Hope Solo, former goalkeeper of the United States women’s national team, recalls the ordeal it was to join the national team in 2000, when he encountered a group of privileged players who were “criminals” in the locker room.
Hope Solo took his first steps in football as a forward
“ When you grow up in the national team, you meet a club of ‘bad girls’. Most of the players come from wealthy white families. That’s the culture of the women’s national team. It’s a very privileged white culture, ” the American revealed for the BBC podcast The Players.
“ I remember Carli Lloyd and I used to talk about it and say, ‘We need to change this culture. She and I were very hospitable, we weren’t bully. We were very nice to the girls who came, ” added the former player.
But 20 years later, things changed and the national team’s environment is more welcoming to the new members, though he believes the old days have helped strengthen the character of the young footballers who are now part of it.
Hope Solo gave birth to twins in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic
“It’s a much more open and welcoming environment, it’s an easier transition, but I don’t think that helps many of these younger athletes develop character. Now they have mostly paved the road,” he explained. Solo.
“ You can’t push them in the same way as before to make it really competitive. It’s a very different environment and I don’t think it’s always a good thing. I think it produces softer athletes, ” he concludes.