

International Career with Team USA

Wambach first played for the United States women's national soccer team in 2001. She scored her first international goal in 2002 against Finland. She would go on to become one of the most important players in the team's history.

2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

Wambach plays off a corner kick at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup bronze medal game against Canada.

Wambach played in her first World Cup in 2003. She was a new player but led the U.S. team in scoring with three goals. She scored against Nigeria and North Korea in the group stage. In the quarterfinal, she scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Norway. The U.S. team finished in third place, winning the bronze medal.

2004 Summer Olympics in Athens

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Wambach was a star. She scored four goals in the tournament, including a dramatic game-winning header in the final match against Brazil. The goal came in the 112th minute of overtime and gave the U.S. a 2–1 victory and the gold medal. This win was special because it was the last tournament for soccer legends like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy.

2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

By 2007, Wambach was a leader on the national team. During the World Cup in China, she scored six goals in six matches. In the first game against North Korea, she got a cut on her head that needed stitches but returned to the game to help her team. The U.S. team finished in third place again, and Wambach was one of the top scorers of the tournament.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Wambach with teammates during penalty shoot-out in the Final of 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Left to right: Buehler-19, Rampone-3 (c), Morgan-13, Lloyd-10, Krieger-11, Heath-17, Wambach-20, O'Reilly-9

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany featured one of Wambach's most iconic moments. In the quarterfinal match against Brazil, the U.S. was losing 2–1 in the final seconds of overtime. In the 122nd minute, Wambach scored an amazing diving header to tie the game. The U.S. then won on penalty kicks.

Wambach scored four goals in the tournament, all with her head. The U.S. team made it to the final but lost to Japan in a penalty shootout. Wambach won the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player and the Bronze Boot as the third-highest scorer.

2012 Summer Olympics in London

Gold medal match in 2012 London Olympics. Left to right: Asuna Tanaka-14, Abby Wambach-14, Hope Solo-1, Becky Sauerbrunn-4

Wambach helped lead the U.S. to another gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She scored five goals in the tournament, including one in every game except the final. Her performance that year earned her the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year award, recognizing her as the best female soccer player in the world.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Victory

Wambach and England captain Steph Houghton shake hands before kick off on February 13, 2015

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada was Wambach's last major tournament. She served as a team captain and leader. The U.S. team played brilliantly and reached the final, where they defeated Japan 5–2. Wambach finally got to lift the World Cup trophy, achieving a lifelong dream. After the victory, she and her teammates were honored with a parade in New York City.

Style of Play

Wambach was known for her powerful and physical style of play. She was not always the fastest player, but she was strong, smart, and great at finding open space to score. She was especially famous for her ability to score with her head. Her diving headers were a spectacular sight and a constant threat to other teams.

Besides scoring, Wambach was a hard worker and a great teammate. She often helped on defense and was a vocal leader on the field. Her determination and passion for the game inspired her teammates and fans.

Personal Life

Wambach and the national team pose for a photo with President Barack Obama at the White House, 2015

Wambach is married to author Glennon Doyle. She is also a part-owner of Angel City FC, a professional women's soccer team in the NWSL.

Wambach has been an inspiration to many people, both on and off the field. She has worked with charities like the Epilepsy Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She is also an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a group that works to make sports welcoming for everyone.