Abby Wambach facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Abby Wambach

Wambach warming up in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth	(1980-06-02) June 2, 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1994–1998	Our Lady of Mercy High School
1995–1997	Rochester Spirit
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)
National team
2001–2015	United States	255	(184)
Teams managed
2011	magicJack (player-coach)
Honours 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
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mary Abigail Wambach (born June 2, 1980) is an American retired soccer player and coach. She is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award six times. She was a key player for the U.S. women's national soccer team from 2003 to 2015. She earned her first chance to play for the national team in 2001.

As a forward, she is the highest all-time goal scorer for the U.S. national team. She is second in international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals. Only Canada's Christine Sinclair has scored more. Wambach was named the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year. She was the first American woman to win this award in 10 years. In 2015, Time magazine listed her as one of the world's most influential people.

Wambach played in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments. These were in 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. She helped the U.S. win the World Cup in 2015. She also played in two Olympic tournaments, winning gold medals in 2004 and 2012. In total, she played 29 matches and scored 22 goals in these five big tournaments. She played college soccer for the Florida Gators women's soccer team. She helped them win their first national championship. Professionally, she played for teams like Washington Freedom and the Western New York Flash.

Abby Wambach was famous for scoring goals with diving headers. She started practicing this skill when she was young in Rochester, New York. One of her most famous header goals happened in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal against Brazil. She scored a goal in the very last minutes of the game. This goal tied the score and helped the U.S. win in penalty kicks. Her late goal set a record for the latest goal ever scored in a FIFA match. It also won ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. After the 2011 World Cup, she received the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball. In 2011, she was the first soccer player ever to be named Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.

Wambach announced her retirement on October 27, 2015. Her last game was on December 16 in New Orleans. This was the final match of the U.S. team's Victory Tour after winning the 2015 World Cup. Her book, Forward, came out in 2016 and became a New York Times best seller. Her second book, Wolfpack, also became a New York Times Bestseller in 2019.

Early Life and Soccer Start

Abby Wambach was born in Rochester, New York, on June 2, 1980. She grew up in Pittsford. She is the youngest of seven children. Her parents are Pete and Judy Wambach. She started playing soccer at age four because her sister wanted to try it. Their mother even got a book from the library to learn how to play.

Wambach said growing up in a big family was like being on a team. She learned how to compete and be humble. Her older brothers would even shoot hockey pucks at her to help her practice. When she was five, she scored 27 goals in just three games. She was so good that she was moved from the girls' team to the boys' team. As a pre-teen, she learned to head the ball over defenders to get past them.

Wambach went to Our Lady of Mercy High School from 1994 to 1998. She played both soccer and basketball there. In high school, she scored 142 goals, with 34 goals in 1997 alone. Her coach said Wambach often stayed after practice to work on her diving headers. This skill later became her signature move. She was named to Parade magazine's High School All-America Team. She was also voted national high school player of the year.

Wambach was a captain for the Rochester Spirit club team for three years. She was named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 1995 and 1997. She also trained with the U.S. women's national soccer team in 1997. In 1997, she traveled to Beijing, China, with the first American youth soccer team to play there.

College Soccer Success

In 1997, Abby Wambach was considered the top college recruit. Many colleges wanted her, including top soccer programs. She chose to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville. She played for the Florida Gators women's soccer team from 1998 to 2001. Florida's soccer program was only three years old. Wambach liked the challenge of joining a newer team.

As a freshman in 1998, Wambach helped the Gators win their first NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship. They beat the 15-time champion North Carolina Tar Heels. The team also won four straight Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships.

Wambach earned many individual awards in college. She was SEC Freshman of the Year in 1998. She was a first-team All-SEC player for four seasons. She was also SEC Player of the Year twice. Wambach set school records for goals (96), assists (50), and points (242). She is still the Florida Gators' all-time leading scorer. 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

Washington Freedom: Early Years

In 2002, Wambach was chosen by the Washington Freedom in the 2002 WUSA Draft. This was for the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) league. The Freedom had a tough season before, but Wambach helped turn things around. She was the team's top scorer with ten goals and ten assists. She was named WUSA Rookie of the Year in 2002.

In 2003, Wambach helped the Freedom win the Founders Cup III championship. She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final game. She scored a quick goal early in the match. She also scored the winning goal in overtime, leading the Freedom to a 2–1 victory.

The WUSA league stopped playing in 2003 due to money problems. In 2005, Wambach played for Ajax America Women in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL). She scored five goals in three games.

WPS: Return to Washington and Florida

A new league, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), started in 2008. Wambach was assigned to the Washington Freedom again. She was named WPS Player of the Week multiple times. In 2009, she finished with eight goals, more than any other American player in the WPS. She was also named to the 2010 WPS All-Star Team.

In 2011, the Freedom team moved to Florida and became the magicJack. Wambach was named the player-coach for magicJack for the rest of the 2011 season. The WPS league stopped operations in early 2012.

NWSL: Playing for the Flash

Wambach (number 20) marked by a defender in 2013

In 2012, a new league called the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was announced. In 2013, Wambach was assigned to the Western New York Flash in her hometown of Rochester. She made her debut on April 14, 2013.

During a game in April 2013, Wambach was hit in the face by a teammate's kick. She suffered a concussion and missed the next game. She returned and scored the winning goal in her home debut for the Flash. Wambach was named NWSL Player of the Week twice that season.

In 2015, Wambach decided to sit out the NWSL season to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her playing rights were later traded to Seattle Reign FC.

International Career Highlights

In 2001, Abby Wambach joined the United States women's national soccer team training camp. Her first game for the U.S. team was on September 9, 2001, against Germany. She scored her first international goal on April 27, 2002, against Finland.

World Cup 2003: First Big Tournament

Wambach plays off a corner kick at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

In August 2003, Wambach was chosen for her first World Cup team. She led the U.S. in scoring with three goals in the tournament. She scored against Nigeria and North Korea in the group stage. Wambach also scored the only goal against Norway in the quarterfinal. The U.S. finished third in the tournament after losing to Germany in the semi-finals.

Olympic Gold in 2004

After the WUSA league stopped, Wambach trained for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She played a big part in the team's goals, helping them win against Greece and Brazil. She scored in the first game against Greece. Against Brazil, she scored a goal that sealed the win.

In the Olympic final, the U.S. faced Brazil again. Wambach scored a header goal in the 112th minute, giving the U.S. a 2–1 victory and the gold medal. This goal was called one of the biggest in U.S. women's national team history. She finished the tournament with four goals, setting a new U.S. record for goals in an Olympic tournament. This win was also the last competitive match for veteran players like Mia Hamm.

World Cup 2007: A Tough Tournament

Before the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, the U.S. team was a favorite to win. Wambach was a leader on the team. In their first match against North Korea, Wambach got five stitches in her head after a collision. She still scored a goal in that game.

She scored two goals against Sweden in the next match. She also helped set up a goal against Nigeria. In the quarterfinal against England, Wambach scored the first goal for the U.S. The U.S. won 3–0. Wambach played her 100th international game during this tournament.

The U.S. lost to Brazil 4–0 in the semi-finals. They then won against Norway 4–1 to finish third. Wambach scored two goals in that game. She scored six goals in six matches in the tournament, despite her injuries.

2008 Summer Olympics Injury

On July 16, 2008, Wambach broke her left leg during a game against Brazil. This injury stopped her from playing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She had surgery and was out for three months. At the time, she was the team's top scorer and was just one goal away from 100 international goals.

Wambach said that even though her injury was tough, the team could still win. The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal at the Olympics, beating Brazil 1–0 in the final.

Wambach scored her 100th goal on July 19, 2009, in her hometown of Rochester. This was her second game back after her injury. She reached 100 goals faster than many other American players.

World Cup 2011: The Famous Header

Wambach (number 20) with teammates during a penalty shoot-out in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.

Abby Wambach was on the U.S. team for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. This was her third World Cup. She scored a goal in the final group stage match against Sweden.

In the quarter-final game against Brazil, Wambach scored a header goal in the very last minutes of extra time. This goal tied the score at 2–2. The U.S. then won the game in penalty kicks. Wambach's goal set a new record for the latest goal ever scored in a FIFA competition. It also won an ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. She scored another goal in the semi-final win against France.

In the final against Japan, Wambach scored another header goal in extra time. This made her the U.S. all-time leading scorer in Women's World Cup history with 13 goals. Japan won the final in a penalty shootout. Wambach's four goals in the tournament were all scored with her head. She received the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball for her performance.

Olympic Gold in 2012

Goalkeeper Hope Solo (number 1) and Abby Wambach (number 14) during the 2012 London Olympics gold medal match.

Wambach scored the first goal for the U.S. at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This was in the first game against France. She headed the ball into the net from a corner kick.

During a game against Colombia, Wambach was hit in the eye by an opposing player. She still went on to score her sixth career Olympic goal. This broke the previous U.S. record held by Mia Hamm. She scored her third goal of the tournament against North Korea.

In the quarter-final against New Zealand, Wambach scored her fourth goal. She celebrated with cartwheels as a tribute to the U.S. gymnastics team. Wambach also scored a penalty kick in the semi-final win over Canada. She scored five goals in the 2012 Olympics. For her achievements, she was named the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Winning the World Cup in 2015

Wambach (left) and England captain Steph Houghton shake hands before a game in 2015.

Abby Wambach announced that the 2015 World Cup would be her last. She often wore the captain's armband when the main captain was not playing. She was the starting captain in three games. In the final against Japan, she entered the game late. The U.S. won the World Cup, and Wambach helped lift the trophy with her teammates. She scored her last official goal in a 1–0 win against Nigeria during this tournament.

Career Statistics

Club Goals

International Goals

Abby Wambach scored 184 goals in 255 international matches. She was the highest all-time international goal scorer for men and women until Christine Sinclair passed her in 2020. In 2012, Wambach (27 goals) and Alex Morgan (28 goals) combined for 55 goals. This tied a 21-year-old record for the most goals scored by any duo in U.S. women's national team history.

World Cup and Olympic Appearances

Wambach played in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. She also played in two Olympic tournaments: 2004 and 2012. In total, she played 30 matches and scored 22 goals in these five major tournaments. She won two Olympic gold medals and the 2015 Women's World Cup. She also finished second once and third twice at the Women's World Cup.

Style of Play

Abby Wambach is considered one of the greatest soccer players ever. She was known for her amazing ability to score goals. She was once the most goal-scoring player in international soccer history. Wambach was not the fastest player, but she was strong and effective. She had a great sense of where to be on the field. This allowed her to get to long passes and crosses.

Her height and strength made her excellent at heading the ball. She often scored spectacular diving headers and even bicycle kicks. While she was mainly a striker, Wambach also worked hard all over the field. She often helped her teammates defensively and started attacking plays. She was also known for her determination, toughness, and leadership.

Honors and Awards

Abby Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award six times (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013). In 2002, she was named WUSA Rookie of the Year. She was also named WPS Player of the Week a record seven times.

Wambach and the national team with President Barack Obama at the White House, 2015.

In 2011, Wambach received the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball at the FIFA Women's World Cup. She also won the 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play for her amazing goal against Brazil. That same year, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. She also received the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award. She was the first soccer player ever to win this award. In July 2011, the mayor of Rochester, New York, named July 20 "Abby Wambach Day."

In 2012, Wambach was named the FIFA World Player of the Year. She was the fourth woman and first American since Mia Hamm to win this award. She thanked her team, coaches, and fans in her speech. Wambach was also a finalist for the award in 2011 and 2013.

After the U.S. won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wambach and her teammates were honored with a Ticker tape parade in New York City. They also received a key to the city. In October 2015, President Barack Obama honored the team at the White House.

In 2015, Wambach was included in the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. In 2016, she received the ESPY Icon Award. In 2019, Alex Morgan wore a jersey with Wambach's name on it to honor her.

Personal Life

Abby Wambach is married to author Glennon Doyle. They live in Hermosa Beach, California. Wambach is also part of the ownership group for Angel City FC, a women's soccer team.

Endorsements and Charity Work

Wambach has worked with brands like Gatorade, Nike, and Panasonic. In 2010, she was in a Dodge commercial with her teammates. She also appeared in commercials for magicJack phone service and ESPN SportsCenter. In 2012, she received a gold card from Chipotle Mexican Grill, which gives her free burritos for life. In 2013, she worked with the New York Apple Association.

Wambach has done charity work for organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She has also taken part in Mia Hamm's Celebrity Soccer Challenge, which raises money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In 2013, she became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, which promotes inclusion in sports. She is on the board of Together Rising, a non-profit that helps women, families, and children in need.

See Also

In Spanish: Abby Wambach para niños

• 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