Hope Solo, goalie for the the U.S. Women’s National Team as well as the fledgling Seattle Reign, underwent successful surgery Thursday to repair torn cartilage in her left wrist. Solo has been playing with the long-standing injury. She is expected to be out three to four months.
“We were all pleased to learn that Hope is expected to make a full recovery and that she should be available for our push toward the playoffs,” said general manager Amy Carnell in a club statement from the Reign, an entry in the National Women’s Soccer League debuting in April. “Of course, we wish Hope could be with us from the first day of preseason, but injuries are part of the game. Over the long haul, having a healthy Hope Solo makes us stronger for our run at the championship, not only this season but for seasons to come.”
A University of Washington grad from Richland, Solo has been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2001. She is is second all-time in U.S. history in caps (135), wins and shutouts for a goalkeeper. Since becoming the starting goalkeeper for the USA in 2005, Solo has established herself as one of the world’s best. She won best goalkeeper award at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and had a monumental match in the gold medal game of the 2012 Olympics in London.
The U.S. team is participating in the 2013 Algarve Cup in Portugal where it won the first two games against Iceland (3-0) and China (5-0). The U.S. will play Sweden in its final Group B game Monday for a berth to the Algarve Cup championship game.