Ten years later, Hope Solo's story remains the same.
In “Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer,” Netflix's “Untold” sports series premiering Sept. 3, the former goalkeeper sticks to her claim that the U.S. Soccer Federation had another agenda when it terminated her contract and kicked her off the team in 2016.
At the time, the U.S. Soccer Federation took disciplinary action against Solo for “conduct contrary to the principles of the federation” after the star goalkeeper called the Swedish players a “bunch of cowards” following the team's quarterfinal loss to Sweden in the 2016 Olympics.
In the documentary, Solo and Rich Nichols, who served as her legal adviser in 2016, said she was being punished for fighting for equal pay.
In March 2016, Solo and four other players (Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Rebecca Sauerbrunn) Filed an equal employment opportunity complaint She filed a workplace discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, alleging gender-based wage discrimination.
The solo player's battle began after the U.S. Women's National Team won the 2015 World Cup and was awarded the Golden Gloves.
“In 2015, I knew I'd learned things I shouldn't have,” Solo said in the documentary, “but I had no idea then that I might have made enemies. A year later, I was fired.”
“People were saying, 'She's unsportsmanlike,' and I think she was. I was involved in making money for U.S. Soccer.”
Solo was trying to get a mortgage when he discovered he didn't have a work contract.
Her attempts to contact the players' association went unanswered.
“They said, 'Your questions aren't worth your paycheck. Shut up and play,'” she recalled.
Solo claims that the U.S. women's soccer team was told they weren't allowed to communicate with her, but they listened.
“The way the federation tried to completely isolate me,” she said, “…so I think these women are cowards and controlled by the federation.”
The following people declined to be interviewed, either in person or through their representatives, for the Solo documentary: Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Morgan, Lloyd, Julie Foudy, Briana Scully, Heather O'Reilly, Heather Mitts, Kat Whitehill, Megan Klingenberg, Jill Ellis, Ashlyn Harris, Stephanie Cox, Kate Markgraf and Ali Krieger.
“I was hurt and felt betrayed by a lot of people. I don't think people knew how dark a time it was for me,” Solo said.
She did not play in U.S. Soccer's traditional farewell match.
Solo filed a separate lawsuit against the federation in August 2018, alleging violations of the federal Equal Pay Act and gender discrimination.
The case has not proceeded to trial.
Considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Solo played for the United States national team from 2000 to 2016, winning one World Cup and two Olympic gold medals.
She will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023.
“As I sit here today, I refuse to give in to the federation and the players, and I am ready to tell the truth about what things really were like during my time with the U.S. team,” Solo said.
She still opposes the U.S. women's soccer team's $24 million settlement over pay discrimination.
It's clear that Solo doesn't have relationships with most, if not all, of his past teammates.
“It was extremely difficult to find people to interview for this project,” said director Nina Meredith.
In the documentary, Solo reflects on the ups and downs of his illustrious career and personal life, including a domestic violence arrest in June 2014 that was later dropped.
The case includes Solo's arrest on suspicion of drunk driving in 2022. Police found Solo unconscious at the wheel of her car, with the engine running, and her two children in the back seat.
She was ordered by a judge to attend an alcohol treatment program, pay fines and have her license suspended.
Solo takes responsibility for his past in the documentary.
“I made a bad decision, a big mistake, and this is something I'll have to explain to my kids in the future,” she said of her 2022 arrest.
“It's something I'll never forget.”
