Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach is an American professional women's soccer player whose passion for sports transcended into writing books and inspiring young athletes. She began her professional career in 2002 with the Washington Freedom, then moved to the Chicago Red Stars before signing with the more successful Western New York Flash in 2011. Wambach has won numerous awards throughout her illustrious career, including being named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year six times and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012.

Her success on the soccer field inspired her to write her first book, “Forward: A Memoir” in 2016, which highlights her personal struggles and victories throughout her career. “Forward” is written in an honest and candid fashion, allowing readers to gain insight into her life beyond the soccer field. Wambach talks through the various obstacles she faced in her life, from her family’s issues to her injury struggles, and how these experiences molder her as an athlete. In addition to this, Wambach shares portions of her experience at her alma mater, the University of Florida, and how it helped her achieve her ultimate dream of becoming a professional soccer player.

In 2020, “Wolfpack” followed “Forward”, which aims to provide young adults with the tools that they need to be successful in any aspect of their lives. In this book, Wambach implements her idea of “wolfpacking”, which refers to the act of empowering yourself by surrounding yourself with successful people while rejecting those who may prevent you from reaching your fullest potential. Wambach also provides readers with tangible methods of achieving success, such as setting realistic goals, understanding values, and pushing yourself to be your best.

As an influencer in the sports world and beyond, Wambach’s legacy continues to play a pivotal role in guiding the next generation of athletes. In addition to her written words, she has served as a source of inspiration to many current and aspiring players through her coaching, public speaking engagements, and charity work. Her major contributions extend to organizations such as Gatorade’s Beat the Heat, which she co-created in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for young people to play sports. Furthermore, her foundation, the Abby Wambach Foundation, gives young girls and woman access to the same opportunity and resources that she had during her career.

Abby Wambach’s legacy has left an undeniable mark in the soccer world and beyond. Her accolades on the soccer field are only exceeded by her influence on and off the pitch. By writing “Forward” and “Wolfpack”, Wambach has provided an open and direct narrative that effectively outlines the core values that have enabled her to have such a successful career. From her work with Gatorade’s Beat the Heat to her foundation, Wambach continues to motivate and support the next generation of athletes who look to her to lead the way. Her books will continue to be a source of inspiration to many for years to come, packed with the lessons that she learned during her career.