Should Hope Solo be tending goal for the US Women’s National Team, as it competes in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup? In January, Solo was cleared of charges of domestic violence after she was arrested in a drunken incident with her nephew and half-sister last summer — but the incident remains controversial, with Solo painting herself as the victim and the family insisting she was the perpetrator. Later the U.S. Soccer Federation suspended Solo, for her involvement in a DUI arrest with her husband in Los Angeles — where she was reportedly belligerent with police.
[Is Hope Solo In A Hopeless Downward Spiral?]
Despite her troubles, Solo is scheduled to start in goal for the US Women’s National Team as it begins it quest for the World Cup in Canada this week. Prompted by the prominent position Solo will occupy during the Cup, ESPN– for one–is digging deeper into Solo’s troubles, revealing more brutal details from the story of her domestic abuse arrest, including police testimony about Solo’s arrogance, privilege and rage after being taken into custody. (She told one officer her necklace was worth more than he made in a year.) Solo should get all the support she needs, obviously. But is she the right fit for a US team that’s trying to re-establish its dominance in global soccer? A team with much to prove and the talent to do it? Hope Solo, for all her talent and ferocity, might not be the answer.
[Hope Solo Cleared of Domestic Violence Charges]
[Hope Solo — Villain or Victim of Domestic Abuse?]
