Former soccer player Abby Wambach continues to inspire us with her sporting talent after retiring from the game. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, Wambach’s career has been outstandingly brilliant with numerous achievements and accomplishments. Wambach, who earned her first cap in 2001, had an uncanny ability to perform on the field, scoring goals after goals and scripting victories for the United States women’s team. As a forward, she holds the record for most goals scored by the national team.
She holds the world record for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals. It was her trademark style to score goals with diving headers, a style she maintained throughout her career. Even though all her goals have been exceptional, the best and most notable was the one she scored against Brazil in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal. Her performance earned her the Bronze Boot as well as the Silver Ball. Wambach was one of the most prolific and greatest soccer players of all time because of her goal-scoring ability, physical briskness, excellent positioning sense, and outstanding work ethic.
Abby Wambach Bio/Wiki
| Birth Name | Mary Abigail Wambach |
| Nick Name | Abby |
| Age | 43 (as in 2023) Years |
| Religion | Not Available |
| Sun Sign/Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Birth Place | Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States |
| Date of Birth | 02 June 1980 |
| Nationality | American |
| Residence | Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States |
| Home Town | Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States |
| Hobbies | Watching Movies, Playing guitar |
Family |
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| Mother’s Name | Judy Wambach |
| Father’s Name | Pete Wambach |
| Brother | • Matthew Wambach (Older) • Patrick Wambach (Older) • Peter Wambach (Older) • Andrew Wambach (Older) |
| Sister | • Laura Wambach (Older) • Beth Wambach (Older)  |
Boyfriends/Affairs |
|
| Affairs/Boyfriends/Girlfriends | • Sarah Huffman (2013-2016) • Glennon Doyle (2016-Present) |
Marital Status, Husband and Children |
|
| Wife/Husband/Spouse | • Sarah Huffman • Glennon Doyle  |
| Marriage Date | • 14 May 2017 (Glennon Doyle) • 5 October 2013 (Sarah Huffman) |
| Divorce Date | 3 October 2016 (Sarah Huffman) |
| Children | • Chase • Tish • Amma |
Education |
|
| School | Our Lady of Mercy High School |
| College/University | University of Florida located in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida |
| Educational Qualification | Graduated |
| Profession | Professional soccer player |
| Brands Endorsed | • Secret, a deodorant made specifically for women. • Gatorade • Dodge • Nike • MVP Healthcare • Panasonic |
| Career Manager | Not Available |
Football Career |
|
| Debut Club | • 2013: Western New York Flash • 2011: magicJack • 2009: Washington Freedom • 2002: Washington Freedom |
| Debut International | 2001: United States women’s national soccer team |
| Current Team(s)/Job(s) | Now, she has embarked on a multi-faceted career that includes motivational speaking. She’s also authored two books. The first was the requisite autobiography titled “Forward,” a play on words based on her position in the soccer lineup, her ensuing move into the next phase of her life and the need to put personal problems behind her. |
| Jersey Number | 20 |
| Coach\Mentor | Jill Ellis |
| Position | Forward |
| Strengths | Not Available |
| Weaknesses | Not Available |
Height, Weight, and Figure Measurements |
|
| Height (Approx.) | in centimeters- 180 cm in meters- 1.80 m in feet inches- 5’11” |
| Weight (Approx.) | in kilograms- 81 kg in pounds- 178 lbs |
Figure Measurements |
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| Breast Size | Not Available |
| Hips Size | Not Available |
| Waist Size | Not Available |
Extra Ordinary Features |
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| Distictive Features | • Diving headers • Short hair |
| Race / Ethnicity | White |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| S*xual Orientation | Female (L*sbian) |
| Dress Size | Not Available |
| Shoe Size | 8 (US) |
Favourite Things |
|
| Favourite Food | Thai Food |
| Favourite Playing Position | Forward |
| Favourite Car | Range Rover |
| Controversies | Not Available |
Life Journey
Mary Abigail Wambach was born on June 2, 1980, in Rochester, New York, to Pete and Judy Wambach. Mary is the youngest of seven children. When Wambach was four, she fell in love with soccer. Her older sister was the first to take up the sport. She was inspired by her and began playing the sport as well.
She attended Our Lady of Mercy High School from 1994 to 1998. Her game improved remarkably during this time. She scored 142 goals while in high school. During this time, Wambach extensively practiced diving headers, which she would later use as her signature style as an international player. Her outstanding records helped her become a top-rated high school player.
The Rochester Spirit club team named her captain. In addition, she was a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) U-16 National Team and the National U-20 Player Pool. As a player on the U.S. women’s national soccer team, she even trained with them. Additionally, she was a member of the first American youth soccer team to compete in Beijing, China.
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Being referred to as the top college recruit, it was only natural for Wambach to become intensely sought after by top universities. Eventually, she accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville from 1998 to 2001.
Her freshman year, Wambach led the Florida Gators to their first NCAA national championship over the 15-time champion North Carolina Tar Heels. Florida Gators won numerous titles and championships during her time with the team. She also helped set school career records for goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, and hat tricks. For a decade, she was the leading scorer with 96 goals.
In October 2013, Abby Wambach married her long-time girlfriend Sarah Huffman in Hawaii. The couple announced that they were divorcing three years later. She stated in November 2016 that she was in a relationship with author Glennon Doyle Melton. The couple married in May 2017.
In addition to raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Wambach is an active philanthropist. She participated in the Bank of America charitable campaign at the Chicago Marathon with her teammates. She also served as an ambassador for Athlete Ally.
Abby Wambach Net Worth
Abby Wambach has a net worth of $6 million dollars.
| Estimated Net Worth in 2023 (Approx) | $6 Million |
| Estimated Net Worth in 2022 (Approx) | $4 Million |
| Estimated Net Worth in 2021 (Approx) | $1.5 Million |
| Annual Salary | $0.3 Million |
| Market Value | Not Available |
| Endorsements | $1-$5 Million |
| Income Source | Professional Footballer |
| Cars Collection | Range Rover |
Abby Wambach, brand ambassador for Secret, a deodorant made specifically for women and manufactured by Proctor and Gamble. Abby Wambach has endorsed brands like Gatorade, Dodge, Nike, MVP Healthcare, and Panasonic.
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Football Career
- Abby Wambach’s remarkable talent and skill earned her a spot in the national team training camp in 2001. Her first match was against Germany at the Nike US Cup in Chicago. It ended in a 4-1 victory. Against Finland in San Jose, Wambach scored her first international goal and helped her team win 3-0.
- In 2002, she was selected by Washington Freedom for the Women’s United Soccer Association’s second season. She was named WUSA Rookie of the Year after scoring ten goals and providing ten assists.
- In the 2003 season, Wambach helped Washington Freedom win Founders Cup III. In the final match against Atlanta Beat, she not only scored the second-fastest goal in Founders Cup history but also the game-winning goal.
- Wambach’s international career began in 2003 when she was named to the US roster for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Wambach’s performance at FIFA 2003 was comparable to her previous record. As the top scorer in the US squad, she scored three goals in the tournament.
- After FIFA 2003, she began training with the national team for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Wandbach was a key member of the team throughout the games.
- Her last-minute header off a corner kick gave the US a 2-1 victory against Brazil in the final. Later, it was named one of the five biggest goals in U.S. women’s national team history.
- Wambach’s four goals at the 2004 Summer Olympics set a new record by a single US player at an Olympic event. She finished the year with a record of 31 international goals and 13 assists in 30 matches for the national team. She finished fourth for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
- Abby Wambach scored a goal in each of the matches against North Korea, Sweden, Nigeria, and England at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. After beating Norway, they finished third in the tournament after losing to Brazil in the semi-final.
- Six goals were scored by Wambach during the championship. As a result, she is the twentieth player in U.S. women’s national soccer team history to reach 100 international caps.
- Wambach was named to the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China, but was unable to participate due to a broken left leg. A leading scorer for the team and just one away from 100 international goals, the injury came as a shock.
- However, spirited as she was, she lifted the morale of the team who won gold at the tournament.
On July 19, 2009, Wambach scored her 100th goal in a friendly match against Canada at her hometown of Rochester. - She became the fifth U.S. player and ninth female in world history to score 100 international goals. Moreover, she reached 100 goals in fewer games than any of the four other American players who had previously accomplished the feat.
- A new professional league for women was formed in 2008: Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). Wambach was assigned to the Washington Freedom in the new league. With eight goals in 2009, she became the top WPS Player and was named to the 2010 WPS All-Star Team. As a result of her exceptional performance, she was selected as one of two captains for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game.
- During the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Wambach was named to the US roster. In the quarterfinals against Brazil, she scored a header goal in stoppage time that set a new FIFA record for the latest goal ever scored.
- With her goal in the final against Japan, she became the US’ all-time leading scorer in FIFA Women’s World Cup history with 13 goals. She was part of an American team that lost to Japan. During the competition, she won Bronze Boots, Silver Balls, and Silver Medals.
- A new women’s soccer league was announced in 2012, and Wambach was among the few players chosen from the national team. In her hometown of Rochester, New York, she was assigned to the National Women’s Soccer League club Western New York Flash as part of the NWSL Player Allocation. On April 14, 2013, she made her debut against Sky Blue FC.
- Tambach was named NWSL Player of the Week for week 5 after scoring both goals against FC Kansas City. After scoring a goal and providing an assist in the Flash’s victory over Sky Blue FC, she became the first player in the league to win the award twice.
- Wambach scored five goals in every match except the final at the Summer Olympics in 2012. She also scored her 140th international goal during the tournament.
- Wambach played in her fourth and last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015. She helped the United States win the World Cup. The same year in October, she announced her retirement. The last game that she played was in New Orleans on December 16.
Awards & Achievements
- Abby Wambach was outstandingly brilliant throughout her career. She scored 184 goals in 255 international matches, becoming the leading all-time international scorer for both men and women.
- US Soccer’s Athlete of the Year Award was given to her six times (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2013).
- During the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Wambach won the prestigious Bronze Boot and Silver Ball. In the same year, she was also awarded the ESPY Award for Best Play for her 122nd-minute equalizing goal against Brazil.
- In Athens and London, she won gold at the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She became the first American to win FIFA World Player of the Year after a decade with the award in 2012.
- Wambach and her team became the first women’s sports team in New York City to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade following their victory at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. During their visit to the White House, the team was also honored by President Barack Obama.
- In 2015, she was included in Time magazine’s list of the most influential people in the world.
Facts About Abby Wambach
- According to her, growing up as the youngest of seven was like being in a team environment, where you learn all kinds of things. My brothers and sisters always played with me at the same level and they never let me win until I was better than them. Growing up in a big family makes you humble. No matter how good you are at something, there will always be someone who is better than you.”
- Abby Wambach has lived in Portland, Oregon; Hermosa Beach, California; and Buffalo, New York.
- She appeared in the 2005 documentary Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.
- In regards to her s*xuality, she has said, “I can’t speak for other people, but for me, the days of coming out of a closet are over.”. However, I never felt like I was. Never. I was always comfortable with who I am and the decisions I made.”
- Hillary Clinton has often been her supporter.
- Time magazine included Abby Wambach on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in April 2015.
FAQs
1.8 m
Wambach was speaking when Jenner was still known as Bruce and was then correctly referred to as ‘he. ‘ From Monday onwards, the female pronoun became the appropriate usage.
Glennon Doyle
Sarah Huffman
Abby and Glennon met after they had established careers. Abby Wambach was an athlete and author. She won two Olympic golds with the U.S. women’s soccer team. In case you’re wondering, Glennon saw Abby walk into a room and her inner voice told her this was the one and she “just knew”.
