U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach is leaving the game she loves as a champion. Wambach announced her retirement Tuesday after celebrating the Women's World Cup victory at the White House, according to Associated Sports Writer Anne Peterson.
"After much deliberation and talking with my friends, family, teammates and our coaching staff, I've decided to finally bring my soccer career to an end," said Wambach, via ABC News. "While we still have more work to do for women's soccer, after bringing the World Cup back to the United States this summer, I'm feeling extremely optimistic about the future of our sport. It's been an amazing, wonderful ride and I can't wait to see what the next chapter of my life brings."
Wambach is the all-time leading career scorer in both men's and women's U.S. soccer. She also helped lift the U.S. women's national team to their third Women's World Cup, becoming the first country to accomplish that feat in the women's game. USA won decisively in the World Cup final 5-2, and got even with Japan after losing to them in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Following the womens' World Cup victory, New York City held a ticker-tape parade in their honor. National pride filled this country when the U.S. Women's national team won, and helped pushed women's soccer more in to the national spotlight. President Obama highlighted that during Wambach and the team's visit.
"This team taught all America's children that playing like a girl means you're a badass," said Obama, via ABC News. "Perhaps I shouldn't have used that phrase. Playing like a girl means being the best."
Wambach leaves the game as one of the greatest to ever play the sport. She joins Mia Hamm as the only other American to win FIFA's Player of the Year. Hamm used her twitter account to acknowledge Wambach after her announcement, writing, "You have given every ounce of your being to this game, your team, fans, and the U.S. jersey."
The women's soccer community will miss Wambach on the pitch, but she has opened so many doors for this sport as it will continue to grow even after her departure.
