Goalkeeper Hope Solo, saying Tuesday that she was “not there yet” mentally, decided to end her season with the Seattle Reign of the National Women's Soccer League.
Solo, 35, who was suspended for six months by U.S. Soccer and had her contract terminated last week, announced her decision in a statement. She won't be eligible for selection to the national team again until February. Solo did not say whether she would be returning next season.
“Coming to terms with the fact I was fired from the U.S. women's national team after 17 years of service has been devastating. After careful consideration, I have decided to end my season with the Seattle Reign, an organization I love playing for," Solo said Tuesday. “Mentally, I am not there yet.”
Solo was suspended on Aug, 24 after calling members of Sweden’s squad “a bunch of cowards” for their defensive style of play during the Olympic quarterfinals. Sweden had pulled off a shocking upset of the U.S. women’s team, winning 4-3 in penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 draw. The U.S. women had won gold in every Olympics since 1996, except in 2000, when it won silver.
Before last Saturday’s match against Portland, the Reign announced that Solo had been granted an indefinite leave for personal reasons. Haley Kopmeyer took over for Solo in goal and the Reign won 3-1.
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