Abby Wambach To Make Final USWNT Appearance Tonight

It’s hard to imagine the United States Women’s National Soccer Team without Abby Wambach leading the line. But, after tonight’s game against China in New Orleans, that will become a reality. She will captain the side in what will be her final match before retiring.

From a purely numerical perspective, Wambach’s career is something to behold. She has scored 184 international goals, the more than any man or woman in history, and has won two Olympic gold medals and one World Cup title. She also 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year and won an NCAA championship with the University of Florida.

She has also seen women’s soccer grow over the years. “It’s evolved. It’s harder than it ever used to be,” she said in New Orleans. “The standard is even higher. That’s the way it should be.”

But that evolition also means that it’s now time to move on. “The body just knows when it knows and your mind is at the right speed but your body just isn’t doing of what it was capable of doing even three years ago,” she continued.

Photo: Abby Wambach #20 of the United States attempts a shot against Zhao Rong #14 of China during the second half of the women’s soccer match at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. USA defeated China 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Article by Joe Kozlowski