Hope Solo

Hope Amelia Solo was born in Richland, Washington on 30 July 1981. Her father, a man of Italian descent who grew up in the Bronx, was a sometimes-homeless Vietnam War veteran. Although her parents divorced when she was six and she lived with her mother, Solo maintained a close relationship with her father, who remained a major influence in her life until his sudden death in June 2007.

Hope Solo is an American soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for the magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer. She is the current starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team.

Hope Solo has played soccer with the Three-Rivers Soccer Club in the Tri-Cities. As a forward at Richland High School, Solo scored 109 goals, leading her team to three consecutive league titles from 1996–1998 and a state championship in her senior year. She was twice named a Parade All American. At the University of Washington, Solo switched to the goalkeeper position and was the team's all-time leader in shutouts, saves, and goals-against average (GAA). She was a four-time All-Pac-10 selection and a three-time NSCAA All-American.

2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
Solo was the starting goalkeeper for the United States in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, giving up two goals in four games including consecutive shutouts of Sweden, Nigeria and England. Heading into the semifinal match against Brazil, U.S. coach Greg Ryan benched Solo in favor of 36-year-old veteran U.S. keeper Briana Scurry, who had a strong history of performance against the Brazilians but had not played a complete game in three months. The U.S. lost to Brazil 4–0, ending a 51–game (regulation time) undefeated streak, while playing much of the match with 10 players after midfielder Shannon Boxx received a second yellow card at the end of the first half.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Despite missing much of the qualifying campaign with a shoulder injury, Solo was named to the U.S. roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. After keeping clean sheets in group C wins over North Korea and Colombia, Solo conceded two goals in the 2–1 loss to Sweden which consigned the Americans to second place in the group and a quarterfinal meeting with Brazil.
The quarterfinal match between the U.S. and Brazil was sent into a penalty shoot-out after U.S. forward Abby Wambach tied the game at 2–2 in stoppage time at the end of extra-time. Solo saved the third Brazil penalty kick by Daiane, helping the U.S. secure a semifinal spot against France. After the quarterfinal victory, Solo commented on the performance and spirit of the U.S. players during the match, "Even when we were a player down and a goal behind in extra time, you sensed that something was going to happen," and added that "the team kept fighting. You can't teach that. It's a feeling - and we play with that feeling."
Solo became the twenty-seventh American woman, and second goalkeeper, to reach 100 caps with her start in the 3–1 semifinal win over France.
Talking to the media after the match, Solo reflected upon the tournament so far, "It was a hard-fought road ... It hasn't been easy, but this is where we expected to be. We came this far, we better go all the way."
In the final, the U.S. team lost 3–1 in a penalty shootout to Japan, after a twice taking the lead in an eventual 2–2 draw. Despite the result, Solo expressed admiration for the Japanese team and offered her congratulations. Solo won the "Golden Glove" award for best goalkeeper, and the "Bronze Ball" award for her overall performance. She was also featured in the "All-star" team of the tournament.