Quick Facts
Biographical Information
Hope Solo, one of the top female goalkeepers of all time, spent time on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team from 2000 to 2016.
Solo's soccer journey began at the collegiate level, where she played for the University of Washington from 1999 to 2002. She was drafted by the Philadelphia Charge in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) in 2003. She went on to be an asset to each team she played on, excelling as a goalkeeper.
In March 2016, Solo joined her teammates in a movement against wage discrimination, filing a complaint against the United States Soccer Federation. This activism continued as she filed a lawsuit against the USSF in 2018. During the 2019 World Cup, Solo served as a commentator for the BBC, providing expert insights and analysis. Additionally, she launched the Hope Solo Scholarship under One Young World, supporting young leaders like Alex Paulin, founder of Conservation Music, and Hannah Godefa, a UNICEF National Ambassador, activist, and humanitarian, in 2018.
Olympic Career
Solo's journey in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games marked a significant turning point in her career. Her exceptional performance was instrumental in the U.S. women’s team securing the gold medal when they defeated Brazil 1-0 in extra time.
The London 2012 Olympic Games solidified Solo’s legacy as one of the top goalkeepers in the world. The U.S. defeated Japan 2-1 in the finals. Solo made several crucial saves to support this win.
Solo recorded three shutouts during the tournament: against Colombia and North Korea in the group stage, and New Zealand in the quarterfinals. Despite conceding six goals throughout the tournament, including a hat-trick by Christine Sinclair in the 4-3 extra-time semi-final win against Canada, Solo’s consistency and resilience were undeniable.
World Cup Career
In the 2011 World Cup, Solo helped lead the U.S. team to the final. Her exceptional goalkeeping throughout the tournament earned her the Golden Glove Award as the best goalkeeper and the Bronze Ball Award as the third-best player overall. The U.S. team's journey to the final included dramatic victories, such as the penalty shootout win against Brazil in the quarterfinals.
The 2015 World Cup was a historic triumph for Solo and the U.S. women’s national team. Solo played all seven matches, totaling 630 minutes of play. She achieved the longest shutout streak in the tournament's history with 540 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. Solo allowed only three goals throughout the entire tournament. Her performances were crucial in matches against top-tier teams, including a commanding 5-2 victory over Japan in the final. Solo's exceptional skills and leadership were recognized with the Golden Glove Award, underscoring her as the tournament's best goalkeeper.
Early Career
Solo's soccer journey began at Richland High School where she scored 109 goals and earned recognition as a Parade All-American twice.
She attended the University of Washington from 1999 to 2002. Initially a forward, Solo permanently shifted her career to goalkeeping. She quickly became the top goalkeeper in Pac-10 history, a four-time All-Pac-10 selection and was named an NSCAA All-American in her sophomore, junior and senior years.
Solo played for the Philadelphia Charge between 2003 and 2005. From 2009 to 2011, she was a key player in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league. She played for Saint Louis Athletica, Atlanta Beat and magicJack, as well. In 2012, Solo joined the Seattle Sounders Women, bringing her talent to the Pacific Northwest and further endearing herself to local soccer fans.
Solo’s career took another significant step from 2013 to 2016 when she was allocated to the Seattle Reign FC as one of three U.S. national team members. Her time with the Reign FC was marked by outstanding performances and leadership. After spending a year at Manchester City, she returned to the Reign FC and played a pivotal role in the team clinching the NWSL Shield for the first time.
Olympic Experience
- 3-time Olympian; 2-time Olympic medalist (2 gold)
- Olympic Games Rio 2016, 5th (Team - Women)
- Olympic Games London 2012, gold (Team - Women)
- Olympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (Team - Women)
World Championship Experience
- Most recent: 2015 – gold (Team - Women)
- Years of participation: Team - Women 2007, 2011, 2015
- Medals: 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Gold – 2015 (Team - Women)
- Silver – 2011 (Team - Women)
- Bronze – 2007 (Team - Women)