Women's Sports Coverage: Abby Wambach

Wambach warming up for an
international friendly match against
Canada, September 2011 HM Larson

“You might find yourself holding a baby instead of a briefcase and fearing that your colleagues are “getting ahead” and leaving you behind. Here’s what’s important: You are allowed to be disappointed when it feels like life’s benched you. What you aren’t allowed to do is miss your opportunity to lead from the bench. If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the field. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere.”
― Abby Wambach, WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game

“You see, soccer didn’t make me who I am. I brought who I am to soccer, and I get to bring who I am wherever I go. So do you.” ― Abby Wambach, WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game

“Leadership is taking care of yourself and empowering others to do the same. Leadership is not a position to earn, it’s an inherent power to claim. Leadership is the blood that runs through your veins—it’s born in you. It’s not the privilege of a few, it is the right and responsibility of all. Leader is not a title that the world gives to you—it’s an offering that you give to the world.” ― Abby Wambach, WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game


The Norwegian Cruise Ship the Pearl has thirteen bars and lounges. Most of them have flat screen TVs that broadcast sporting events. I would walk pass these areas on my way to music concerts. What I began to notice the sports coverage was either men’s basketball (college and NBA), soccer, or golf. This was very interesting on a ship with a 95% population of women. Especially, when women’s college basketball tournament was at its height and the women’s pre-world cup soccer friendlies were happening around the world.

Abby Wambach: Barnard Commencement 2018

The year Abby Wambach was born was my last year of play N.O.S.O. soccer. I had played girls club soccer starting in the mid-seventies. When I entered high school, the number of girls participating dropped and it became harder to have a league. Girls at my high school had varsity sports to choose from and or held jobs to save money for college. Soccer at my high school was a boys only sport. It wouldn't become a varsity sport until eight years later.

I was a half-back or now would be called a midfielder. I was the player who was in between the forwards and the fullbacks; and I did go after the ball. Soccer was a game where I could be aggressive by being willing to fight for the ball and send it to the forward to assist with goals. Those were in the days without shin guards.

When I learned to play soccer there were no Mia Hamms or Abby Wambachs or Hope Solos or Christen Presses. Pele was the dude everyone was talking about. On the field, we would enact his dribbling moves and goals. True at the time, not many U.S.ers understood what soccer was; but I envy the girls today who can see a woman doing cool soccer moves. They get to practice Abby Wambach’s header from the world cup against Brazil.

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Being Strong

The kindest words my father spoke to me

women like you down oceans

-rupi kaur

Kaur, Rupi. Milk and Honey. Kansas City, MO: Andrew McMeel Publishing, LCC. 2015.

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If you haven’t kept up with the news. The US Women’s National Soccer Team has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer. All 28 members of the current team are listed as plaintiffs that alleges discriminatory practices by the US’s federation, including unequal pay, training facilities, coaching, medical treatment and travel conditions.

At the same time, Abby Wambach is out on her book tour: Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash our Power and Change the Game. Abby Wambach has scored more career goals in soccer than any male or female. (NOTE: 184 goals). Her women’s leadership book is based on her Barnard commencement speech in 2018 (See above). The inspiration for the speech came from a thought after receiving the ESPY icon awards on her retirement.

Wambach received the award with retiree Kobe Bryant and retiree Peyton Manning. She was honored and grateful, but as they walked down the stage with their awards it dawned on her: these two men were walking away with a different life than her. These men had sizable retirement packages from their careers. She would have to find a “new hustle."

Women athletes are not paid equal.

The common argument is women’s soccer doesn’t make money. Men’s soccer brings in more money. This isn’t true. In 2015, the US Women’s National Soccer Team brought in 6.6 million dollars whereas the men’s team brought in 2 million.

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Back on the Pearl with the 95% population of women traveling, why didn't any of the TVs cover women's sports?