Hope Solo

Guide Note

Hope Solo plays goalkeeper for the United States Women's National Soccer Team.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Hope Amelia Solo
2. Born: July 30, 1981
3. Birthplace: Richland, Washington
4. Height: 5'9"
5. Position: Goalkeeper
6. College: University of Washington
7. Has started for the United States at every level of competition
8. Starting goalkeeper for the United States in the FIFA Women's World Cup

During the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Hope Solo was the starting goalkeeper for the United States team. Despite only giving up two goals in four games, head coach Greg Ryan benched Solo and put in Briana Scurry against Brazil in a semifinal match. Ryan's reasoning was that Scurry had performed well against Brazil in the past. The U.S. lost to Brazil 4-0.¹

After the match, Solo criticized the decision to play Scurry instead of her, "It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. And the fact of the matter is it's not 2004 anymore. It's not 2004. And it's 2007, and I think you have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past. It doesn't matter what somebody did in an Olympic gold medal game in the Olympics three years ago. Now is what matters, and that's what I think."²

Many saw the comments as a slam against Briana Scurry. Despite Solo's apology, she was not with the team for their third place match against Norway. The team made the decision as a whole to not have Solo play in the game.³