New Lifestyle Sports: Hope Solo Bio & Pics

U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team goalkeeper Hope Amelia Solo was born on July 30, 1981 in Richland, Washington. At an early age, Hope developed a love for athletics, enjoying basketball, snowboarding, and beach volleyball in addition to soccer. From 1996 to 1999, Hope competed as a forward for the Richland High School Bombers. Over her high school career, she scored a total of 109 goals, including two in the State Championship game in 1999. She was named a two-time Parade All-American.

In 1999, Hope went to play for the University of Washington Huskies where she switched to the goalkeeper position. Hope quickly adapted to her new defensive role and was named a four-time All-Pac-10 athlete and a three-time NSCAA All-American. As a senior, she was the only goalkeeper in contention for the prestigious Hermann Award, and left the Huskies’ as Washington’s all-time leader in shutouts (18), saves (325), and GAA (1.02).

In 2000, after having played on multiple U.S. Junior National soccer teams, Hope moved up to the full U.S. National Team. In 2003, she was drafted to the WUSA’s Philadelphia Charge. Following her time with the Charge, she played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC of Göteborg, Sweden in the Swedish Premier Division in 2004 and for Olympique Lyonnais in the French First Division in 2005.

In 2004, Hope was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team, behind veteran Briana Scurry. In 2005, Hope was promoted to the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. Team and started 7 matches, earning 7 shutouts. In 2006, she played in 18 matches and her 1,054 minutes streak of preventing a goal from the run of play led the team to a 14-0-4 season. In 2007, Solo started 15 games for a team record of 13-0-2, allowing only 8 goals. She also started four games in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In 2008, Hope had 9 shutouts in 16 starts leading up to the Olympics, playing in the Four Nations Tournament, the Algarve Cup, and the Peace Queen Cup. In the summer of 2008, Hope once again joined the U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer team, this time as the starting goalkeeper. In Beijing, the United States’ team fought hard in the qualifying round and eventually advanced to the Gold Medal match against Brazil. The Gold Medal match was a defensive showdown. Solo was able to fend off Marta and the aggressive Brazilian offense, earning a shutout. The U.S. won 1-0 in extra time to win the Gold Medal.

In September 2008, Solo was drafted to the St. Louis Athletica in the newly formed Women’s Professional Soccer league debuting in 2009.

When not playing soccer, Hope enjoys reading, basketball, beach volleyball, and other outdoor activities. She is interested in traveling the world and wants to give back through community service projects.