Abby Wambach: podcast appearances and interviews

Mary Abigail Wambach, born on June 2, 1980, is a retired American professional soccer player who played as a forward. She was a member of the United States women's national soccer team from 2003 to 2015. Wambach is notable for her goal-scoring record, with 184 international goals, making her the second-highest scorer across all genders in international play. She received the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award six times and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012. Her influence extended beyond her playing career, as she was included in the 2015 Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. During her international career, Wambach participated in four FIFA Women's World Cups, winning the tournament in 2015. She also secured Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2012. In college, she contributed to the Florida Gators women's soccer team's first NCAA Division I Championship victory. Wambach played professionally for teams including Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash. She is recognized for scoring goals with diving headers, exemplified by a last-minute equalizer scored with a precise cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals against Brazil. This goal set a record for the latest in a World Cup match and received ESPN's ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. Wambach retired in 2015 after her final game in New Orleans, closing her career with the United States' Victory Tour. Her autobiographies, 'Forward' and 'Wolfpack', published in 2016 and 2019 respectively, both became New York Times Best Sellers.