Soccer Legend Abby Wambach is coming to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center on Saturday, March 25, at 2 p.m. to talk about the decisions, wins, losses, and the pivotal moments that helped her become the world class athlete and leader she is today.
Proceeds from A Conversation with Abby Wambach support The Women’s Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Tickets are $50 ($40 for students) and are on sale at cincinnatiwomensfund.org.
Wambach will be interviewed by Emmy® award winning sports reporter, Betsy M. Ross. Together, they will explore Wambach’s rise to become a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the current record holder for the most international goals. They will also share the real costs of pay inequities.
“Gender inequality is real, and we’ve got to talk about it,” Wambach said. “Enough is enough.” After Wambach retired in 2015, she has become an advocate for gender equality. She talked about these issues in her memoir, Forward, which was released in 2016.
Abby Wambach
“Abby Wambach helped make soccer ‘cool’ in this country and her success encouraged so many young girls to take up the sport,” Ross said. “Abby’s personal story, both on and off the pitch, is one that inspires.”
The Women’s Fund supports projects in Northern Kentucky, including the Advance Network, Brighton Center, Gateway Community and Technical College, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission and Samaritan Car Care Clinic.
“We are thrilled Abby is coming to Covington to share what makes her so driven as a fierce competitor and advocate for equal pay for women,” said Meghan Cummings, executive director of The Women’s Fund. “Her long history of fighting for goals on the field and equal treatment off the field makes her a perfect choice for this event. Our purpose to be a voice for ensuring the economic self-sufficiency of women in our region, and we admire Abby for using her position as a role model to make the world a more equal place.”
Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Co-Captain of the 2015 FIFA World Cup title U.S. Team, 2012 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and ESPN analyst and contributor. Wambach, long known as one of the most intense competitors in U.S. history, whose years of clutch goal-scoring made her a fan favorite.
During the 2015 Women’s World Cup, she scored the winning goal in a crucial 1-0 victory against Nigeria in the final game of group play. Following the United States’ win at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Wambach and her teammates became the first women’s sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City. A six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she had been a regular on the U.S. Women’s national team from 2001-2015. Wambach retired in 2015 and currently stands as the record holder for the most international goals for men and women. She played at the professional level for Washington Freedom, magicJack, and the Western New York Flash. Wambach played college soccer for the University of Florida, where she was a member of a national university championship team and was recognized as a three-time All-American.
