Biography
Who is Abby Wambach?
Early life and family
Mary Abigail Wambach was born on June 2, 1980, in Rochester, New York. She grew up as the youngest of seven children, with four brothers and two sisters. Her family environment was highly competitive, which she credited later in life for helping her develop the drive needed for professional sports. She began playing soccer at age four after her older sister Laura started the sport. Her mother retrieved a library book to teach the family the rules, and the game quickly became a core tradition for the Wambach household.
High school and college career
Abby Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester between 1994 and 1998. During her time there, she played both soccer and basketball. She was a productive scorer, tallying 142 goals during her high school soccer career. Her coach, Kathy Boughton, encouraged her to practice diving headers, a skill that would eventually become her signature move on the international stage. By the end of her senior year, she had earned numerous accolades, including being named to the Parade magazine High School All-America Team and the Gatorade Circle of Champions New York Player of the Year.
Professional and international success
Abby Wambach played professionally for teams such as the Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash. Her professional career included winning the WUSA Rookie of the Year award in 2002. She was also a key player for the United States women's national soccer team from 2003 until her retirement in 2015. During her international career, she scored 184 goals, placing her second on the all-time international scoring list for players of any gender. She competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, ultimately winning the title in 2015.
Life after professional soccer
Since retiring from active play, she has transitioned into other professional roles including coaching and podcasting. She has also found success as an author. Her autobiography, titled Forward, was published in 2016 and became a New York Times Best Seller. She followed this in 2019 with a second book, Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game, which also achieved Best Seller status. These works reflect on her path through sports and her perspective on teamwork and leadership.
Birthday and age
Abby Wambach was born on June 2, 1980, which makes Abby 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Abby shares the date with 55 other famous people.
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