Hope Solo Takes Indefinite Leave From NWSL’s Seattle Reign

Hope Solo has decided she will not play with her club team, the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League, following her six-month suspension and contract termination by U.S. Soccer last week.

Hope Solo Takes Indefinite Leave From NWSL’s Seattle Reign

The 35-year-old goalkeeper’s suspension and contract termination — which came courtesy of U.S. Soccer after Solo’s remarks about Sweden’s women’s team at the Rio Olympics — only applied to her place on the US Women’s National Team.

After the USWNT crashed out of the Rio Games in a penalty shootout against Sweden in the quarterfinals, Solo lambasted her opponents as a”bunch of cowards” for their defensive playing style during that game on Aug. 12. She won’t be eligible for selection to the national team again until February. The stunning defeat marked the American women’s earliest exit ever from the Olympics.

Prior to a match last weekend against the Portland Thorns, the Reign announced Solo was granted an indefinite personal leave. Haley Kopmeyer took over in goal, and Seattle won 3-1.

“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.”

Reign head coach and general manager Laura Harvey released a statement saying that although the team was upset with Solo’s decision, they also understood and respected it.

“Hope has always wanted what is best for our team — she is a relentless trainer, a fierce competitor and demands from herself nothing less than excellence on the pitch,” Harvey said.

Sweden’s coach, Pia Sundhage, who led the U.S. team to gold medals in Beijing and London, replied to Solo’s postgame “cowards” comment by stating: “It’s OK to be a coward if you win.” Sweden went on to lose in the gold-medal match against Germany.

The goalkeeper became the subject of scorn in Rio di Janeiro even before her comments on Sweden’s team. In the weeks leading up to the Olympics, she posted several photos on social media of her wearing mosquito netting and armed with insect repellant as a way to openly express her concern over the Zika virus. Brazilian fans responded by booing her and shouting “Zika!” every time the ball came near her in each of the USWNT’s games.

Although a talented goalie who boasts a 17-year career with the U.S. women’s team, Solo has also proven to be a controversial person for years.

She still faces a possible trial on misdemeanor domestic violence charges after a 2014 incident at her sister’s home, when she was accused of being intoxicated and assaulting her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew. Solo said she was a victim in the altercation. Earlier this year, an appeals court in Washington state rejected Solo’s request to avoid trial.

In early 2015 while Solo was at a team training camp in Southern California, her husband Jerramy Stevens was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in a U.S. Soccer team van. Solo was with him at the time.

The former Seattle Seahawks tight end later pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and four years on probation. Solo was suspended by U.S. Soccer for 30 days.

Solo became the first goalkeeper with 100 international shutouts last month when the U.S. beat South Africa 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. It also was her 150th career win.

A video was also released Tuesday showing Solo’s emotional reaction upon learning the news of her suspension.

Solo was part of a documentary series called “Keeping Score,” capturing the Olympic journey of some members of the U.S. women’s soccer team. That meant crews were still on hand when Solo heard about her termination, reports Dana Jacobson of CBS Sports Network.

In the video, the goalkeeper is shown to be very distraught and hugs her husband.

“Terminated contract. Not just a suspension,” Solo is heard saying in the video.

“How can they do both?” Stevens asks.

“It’s bull. Seventeen f—— years and it’s over,” Solo says.

During the Rio Games she made her 200th appearance in goal for the United States, an international record.

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – AUGUST 03: Hope Solo #1 of United States looks on during the Women’s Group G first round match between the United States and New Zealand during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Mineirao Stadium on August 3, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena