I am an avid fan of the U.S. National Women's Soccer Team (USWNT). In fact, if you looked on my Instagram right now, my last post is a goodbye to one of my favorite players who announced her retirement this week. (But not before I had a chance to meet her!) I can tell you many of the players' birthplaces, husband's and children's names. For birthday and Christmas presents I've received tickets to watch them play and on a few lucky occasions, even meet players. I hold strong opinions on their treatment compared to the Men's National Team, and I have taken stands for them in the past. This week however, I've chosen to pull back, as I can no longer support the USWNT goalkeeper: Hope Solo.
Solo has been the starting goalkeeper since I started actively watching soccer more than eight years ago. I have cheered for her amazing saves and cried for her when a game didn't go our way. I have seen her play multiple times in person. But after this summer in Rio, I cannot bring myself to stand by her any longer.
Over the years, Solo has been charged with domestic violence toward her husband and nephews. Her husband has also been charged with a DWI while driving a team van. She has seen minor suspensions and has been absent from rosters due to these drama-filled moments. Even after another domestic violence charge this spring, she was still included on the Olympic roster for Rio.
Solo was very vocal about her concern over the Zika virus. She posted on social media, including her Instagram, concerned comments and pictures of extreme precautionary measures such as mosquito nets and extra repellent spray. The tone of her comments angered many fans, causing in Rio to chant "Zika" every time Solo came into contact with the ball.
After the USWNT suffered their earliest exit from a major tournament in the history of the team (they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sweden), Solo spoke to Sports Illustrated reporter, Grant Wahl, saying,
"I thought we played a courageous game. I thought we had many opportunities on goal. I think we showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal down, I’m very proud of this team. And I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today, I strongly, firmly believe that."
After the comments, there was widespread criticism of Solo on social media. She then tweeted, “losing sucks. I’m really bad at it," which failed to slow much of the criticism.
After the comments, Wahl asked U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati about Solo's opinions. Gulati said,
"While we are all very disappointed with the result of the match, Hope's post-game comments were highly inappropriate and not in line with the expectations of U.S. Soccer or the ideals of the Olympic movement."
Last week, U.S. Soccer announced that they would be suspending Solo from the USWNT for six months due to her post-game comments. She will be ineligible for national team call-ups for those six months, but can still play for her club team in the Nation Women's Soccer League, the Seattle Reign. All NWSL teams are funded by U.S. Soccer, so while being suspended from the National Team, Solo would continue earning a paycheck from U.S. Soccer. This suspension also has no bearing on her existing sponsorships, including Nike.
Earlier this week, Solo released an announcement of her own:
"Coming to terms with the fact I was fired from the U.S. Women's National Team after 17 years of service has been devastating. After careful consideration, I have decided to end my season with the Seattle Reign, an organization I love playing for," Solo said Tuesday. "Mentally, I am not there yet. After watching the team's win against Portland this weekend and seeing Haley Kopmeyer playing so well in goal, I truly believe this decision is what's best for me and for the Reign organization."
Solo also released a video on her Twitter where she says the following:
“Literally 17 years on this team and then to be treated this way in the end is, [pause], not surprising from U.S. Soccer, to be honest... I feel like I’m being pushed out ‘cause it can’t be based off performance, my health. It can’t be based off anything but they don’t like me because they know I’ve been fighting so hard for equal pay. They’re going to use my comments as an excuse to get rid of me forever so that they don’t have to deal with such a strong voice and opposition to field conditions and playing conditions and pay. I think I’m just a thorn in their side and it’s time for them to cut their losses.”
In my opinion, there is one thing Solo got right. She has been a thorn in the side of the USWNT and U.S. Soccer for many years. She is a talented player, with very many game-changing saves and moments under her belt. But, for many years she has been a discipline issue and U.S. Soccer has allowed a lot of it to slide under the radar due to her talent. By suspending her, U.S. Soccer is not punishing her for fighting for equal pay: many other players including stars Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd were vocal on the subject as well and they are still active members of the USWNT. By suspending her, the organization is putting her up on display for the younger players on the team: you are a public figure that represents U.S. Soccer; if you are unable to act in a matter that reflects U.S. Soccer, you will no longer be asked to represent U.S. Soccer, as said by Gulati in a U.S. Soccer release,
“Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions. Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. National Team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.”
It pains me to write this article and proclaim I am no longer am a Hope Solo fan. Yet, I cannot bring myself to support someone who wants to blame her own negative behavior on someone else. When punished, she has publicly acted out against U.S. Soccer -- bringing even more attention to her suspension. As the old saying goes, you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.
