After the USA Women’s Soccer Team was eliminated in a most-dramatic finals match against Japan, it looked like the team’s spark plug Abby Wambach would not gain the spotlight she so rightly deserved, and watched as her extraordinary teammate Hope Solo grabbed the many opportunities for stardom (not to mention a whopping increase in Twitter Followers) that came her way. It looked like the only public face Abby would take on was that of MagicJack coach and spokesperson, masking some of the most incredible play in soccer history and this monster last-minute goal against Brazil:
But all of that changed when Abby was first named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation, and this week, Wambach, the first ever American female soccer player to post 13 World Cup goals, was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year this week. Abby got the most votes and 65 over Ms. Solo, but that’s not to imply a competition for props – Wambach and Solo represent the defending Olympic Champions, and are training for the January regional qualifying tournament.
Congratulations and Merry Christmas to Abby Wambach!