Hope Solo reacts angrily to news of suspension (Video)

Hope Solo has been with the US Women’s National team since she was 18 years old. Watch her reaction to finding out her time was unceremoniously coming to an end.

The writing was on the wall. At 35 years of age, Hope Solo’s career as the starting goalie for the U.S. Women’s National team was likely coming to an end before the 2019 World Cup. Making incendiary comments about Sweden’s strategy following an Olympic loss earned Solo a six-month suspension from the team, but more importantly, resulted in the termination of her contract.

Talk about a blind side. As you might expect, the fiery goalie did not take her punishment quietly. The following video comes from a teaser from Keeping Score, a six-part documentary series coming from Fullscreen that will air on September 2.

"“Six-month suspension. No pay. Terminated contract, effective immediately. Terminated contract. Not just a suspension. It’s bull. … Seventeen f—— years, and it’s over,” Solo says to husband Jerramy Stevens."

The termination marks an unceremonious end to the career of the United States’ most accomplished goalkeeper of all time. Hope Solo is the all-time leader in goalie caps (202), wins (152) and shutouts (102). She has played every minute in goal for the U.S. at the last three Olympics and two World Cups. With Solo in net, the USWNT has claimed a World Cup title and two Olympic gold medals.

Sadly, the expletive-filled reaction to her suspension is indicative of the problems Solo has always faced in her career. She has faced domestic abuse charges, been involved in a drunk driving incident with her husband, while also coming under fire for other remarks best left unsaid throughout her career.

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It’s a sad end to Solo’s career, and her response to being terminated without expecting it is difficult to watch. No athlete wants to go out this way. The tearful Solo’s remarks may not have warranted a termination or suspension, but the punishment is the result of years of built-up tension between the goalie and U.S. Soccer. It’s been hard to defend her continuously throughout her 17 years, and the camel’s back was finally broken with the last straw in Rio. It’s not a dignified end for Hope Solo, but she laid the groundwork for it her entire career.