Born on June 2, 1980, in Rochester, New York, Mary Abigail Wambach—known as Abby Wambach—grew up in the nearby suburb of Pittsford. She is the youngest of seven siblings, born to Peter and Judy Wambach. Her passion for sports began at the early age of four, when she first started playing soccer.
Wambach attended Our Lady of Mercy High School, graduating in 1998. During her high school years, she was a standout athlete, excelling in both soccer and basketball. Her early sports performances quickly drew national attention.
Wambach continued her athletic journey at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she received a full athletic scholarship. As a leading player for the Florida Gators women's soccer team, she played a pivotal role in guiding the team to its first NCAA National Championship. From 1998 to 2001, she helped the team claim four consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships. In recognition of her collegiate achievements, Wambach was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Her national-level career began early, with her selection to the U.S. under-16 national team in 1996, followed by inclusion in the under-20 Olympic Development Program player pool in 1997. The same year, she was named NCAA Regional Player of the Year and also earned the distinction of National High School Player of the Year.
In 2002, Wambach was drafted by the Washington Freedom in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). She made an immediate impact, earning the WUSA Rookie of the Year award that same year. In 2003, she led her team to victory in the Founders Cup III, further solidifying her stature as a rising star in the sport.
Originally invited to U.S. Women's National Team training camp in 2001, Wambach scored her first international goal in a 2002 friendly match against Finland. Her international tournament debut came during the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she netted three goals. She followed that up with a strong showing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, scoring four goals and helping Team USA win the gold medal with key victories over Greece and Brazil.
| Birth Date: | 2 Jun, 1980 |
| Age: | 39 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player Podcaster |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Rochester |
| Education: | University of Florida |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American soccer player |
| Twitter Id: | Abbywambach |
| Spouse: | Sarah Huffman[2013-2016] Glennon Doyle Melton [M. 2017] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
