Soccer champion Abby Wambach is coming home to UF.
The UF alumna and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion will speak at 8 p.m. at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 3. Accent Speaker’s Bureau paid her $20,000 to speak, said Kevin Gerson, Accent chairman.
"She is an inspiration and role model," he said.
Even though Wambach’s collegiate career ended in 2001, her name remains etched throughout UF soccer’s record books.
During her four years at UF, she set school records for goals (96), assists (50) and total points (242) and helped Florida win its only NCAA national championship when she was a freshman in 1998.
Students told Accent they wanted to see Wambach, Gerson said. The process of getting her to come speak took many months, but he said he thinks students are excited.
"I’ve actually been amazed already at the response from the Student Body," he said.
Ted Spiker, the chairman of the College of Journalism and Communications, will interview her, and he said he’ll be doing a lot of research before he writes his questions.
"My goal will be to get her to talk about some nostalgic things," he said.
Spiker said being asked by Accent to interview her was an honor.
"I hope I can come up with some surprising questions," he said.
Spiker said he thinks students will enjoy seeing Wambach.
UF telecommunication freshman Samantha Hyatt said she first heard about Wambach while watching the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She later found out she is a UF alumna while watching her ESPN documentary. Hyatt, 18, said she couldn’t believe it.
When she saw Wambach will be speaking at UF on Facebook, she immediately clicked that she was going.
"I’m gonna go really early to make sure I get a spot," she said.
Students can pick up two tickets with their Gator 1 Cards at noon Nov. 2 from the Phillips Center box office. Tickets will be available for the public to pick up at noon Nov. 3 with a maximum of two per person.
Wambach earned a spot on the U.S. national team right out of college and has since continued her dominance.
The 35-year-old forward holds the all-time international scoring record with 184 goals. She has competed in four FIFA Women’s World Cups and won her first title in July.
"Obviously Abby has had a tremendous legacy, both here at UF and beyond," UF soccer coach Becky Burleigh said in a Sept. 28 press conference. "I think the thing that’s so remarkable about her is just her leadership."
Staff writer Jordan McPherson contributed to this report.
Contact Caitlin Ostroff at costroff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @ceostroff
Abby Wambach, a UF alumna, proudly stands as a 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion after the U.S. women’s national team won the games in Canada. Wambach will speak at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.
