Watch Hope Solo react to U.S. soccer suspension, termination

Hope Solo Go Crazy After She Found Out That She Had Been Suspended by U.S. Soccer

Hope Solo cried, hugged her husband and then lashed out when she received the news: U.S. soccer terminated her contract and issued a six-month suspension after she called Sweden "a bunch of cowards" following theUnited States" Olympics elimination.

"Six months, suspension, no pay. Terminated contract, effective immediately," Solo says in a newly-released video trailer from Fullscreen, a media company making a docu-series called "Keeping Score" that follows the U.S. national team goalkeeper and teammates Megan Rapinoe and Crystal Dunn.

"Terminated contract, not just a suspension," an emotional Solo continues.

When her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, asks, "How can they do both?" she replies, "It"s both. Seventeen f---- years and it"s over!"

Solo will miss only international friendlies in the next six months, but by then a new keeper may have solidified the No. 1 spot since Solo will be 38 years old when the next World Cup rolls around in 2019. Orlando Pride keeper Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars are the two likely candidates battling for the starting job. Naeher was Solo"s backup in the Olympics and Harris was the U.S. reserve.

Solo"s comments after the U.S." quarterfinal elimination did not sit well with teammates, either. Rapinoe openly spoke out against Solo"s reaction, and Pride forwardAlex Morgan also made a statementlast week to the Orlando Sentinel, saying: "The players dont control any of the consequences that happen, that are enforced by U.S. Soccer. So, its a bummer that happened to one of my teammates, but at the same timeI dont agree with the things that she said in the Olympics.

Pride coach Tom Sermanni was head coach of the U.S. women"s national team from 2013-14, so he is familiar with the level of competition and with Solo.

"I thought it was probably a little bit clumsy, is what I"ll call it," Sermanni said. "I think it"s getting players in the heat of the moment, right after the game, where you"ve just lost a critical game. So, players are emotional at that time and they"re liable to come out and say something a little bit untoward.

"And then there are certain players who are a bit more outspoken than others, and obviously Hope"s one of those. So, when you put all of that together, you"re likely to get an explosive remark and that"s what"s happened."

U.S. Soccer, the sport"s governing body,released a statement Aug. 24 announcing Solo"s suspenion and making clear thepunishment was due to an accumulation of actions over the past few years and not solely her remarks after the Olympics.

Earlier this week, Solo"s National Women"s Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign, announced Solo has taken an indefinite leave.

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-pride-soccer/os-watch-hope-solo-react-suspension-termination-20160830-story.html

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Who will replace Hope Solo on USWNT?

Hope Solo suspended six months by U.S. Soccer

By: Laken Litman| August 25, 2016 12:02 pmFollow @LakenLitman

U.S. Soccer has terminated Hope Solos contract and suspended the record-setting goalkeeperfrom the U.S. Womens National Team for six monthsfor conduct that is counter to the organizations principles. After the U.S. lost to Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinal, she called her opponent cowards.

So if shes not eligible for national team selection until Feb. 2017,who will replace her?

Right now, coach Jill Ellis has two main options at goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher, who was Solos backup at the Olympics, and Ashlyn Harris, Solos backup at the World Cup last year and an alternate in Rio.

Neither has the experience, caps or accolades as Solo, but theyll have to step up and earn a starting job. Because what if Solos career is finished? It realisticallycould be at this point. Solo, who has been the USWNTs starting goalkeeper since 2005, is35 now, which means shell be 38 at the 2018 World Cup and 39 at the next Olympics. She had an overall disappointing performance in Brazil, even letting the ball slip between her legsagainst Colombia. Not to mentionthe other headaches shes caused U.S. Soccer.

If she doesnt return, these are the two most obvious choices:

Alyssa Naeher, 28 (caps: 7)

Naeher has been part of the USWNT for the last year, including the Rio Olympics, 2015 World Cup, and 2015 Algarve Cup. She played as a substitute for a few victory tour matches following the World Cup. She earned her first cap in a shutout victory against Argentina in 2014. She was the third string goalkeeper during the Olympics, but moved ahead of Ashlyn Harrisfor the No. 2 spot during the Olympics.

Plays professionally for the Chicago Red Stars.

Ashlyn Harris, 30 (caps: 8)

Solos backup at the 2015 World Cup, she didnt start any matches in Canada, but did during the Victory Tour. Has had several injuries hamper her college and professional career, and was demoted to alternate (third string) for the Rio Olympics behind Naeher.

She plays professionally for the Orlando Pride.

The USWNT is back on the field twice next month in a pair of friendlies against Thailand (Sept. 15) and the Netherlands (Sept. 18).

Hope Solo"s suspension means her USWNT career is probably over

Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris, Hope Solo, Jill Ellis, Rio Olympics, USWNT, World Cup, Soccer

Source: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/who-will-replace-hope-solo-on-uswnt

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Rio 2016: Bitter loss for soccer"s Hope Solo; Ledecky outshines Phelps in pool

Hope Solo needs to grow up - "Speak For Yourself"

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Katie Ledecky even upstaged Michael Phelps at theOlympicson Friday.

Ledecky set a world recordby winning the women"s 800-meter freestyle by an astounding 11.38 seconds. She"s only the second woman to sweep the three longest freestyle races at theOlympicsand the first one to do it since the 1968 Mexico City Games.

After winning four gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Games and looking unbeatable, Phelps finally ran out of steam in what was the final individual race of his career unless he decides to come out of retirement again.

The frenetic finishes in the swimming pool capped a day that included a big escape by the U.S. men"s basketball team and a stunning loss by the women"s soccer squad.

Phelps was seeking his 23rdOlympicgold medal and his fourth straight in the 100-meter butterfly, but he was denied by Singapore"s Joseph Schooling, who got off to a blistering start and built a lead that even Phelps couldn"t overcome.

With Anthony Ervin winning the men"s 50 freestyle and Maya DiRado taking gold in the women"s 200 backstroke, the Americans would have had a clean sweep were it not for the silver by Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history.

Ledecky finished well before Jazz Carlin of Britain touched the wall for silver. She joined Debbie Meyer as the only women to sweep the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle races at the sameOlympics.

The United States women"s soccer team was eliminated by Swedenin the quarterfinals, a startling loss for the four-timeOlympicchampions that left Hope Solo without a shot at gold but with plenty of bitterness.

The U.S. goalkeeper criticized the Swedes for the way they played in beating the Americans 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw a result that means the world"s top-ranked team will miss out on anOlympicgold-medal match in women"s soccer for the first time.

Solo was angered by Sweden"s defensive style and branded the team a "bunch of cowards."

"The best team did not win today," she said. "I strongly and firmly believe that."

Said Sweden coach Pia Sundhage, who once coached Solo when she was in charge of the U.S. national team: "It"s OK to be a coward if you win."

Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving & Co. survived their second straight strong challenge at the Rio Games, fending off Serbia 94-91 when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer from the left wing with 2 seconds left that would have tied it.

Kevin Durant grabbed the rebound to keep the Americans unbeaten 48 hours after they barely escaped against Australia.

On a day that began with another round of rain, South America"s firstOlympicslingered under clouds of grief, doping and disrespect.

Brazil"s government declared a day of official mourning for a RioOlympicspolice officer who diedafter being shot in the head making a wrong turn into one of the city"s slums.

A Chinese swimmer, Polish weightlifter and Bulgarian steeplechaser have been sanctioned fordoping offenses, which are being handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the first time.

And in a seriousbreach of judo etiquettewith political overtones, an Egyptian judoka refused to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent after his loss.

Other highlights from Day 7:

CLOSE CALLS: Rafael Nadal, the singles champion at the 2008 BeijingOlympics, and Spain teammate Marc Lopez won the men"s doubles title. Nadal also reached the semifinals in his bid for a second Olympicsingles gold, overcoming his Brazilian opponent and a raucous flag-waving home crowd.

BRONZE BOXER: Nico Hernandez"s chance for a gold medal ended Friday when he lost to Uzbekistan"s Hasanboy Dusmatov. With a gnarly gash over his left eye, Hernandez had blurred vision and needed stitches. His consolation: his bronze medal in the light flyweight division ends a medal drought for the American boxers that stretched to 2008.

PUIG"S PUSH: Tennis player Monica Puig is one victory from Puerto Rico"s first gold medal inOlympichistory. Puig continued her surprising run by reaching the women"s singles final, eliminating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Puig is ranked 34th and unseeded but is assured of no worse than a silver medal.

AUTO ACCIDENT: A GermanOlympiccanoe coach is fighting for his life after a car accident left him with serious head injuries. Stefan Henze, a canoe slalom silver medalist at the 2004 Games, underwent emergency surgery in a Rio de Janeiro hospital. He and a team official were heading to the athletes village when their taxi was in a wreck.

THE SWAMP: In another embarrassment for the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center, a planned practice session had to be called off to give officials more time to clean the green-tinged water a four-days-and-counting scenario that prompted American diver Abby Johnson to dub it "the Swamp."

MIDNIGHT MAGIC: Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross advanced to the quarterfinals of theOlympicbeach volleyball tournament in a midnight match, dispatching Italy 21-10, 21-16 in just 35 minutes.

It was the third time in four matches the Americans played at midnight to showcase them for the U.S. television audience. You won"t hear them complain: The gold medal match is also scheduled for 12 a.m. local time.

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/olympics/index.ssf/2016/08/rio_2016_day_7_recap.html

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Why Hope Solo got suspended over husband Jerramy Stevens's DUI arrest

After dodging repercussions earlier this month when a judge dismissed a domestic assault case against her, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo found herself making headlines this week in connection with a drunken driving incident involving her husband, ex-NFL player Jerramy Stevens. This incident proved to be enough to goad the U.S. Soccer Federation to suspend Solo from the U.S. Womens National Team for 30 days.

During our current national team camp, Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on U.S. Soccer and her teammates, U.S. Coach Jill Ellis said in a statement posted to USSFs official Web site on Wednesday. We feel at this time it is best for her to step away from the team.

The incident in question occurred early Monday morning, when Solo and her husband were pulled over by police in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Stevens was arrested and charged with driving under the influence; Solo, who was reportedly also drunk and belligerent, was not arrested, but she reportedly still played enough of a role in the incident to raise eyebrows at the USSF.

Two details that may make this incident more unacceptable than previous problemsinclude: 1) the fact that Monday nights altercationoccurred while Solo was attending the current national training camp, and 2) a TMZ report that alleges Stevens was driving a U.S. Soccer official team van at the time of his arrest.

Were told soccer officials were especially upset that Hope allowed her husband to drive the team van potentially leaving the team liable had there been an accident, TMZ reports.

Solo, 33, and Stevens, 35, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have a tumultuous past. The couple married in November 2012, shortly after he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Solo, but charges were never brought because there was insufficient evidence. Stevens was arrested again at his Tampa, Fla., home in 2012 for violating his probation in connection with a marijuana possession charge from October 2010.

Solos suspension will cause her to miss two games with Team USA, one against France on Feb. 8 and one against England on Feb. 13. She was also released from the remainder of training camp.

Solo put out a statement via Twitter on the suspension on Wednesday evening, noting she both accepts and respects USSFs decision. She also apologized for disappointing my teammates, coaches and the Federation who have always supported me.

I think its best for me to take a break, decompress from the stress of the last several months and come back mentally and physically ready to positively contribute to the team, she said.

While USSF confirms Solo, who has played on two Olympic gold-medal winning teams, will be eligible for reinstatement, the team did not guarantee her return. The decision will come only after review and approval by USSF and Ellis, the USSF said on its Web site.

Meanwhile, some voices in the sports community wonder if Solos become too much of a liability. New York Daily News sports columnist Filip Bondy.

What is left unsaid now is that Solos self-destructive behavior has become a great concern to everyone who knows her including teammates, U.S. officials and coaches, Bondy writes. They are trying to stand by her again now, though she is making it more difficult by the day. U.S. Soccer just hopes it can get her to Winnipeg on June 8 for the World Cup opener against Australia, and that her husband wont be driving the van.

Marissa Payne writes for The Early Lead, a fast-breaking sports blog, where she focuses on what she calls the cultural anthropological side of sports, aka mostly the fun stuff. She is also an avid WWE fan.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/01/22/why-hope-solo-got-suspended-over-husband-jerramy-stevenss-dui-arrest/

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