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Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is a professional
soccer player.  Born on June 2, 1980 in Pittsford,
New York, the 5 foot 11 inch (1.80 m) forward
began her career in Rochester, New York. Following
up on a stellar high school record where she was
the recipient of both the NSCAA and Umbro player
of the year awards (in 1998), Wambach went on to
achieve continuing success playing for the
University of Florida Gators. Wambach continued to
earn accolades in college, taking the NSCAA first
team all-american, NCAA National Championship, and
freshman All-American Awards (all in 1999). She is
also the University of Florida's all-time leading
scorer. 

Wambach was the second overall draft pick in the
WUSA in 2002. She went on to play for the
Washington Freedom rather than completing her
degree at Florida. Her contributions while in
Washington, playing alongside greats like Mia
Hamm, helped to propel the Freedom to a victory in
Founders Cup III, where Wambach was the game Most
Valuable Player|MVP. Wambach was also the
recipient of a number of other soccer-related
awards during her WUSA career.

Wambach's impressive Women's United Soccer
Association|WUSA credentials earned her a spot in
the United States women's national soccer team|US
Women's National Team's training camp. Initially
thought to be a bubble player, she increased her
fitness, and her talents sealed her position with
the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup|World Cup team.
Although the US Women did not win the 2003 World
Cup (having taken home a bronze), she scored a
historic goal against arch-rival Norway women's
national football team|Norway, blanking them in
the quarterfinals and securing the US a position
in the semifinals.

Since the suspension of the WUSA, Wambach has been
training with the US Womens National Team for the
2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, which they
won on her header in extra time against Brazil,
2-1. She has also been participating in exhibition
games with the Freedom to raise awareness and
garner support for Women's Soccer in hopes of
reviving the league.

==External links==
*http://www.wusa.com/players_coaches/players/abby_
wambach/ Abby's page on the WUSA site
*http://www.unitedsoccerathletes.com/site/index.cf
m United Soccer Athletes Player's Association
*http://www.abbywambach.com Abby's site
*http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/washingtonfr
eedompix/ Some pictures of an exhibition game with
Abby