Hope Solo's World Cup status in doubt

ByKate Fagan ESPN logo
Monday, January 26, 2015

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said on Monday it's possible that goalkeeper Hope Solo will not be on the team for this summer's 2015 Women's World Cup.



Last week, the 33-year-old keeper was suspended by U.S. Soccer for 30 days after her husband, Jerramy Stevens, was pulled over for DUI while driving the team van. Solo was a passenger in the vehicle.



The incident came just one week after a Seattle judge dismissed domestic violence charges against Solo.



When asked on a conference call if U.S. Soccer could envision a scenario in which Solo -- a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the team's starting keeper -- would be left off the squad, Gulati said, "Sure."



Then he continued: "We've asked her to do a number of things, and she's going to have to do those things and make progress in those areas. That's possible. We hope that's not the case. We hope she's making progress and joins the team. That's certainly the goal -- hers and ours."



Both Gulati and Jill Ellis, the coach of the U.S. women's national team, declined to provide details of exactly what Solo has been asked to accomplish during her suspension, but they confirmed that the team did lay out tasks Solo must complete, and that, "They're certainly achievable."



Over the past two years, Solo has had numerous run-ins with the law, nearly all of which have involved alcohol. When asked if part of Solo's program included an alcohol rehab facility, or if the team believed she had an alcohol problem, Gulati said, "Neither one of us denied or confirmed that. Hope has been given time to deal with some issues ... and there are a number of things she is being asked to do."



The U.S. team has two important matches coming up: against France on Feb. 8 and England on Feb. 13.



Solo will miss both matches, but she will be eligible for reinstatement the week after the team returns.



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