Abby Wambach

At 43 years old, Abby Wambach has this physical status:

Mary Abigail Wambach (born June 2, 1980) is an American retired soccer player, mentor, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women's World Cup champion.

Wambach, a six-time champion of the United States Soccer Athlete of the Year competition, was a member of the U.S. national soccer team from 2003 to 2015, earning her first cap in 2001.

She currently ranks as the top all-time goal scorer for the national team and holds the world record for female and male soccer players with 184 goals.

Wambach was named the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first American woman to win the award in ten years.

She was named on the 2015 Time 100 list as one of the world's most influential individuals. Wambach was a participant of four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London, winning the gold medal on both.

She appeared in 29 games and scored 22 goals at these five international tournaments, all together.

She competed for college soccer for the Florida Gators women's soccer team and helped the team win the inaugural NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.

She appeared on television shows as a spokesperson for Washington, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash. One of her most notable header goals came in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil, known for scoring goals with diving headers, a sport she began honing as a youth in Rochester, New York.

After beating Brazil in penalty kicks, Wambach earned the equalizer in stoppage time, assisting the Americans in their eventual promotion to the championship final against Japan.

Her last-minute goal set a new record for the first goal ever scored in a match, and she was recognized by ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year.

Following her success at the 2011 World Cup, she was named in the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball.

The Associated Press named her as the first female soccer player to be named Athlete of the Year in 2011. Wambach resigned on October 27, 2015.

Following the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup victory, the United States played its last match of the 10-game Victory Tour in New Orleans on December 16th.

Forward, her autobiography, published in September 2016, has been dubbed a New York Times best seller.

Early life

Wambach, a born in Rochester, New York, was raised in Pittsford, New York. She is the youngest of seven siblings (with two sisters and four brothers) born to Pete and Judy Wambach. Since her sister decided she wanted to try soccer at the age of four, she began playing soccer at the age of four. Their mother took out a book from the library instructing how to play the sport, and soccer became part of their family tradition. In an interview, Wambach said, "I believe I was bred to do what I do now." "You learn all sorts of stuff growing up as the youngest of seven was like being in a team environment." I learned how to compete, my brothers and sisters all played with me, but they never allowed me to win until they were better than them and deserved it. Being in the midst of such a large family makes you humble. You may have a certain skill or talent, but there is always someone who is better at something than you."

Wambach recalls being beaten up by her elder brothers who were throwing hockey pucks at her for target practice. She was moved from the girls' team to the boys' team after scoring 27 goals in only three games while playing in her first youth soccer league at age five. She began eluding defenders by throwing the ball over them and running around them as a child.

Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester from 1994 to 1998, where she lettered in soccer and basketball. She scored 142 goals during her high school career, including 34 in 1997 alone. Kathy Boughton, Mercy's soccer coach, remembered that Wambach stayed after practice to perform diving headers – a skill that later became her trademark as a professional player. Wambach was selected to the High School All-America Team of Parade magazine in honor of her senior year. Umbro and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America also named her as the year's best national high school player of the year (NSCAA). She was named NSCAA Regional Player of the Year, NSCAA State of New York Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions New York Player of the Year, and one of the country's top ten recruits in 1997.

Wambach, a three-year captain for the Rochester Spirit club team and named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 1995 and 1997. She was a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) U-16 National U-20 Player Pool in 1996, 1997, and she trained and competed with the U.S. women's national soccer team in Blaine, Minnesota, Minnesota, 1997. She travelled to Beijing, China, in 1997, as a member of the first American youth soccer team to ever compete there. 1999–2001 University of Florida The University of Florida was considered the best college recruit in 1997 by several colleges, including top soccer programs such as the University of North Carolina, UCLA, the University of Portland, and the University of Virginia. Wambach was highly sought after by numerous colleges, including top soccer programs such as the University of North Carolina, UCLA, the University of Portland, and the University of Virginia. Wambach, a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she competed for coach Becky Burleigh's Florida Gators women's soccer team from 1998 to 2001, committed to her parents' admission to five colleges. The Florida program had only existed for three years, but Wambach was denied the opportunity of joining a less established team over a long line of championship titles. Wambach, a freshman in 1998, helped the Gators win their first NCAA national championship over the 15-time champion North Carolina Tar Heels. From 1998 to 2001, the team has also won four consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships.

She was a first-team All-American All-American (1998), a first-team All-American selection for four years (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), and an individual All-American her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons in 1999, 2000, 2001. In addition to leading the Gators to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament as a senior in 2001, Wambach set school records for goals (96), assists (42), and hat tricks (10)). She is still the Florida Gators' all-time top scorer with ninety-six goals, despite ten years. In 2012, Wambach was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in the University of Florida.

Personal life

Wambach married author Glennon Doyle and lives in Hermosa Beach, California. She lived in Naples, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Buffalo, New York.

Sarah Huffman, a soccer player, was married to Wambach from 2013 to 2016. Wambach said that her marriage was not political and did not imply a departure because she had never been married: "I can't speak for others" after their wedding in Hawaii in October 2013; "I can't speak for others" because she had never been married: "I can't speak for others; but for me, the days are gone. I never felt like I was in a closet. I never did. I've always felt safe with who I am and the choices I made." Wambach and Huffman were divorcing in September 2016. Wambach reported she and her future wife, Glennon Doyle, were in a feud two months later. They revealed their involvement in February 2017. The couple wed on May 14, 2017.

Wambach attended several political appearances as a promoter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 primary election campaign. She was included in the 2022 Fast Company Queer 50 list.

Wambach came out against men's coach Jürgen Klinsmann and two national players training for the United States men's national soccer team, starting in December 2015. "I'm not sure he's brought in a group of these foreign guys" is something I would not endorse wholeheartedly. I don't believe in it. I don't believe in it in my heart." A few members of the men's national team had her expended for her distainment. Mix Diskerud, who was born in Norway to an American mother, was perhaps the most vocal in saying that she should "think about who you hate to disenfranchise." During an interview published in October 2016, she reiterated her displeasure, saying, "It's just my opinion, and I'm entitled to it." It's a little strange to me that there are certain guys who have never lived in the United States who play for the United States because they were able to obtain a passport. To me, it's just seems that they weren't able to make it for their country and make it for a living, so they're coming here."

After being pulled over by Portland police on April 2, 2016, Wambach was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII). She pleaded guilty. Following the crash, automaker MINI pulled a commercial starring Wambach. Wambach's autobiography, which was published several months after the incident, said she had been addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol for many years and had been sober since her arrest in April.

Wambach has signed sponsorship agreements with Gatorade, Nike, MVP Healthcare, and Panasonic. She appeared in a Dodge commercial with some of her national team colleagues in 2010. In July 2011, she agreed to a one-year pact with Bank of America. She appeared in commercials for the magicJack phone service and ESPN SportsCenter in the same year. She received a gold card from Chipotle Mexican Grill in 2012, which entitles her to one free burrito a day for life. Although not a formal endorsement contract, Chipotle is a well-known professional athlete who openly express a passion for the restaurant. In the summer of 2013, she signed an endorsement contract with the New York Apple Association and was featured in television, radio, print, and online advertisements. Wambach appeared in a Cree commercial in 2015.

Wambach has contributed to the Epilepsy Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's philanthropic efforts. She has competed in Mia Hamm's annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge, raising funds for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation. Wambach joined Alex Morgan and Hope Solo in a Bank of America charitable effort at the Chicago Marathon in August 2011. On her behalf, $5,000 was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Association. She became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a non-profit group that focuses on combating homophobia and transphobia in sports in 2013.

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Club career

The Wambach name was selected second in second round of the 2002 WUSA Draft by the Washington Freedom for the second season of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). The Freedom wanted to turn it around in 2002 after tying for last place with the Carolina Courage during the previous season. The Freedom Found themselves in sixth place after Mia Hamm was out for the first half of the season for knee surgery and recovery. The team finished the remainder of the season 9–1–2, finishing third with a berth in the playoffs following Hamm's return to the team. "Early on in the season, it was difficult to get everyone on the same page," Wambach said of the team's revival. Mia was dissatisfied, we had just started playing with the Chinese players, but Steffi hadn't arrived yet. There were so many contributing factors that contributed to us not being as efficient as we should have. Since people have returned and we've been able to figure out what exactly one another was doing out there, it's been much easier to get results." The Freedom beat the Philadelphia Charge 1–0 in the semi-finals. The Freedom lost in front of 12,000 fans at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta during the final against the Carolina Courage. Danielle Fotopoulos of the Courage scored an own goal in the 64th minute, but it was not enough to equalize Carolina's three goals. Wambach was voted WUSA Rookie of the Year in 2002 after leading all first-year players in scoring. She was Washington's top scorer with ten goals and ten assists and finished fourth in the WUSA, finishing fourth in scoring. In the inaugural 2002 WUSA All-Star Game, she scored twice and was named Game MVP.

Wambach tied for the league's scoring lead with 33 points against Mia Hamm during the 2003 season. Her efforts in Washington aided the Freedom to victory in the Founders Cup III, where Wambach was named MVP. She scored the second-quickest goal in Founders Cup history when she headed the ball into the lower left corner of the net past Beat goalkeeper and national teammate Brianna Scurry in the seventh minute of regulation time. She scored the game-winning goal in overtime's sixth minute off a cross from Jenny Meier, leading the Freedom to defeat the Atlanta Beat 2–1 during the championship match.

The WUSA folded five days before the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, the first World Cup that Wambach will play in, citing financial difficulties and a lack of funds. Shannon Boxx, a USWNT teammate, played for Ajax America Women in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) in summer 2005. In three appearances, she scored five goals and had three assists.

In 2008, Women's Professional Soccer, a national league, was announced for women in the United States: Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Wambach was assigned to the Washington Freedom during the 2008 WPS Player Allocation, which saw twenty-one players from the United States national team player pool be drafted to the seven squads in the new league. After scoring two goals in the Washington Freedom's 4–3 win over the FC Gold Pride, the Freedom's first victory in the new league, she was named WPS Player of the Week for the week (Week 5). Daniela's yellow card was issued for a tackle on St. Louis Athletica's tibia, leaving Daniela with two fractured knee ligaments and a crack in her tibia, and she was sidelined for the remainder of the season. Since the league commissioner's investigation of the challenge, Wambach was suspended for one game.

For the week of July 28 (Week 18,) Wambach scored two goals against the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC, as well as one assist against Sky Blue FC. She finished the 2009 season with eight goals more than any other American player in the WPS, and she was selected to the 2010 WPS All-Star Team.

Wambach won the WPS Player of the Week award in week 2 for scoring one goal and giving two assists against the Atlanta Beat. She was the top overall vote-getter in WPS All-Star voting, making her one of two captains for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game. Wambach won 100% of the media's and coaches' votes, winning the most popular vote with 37 percent.

The Freedom moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where it later became the magicJack under new ownership. Wambach was named player-coach for the remainder of the 2011 WPS season on July 22, 2011. For the seventh time in August 2011, she was named WPS Player of the Week for the seventh time.

The Women's Professional Soccer League Governors confirmed the end of the magicJack brand on October 26, 2011. In early 2012, the league stopped operations.

In 2012, a new national women's soccer league was introduced in the United States that featured selected players from the American, Mexican, and Canadian national teams. As part of the NWSL Player Allocation, Wambach was named to the Western New York Flash, a national Women's Soccer League club in Rochester, New York, on January 11, 2013. She made her debut on April 14, 2013, during the team's season opener against Sky Blue FC, after missing the preseason due to national team commitments.

In the 80th minute of the match, Wambach was struck hard in the team's second regular season match against the Washington Spirit in Boyds, Maryland. After standing up, she collapsed to the ground and seemed disoriented. Despite continuing to play and even attempted to score a goal with her head, she collapsed to the ground after the final whistle and was described by Spirit goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris as dazed and mumbling. After the game for concussion, Wambach was suspended. Several days later, US Soccer revealed she had sustained a concussion and confirmed that the injury had been handled properly by the referee, coaching staff, and players. As a precautionary health precaution, Wambach sat out the upcoming game. She made her home debut for the Flash on May 1 and scored the match-winning goal in the 20th minute to defeat Sky Blue 2–1. It was the team's first league victory and took them to a three-way tie for third position in the league.

After scoring both goals in the Flash's 2–1 victory over FC Kansas City, Wambach was named Week 5 NWSL Player of the Week. During the Flash's 3–0 victory over Sky Blue FC on Week 9, she became the first player in the league to win the award twice after scoring a goal and serving an assist.

Wambach revealed on March 18, 2015, that she had cancelled the entire 2015 NWSL season in order to concentrate on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Wambach's playing rights were traded to Seattle Reign FC in exchange for forwards Sydney Leroux and Amanda Frisbie, two weeks later, on March 30, 2015.

International career

Wambach's WUSA and collegiate success earned her a spot in the national team training camp in 2001. Her first cap for the United States women's national soccer team came on September 9, 2001, in Chicago, against Germany at the Nike U.S. Cup. In the 76th minute, Tiffeny Milbrett was subbed in for her. The United States defeated the United States 4–1. After subbing in for Christie Welsh in the 75th minute, she scored her first international goal on April 27, 2002 during a friendly match against Finland in San Jose, California. The United States beat the United States 3–0.

Wambach was called to the United States roster by coach April Heinrichs in August 2003 for her first World Cup tournament. Wambach led the United States in scoring with three goals at the tournament after being involved in only six international matches, three of whom were startling, before the 2003 World Cup.

Wambach made the starting lineup for the Americans' first match of the tournament against Sweden on September 21, 2003, before a stadium packed with over 34,144 fans at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Kristine Lilly, Cindy Parlow, and Shannon Boxx scored goals for the United States over Sweden 3–1. Wambach scored in the 65th minute during the team's second tournament match against Nigeria in Philadelphia, raising the United States' lead to 4–0. The United States will ultimately defeat Nigeria 5–0. She scored her third tournament goal during the squad's third Group stage match against North Korea on a penalty kick in the 17th minute. After two additional goals from Cat Whitehill in the 48th and 66th minutes, the United States defeated North Korea 3–0.

During the quarterfinals, Wambach scored the only goal against Norway, paving the way for the Americans to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the Americans lost 3–0 and were relegated to third place after defeating Canada 3–1 in the finals in front of 25,253 people at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Wambach spent time with the national team in Athens, Greece, after the WUSA suspended operations in 2003. She was instrumental in four of the team's first two matches in Athens, resulting in victories over Greece and Brazil. Wambach scored in the 30th minute during the Americans' first group stage match against Greece on August 11, 2004, giving the Americans a 2–0 advantage. In the 49th minute, she received her first yellow card of the tournament. Mia Hamm scored in the 82nd minute for a final score of 3–0.

On August 14, the United States defeated Brazil in their second match of the tournament. In the 49th minute, Wambach received her second yellow card of the tournament, giving her an automatic suspension for the final group stage match against Australia. Wambach won by a goal in the 77th after Hamm scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute. After going on to the quarterfinals after a 1–1 draw against Australia in the final group stage match, the Americans met Japan on August 20. The Americans defeated the Americans 2–1. Wambach's goal in the 59th minute gave the Americans a 2–1 victory.

The United States defeated Germany in overtime in the semi-finals and met Brazil for the second time in the Olympic final. The United States defeated Wambach and the gold medalist in the 112th minute thanks to Kristine Lilly's 10-yard header in the 112nd minute. By ESPN in 2011, her last-minute goal was ranked as one of the top five goals in the United States women's national team history. Wambach finished the tournament with four goals and one assist. At an Olympic Tournament, her four goals set a new record for goals scored by a single American player. Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, and Julie Foudy, who had been with the team since the first Women's World Cup in 1991, were among the Olympic winners who brought the national team's significant reforms. "It's the least we can do for the women who have given so much to us," Wambach said of the award. In 30 games for the national team, Wambach had scored 31 goals and 13 assists. In polling for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, she came in fourth.

Wambach, a major contributor to the national team, continued his scoring exploits in the 2005 Algarve Cup and a number of exhibition games after the Athens Olympics. One of her goals during team play at the Algarve Cup helped the United States beat Denmark 5–0, setting a record for the largest goal margin in an Algarve Cup match. Wambach had scored 66 goals in 84 international matches, scoring more goals in fewer games than any player since Michelle Akers. She was one of twenty players nominated for the 2006 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award and came in third place in voting.

The national team had not lost a game in regulation for the first time in nearly three years, and was considered a favorite to win the tournament in China going into the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. Wambach had been a regular on the team for five years and had assumed the role as team leader. Wambach collided in the air with North Korean defender Ri Kum-Suk, and landed on the ground with blood streaming down her head in their first match of the tournament against North Korea. She was ruled out of the pitch for ten minutes after five stitches were stitched to the back of her head. Coach Greg Ryan chose not to replace Wambach, who had scored 78 goals in 97 games. Thanks to a goal Wambach scored in the 50th minute, assisted by Kristine Lilly, the US was ahead 1–0. While Wambach was home for those ten minutes, the squad allowed two goals. "When they scored right away as I went off, I became worried." "I started running to the locker room to get stitches stitched in," Wambach said. With a goal scored by Heather O'Reilly, the United States tied the game a few minutes after Wambach returned to the field.

In their next match, the team defeated Sweden on September 14, 2007. After scoring in the 34th minute on a penalty kick and again in the 58th minute on a left-footed half-volley from Kristine Lilly, Wambach scored two goals and notched up her record to 80 goals in 96 international matches. With their 1–0 loss over Nigeria on September 18, the US ended the series. Lori Chalupny was aided by Wambach with a header off a long shot-in, who chuckled it off her chest and chipped the ball past Nigeria's goalkeeper. The win advanced the United States to the quarterfinals.

During Wambach's quarterfinal match against England on September 22, 2007, the Americans scored the first goal in the 48th minute, which was followed by two goals by teammates Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly, defeating England 3–0. Both three goals were within 12 minutes of being scored. Following an elbow injury in the face from Wambach, English captain Faye White required extensive care during the first half, with the match tied at 0–0. Although Wambach claimed that the call was accidental, the English players and media suspected otherwise. Wambach was the twentieth player in the United States women's national soccer team history (twelfth American soccer player overall) to receive 100 international caps.

In the semi-finals of what would be a tumultuous and game-changing match for the team, the United States defeated Brazil. Coach Greg Ryan decided to cut starting goalkeeper Hope Solo and instead started Brianna Scurry, a veteran goalkeeper who had appeared in three World Cups and two Olympics, but had only appeared in a few games since the 2004 Olympics. Brazil beat the United States 4–0. The team was relegated to a last-match against Norway, which they won 4–1, securing their third position in the tournament. Wambach scored in the 30th and 46th minutes, earning him a brace. Despite her head injury and a previous foot injury sustained during a friendly match against Finland just a month before the World Cup, she ended the tournament scoring six goals in six games.

Wambach was named to the US squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, on June 23, 2008. She broke her left leg during a match against Brazil on July 16, effectively ending her chances of participating in the Games.

Wambach sped away on a full sprint before collided with Rosa about 30 yards and vehemently collided with Rosa three minutes into the match in San Diego, California, thirty-one minutes into the match. Wambach collapsed to the ground and then signaled for assistance. Her left leg was braced and she was carried off the track on a stretcher. After being admitted to a local hospital in an ambulance for X-rays, fractures to her tibia and fibula were reported. Wambach underwent surgery to have a titanium rod attached, and it was predicted that three months would be out of action. On August 6, the national team's first match was scheduled to begin. Wambach was the team's top scorer at the time, and had just 99 goals in 127 games, just shy of becoming the fifth American player and ninth female player to reach 100 international goals.

"Obviously, it's devastating, but over all else, I'm just one player, and you cannot win a championship with just one player," Wambach said of her illness, "I have the utmost confidence in this team's return of the gold." Despite winning the exhibition match with a goal scored by Natasha Kai off a free kick from Carli Lloyd and hoping to remain undefeated for the year, Wambach's teammates were unbalanced by her illness. "Our heart has sank," Kai said, "We need her." She's a vital piece of a great team."

Lauren Cheney was brought on to assist Wambach at the Games. "I have the deepest sadness for Abby right now," Cheney said, "but I am excited to be a part of the 18 going to the Olympics." "I called Lauren Cheney from the hospital, and not feel bad about being selected in this manner," Wambach said during a conference call a few days after the accident. "That's what makes you stand at the top of the day," says the narrator.

Despite Wambach's absence, the United States took home gold after beating Brazil 1–0 in the final. Carli Lloyd, a midfielder for the 96th minute, scored the game-winning goal after an assist from forward Amy Rodriguez in front of 51,162 fans at Workers Stadium. After winning gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Games, the first Olympic tournament that included women's soccer was the third for the national team.

Wambach scored her 100th goal in a friendly match against Canada in Rochester, California, on July 19, 2009, her second international match after recovering from her injury. "I've been going to the Olympics this year, and the agony of not going to the Olympics, all of the agony is worth it," she said. Playing in front of your family crowd and achieving a landmark like I did today is all you could ask for. Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers, and Tiffeny Milbrett were all aiming for 100 goals in fewer games than any of the four other American players who had previously scored 100 goals: Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers, and Tiffeny Milbrett scored 100 goals in fewer games than any of the four other American players with 100 goals:

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Germany, which included Wambach, was announced on May 9, 2011. The 2011 Women's World Cup was her third World Cup tournament in which she competed. Wambach scored in the 67th minute during the team's final group stage match, defeating Sweden by a 2-0 margin. With the loss, the United States finished second in their group and advanced to the quarterfinals against the first team from Group D Brazil.

Wambach scored a header goal in stoppage time during the Americans' quarter-final match against Brazil on July 10, 2011, then tied for the second time at 2–2 against the Brazilians. The United States won the game on penalty kicks and advanced to the semi-finals. Wambach's goal set a new record for the first time in a FIFA tournament. The 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year was given to Jessica for her last-minute effort. During the Americans' 3–1 victory over France, Wambach scored her third tournament goal.

Wambach's trademark header goal in the first half of extra-time (her fourth in the tournament) made her the United States' all-time scoring leader in FIFA Women's World Cup history, second to Brazil's Marta and Germany's Birgit Prinz (12 all-time goals each). After a late equalizer by Japan, the United States was forced to a penalty shootout. Japan defeated 3–1 with Wambach converting the fourth and only successful penalty for the United States.

The final count for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup was four goals and one assist, earning her the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Boot after Brazil's Marta (4 goals, 2 assists, and Bronze Boot) and Japan's Homare Sawa (5 goals, 1 assist, Golden Boot) remained. All four of Wambach's goals in the tournament were scored with her head. Wambach was named with the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Ball for her efforts, as well as her silver medal and Bronze Boot.

During the team's first group stage match against France on July 25, 2012, Wambach scored the first goal for the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Wambach steered the ball into the back of the net after 14 minutes in the first half, down 2–0 in the 19th minute after 14 minutes. With another goal from Alex Morgan by the 30-minute mark, the Americans had tied the game by the 30-minute mark. The United States defeated France 4–2 with Alex Morgan's second goal and one from Carli Lloyd during the second half.

Wambach was struck in the right eye by an insurgent player during her team's 3–0 victory, but she went on to score her second goal. Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett's sixth Olympic goal, she set, was her sixth appearance in the United States, tying the previous American record set. It was also her 140th international goal, bringing her one goal closer to Hamm's record of 158 for the most international goals scored. In the 38th minute, Colombian midfielder Lady Andrade ran into Wambach's path when the United States was rushing upfield and punching her in the chest. Wambach collapsed to the ground in pain. The referees didn't appear to know the play and made no call. Wambach described what happened, "I'm running towards the goal of getting a position, and I'm sucker-punched," she said. "It's straightforward." We've got it on film, so it's up to the Olympic committee and FIFA to decide what to do." FIFA officials banned the Colombian player from playing matches after watching match footage.

Wambach scored the lone goal of the match against North Korea during the 25th minute of the game, consisting of a long ball by Lauren Cheney to Alex Morgan. Morgan slid a pass between two defenders to Wambach, who smashed in her third goal of the tournament. The Americans finished first in their group with the victory and moved to the quarter-finals against New Zealand in front of 29,522 people at Old Trafford. The game was also the first women's soccer game at Old Trafford in 23 years. Wambach scored her fourth goal of the tournament during the 27th minute of the match against New Zealand in the quarter-finals. She led a cartwheel celebration after sliding onto the ball to score, a nod in honour of the United States gymnastics team. The Americans defeated New Zealand 2–0 and advanced to the semi-finals with a second goal scored by Sydney Leroux in the 87th minute. In the United States' 4–3 triumph over Canada, Wambach scored the game-tying third goal on a penalty kick.

Wambach scored in every match except the final on five goals at the 2012 Olympics and was undefeated in every match except the final. At the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich, she was named Younger Player of the Year in honor of her contributions.

Wambach revealed that the Canada 2015 tournament would be her last before she competed in her fourth World Cup. Wambach was her first on-field replacement wearing the armband after nominal captain Christie Rampone started every game at the bench. In the group stage and Colombia in the round of 16, she was the starting captain in three games against Australia and Nigeria. Carli Lloyd, the other four games captain, gave Wambach the armband as she began the final against Japan with eleven minutes remaining, and Wambach turned the ball over to Rampone as she entered at the 86th minute. Wambach was allowed to lift the World Cup trophy with her by Rampone, who rewarded her. Wambach scored in a 1–0 victory over Nigeria, her last goal in official competition, despite a victorious campaign.

Career statistics

Wambach scored 184 goals in 255 international matches during her international career. Wambach, the highest all-time international goal scorer for men and women, until she was defeated by Canadian National Team Captain Christine Sinclair on January 29, 2020. Wambach (27 goals) and Alex Morgan (28 goals) combined for 55 goals in 2012, equaling Michelle Akers' (39 goals) and Carin Jennings (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in U.S. women's national team history.

In four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, Wambach played in 2003 in the United States, 2007 in China, 2011 in Germany, and 2015 in Canada. She appeared in two Olympics tournaments, in Athens and London, in 2004. She appeared in 30 matches and scored 22 goals at these five international tournaments, all together. Wambach, a team from the United States, earned two Olympic gold medals, finished third twice at the Women's World Cup, and captured the 2015 Women's World Cup.

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