The Official Site of Abby Wambach

Fri, Jan 9th 2009, 16:38

The inside Scoop with Abby Wambach

Keith Costigan of FoxSports.com got chance to go one on one with Abby to go over a number of topics including the state of women’s soccer as well as the WPL. Their conversation follows:

Keith Costigan: What are your initial thoughts on women’s professional soccer returning to the U.S.?

Abby Wambach: We are excited to be starting a league that is probably going to be the best in the world with the best international players involved. It is a good feeling knowing that you are starting something that has the potential to grow bigger and better than anything we have seen before. It is also great for all those great female college players to know that they have somewhere in their own country to play when their college careers end.

K.C.: The league has dispersed the top quality players pretty evenly throughout the teams. Do you feel like this is a good thing for women’s soccer or does it water down the overall level of play throughout the league?

A.W.: I think we just feel like the more players and teams, the merrier right now. We have three national players on each team and then we will have international players from around the world on each side, too. There is also a lot of talent coming through the college system so I definitely think the level of play will be very high all around and we will prove to be the best women’s league in world soccer.

K.C.: The last women’s league had Mia Hamm, the most recognizable face in women’s soccer, leading the way, yet the league still failed to stay above ground. Without Mia Hamm, how will this league manage to survive and eventually flourish in America?

A.W.: That is a challenge that all of us are willing to undertake over the next few years. We know the league did not work with players that were more famous than the ones in the national team now, but winning gold at the Olympics under Pia we believe this can help the league take off. It won’t be the same approach as when Mia and some of the older players were around, but it is a challenge that the national team players are excited to take on. The league is trying to market itself to more than just the thousands of young girls out there who play the game. We want to attract the casual fan who may not know much about soccer but is interested in seeing the best players in the women’s game compete for a championship. The business plan is better this time around and will help the league grow over time.

K.C.: How much of a say did you and the rest of the national team players have in picking the city you would play in for the upcoming season?

A.W.: The players were asked to give a list of the top three cities you wanted to play in and they tried to match you in accordance to that. I live in Los Angeles but I am still very excited about playing in Washington and all the players are just happy to have a professional league here again regardless of where they play.

K.C.: A lot of people criticize women’s soccer saying that it is not as fast paced as the men’s game. What is the most annoying criticism about the women’s game that you have come across?

A.W.: Some of the things that people see as a negative trait of women’s soccer I would actually see as a positive. It may not be as fast paced or physical but that makes it a more methodical and thought-provoking game that focuses on the technical aspect of things. The people making these comments seem to think that we spend all our off time painting our nails, but this is a battle women’s soccer has always had to face. Plus I am sure David Beckham is quite the metrosexual when it comes to his nails and looks.

K.C.: If you could liken your game to any striker in male soccer, who would it be and why?

A.W.: I would have to say Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as he is a target forward that has an ability to score goals and probably not explain how he did it.

K.C.: Now this is a difficult question but I want you to answer it honestly. There are two soccer games going on in front of you. To the left is Manchester United playing Chelsea and to the right are the top two teams in the women’s pro league. Which game would you watch?

A.W.: Since I am a large supporter of women’s sports, I would definitely walk to the women’s game, but I would definitely TiVo the other game. If we want this league to work we are going to have to make sacrifices like this one and it is something I would be more than happy to do.