1. “When we live afraid to fail, we don’t take risks. We don’t bring our entire selves to the table – so we end up failing before we even begin.” – Abby Wambach
2. “Four goals in (16) minutes. Literally I don’t even know how that happens especially in a World Cup final.” – Abby Wambach
3. “You will not always be the goal scorer. When you are not, you better be rushing toward her.” – Abby Wambach
4. “This might sound masochistic or narcissistic‚ I don’t know‚ but when I’m not playing the game‚ the validations I feel about life are always through the hardships. I relate more to sadness‚ in a lot of ways‚ when I’m not playing.” – Abby Wambach
5. “Your speech is our new bedtime story.” – Abby Wambach
6. “Forgiveness is an act of self-love,” she says. “You’ve suffered enough. You owe it to yourself, dude.” – Abby Wambach
7. “You were never Little Red Riding Hood. You were always the Wolf.” – Abby Wambach
8. “I’ve never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.” – Abby Wambach
9. “No I or individual is better than the team. I’ve scored no goals just on my own. Every goal I’ve ever scored has been because of someone else on my team, their excellence, their bravery. And I’m kind of the end product of a collection of a really good vibe, and feeling, and creativity on the field.” – Abby Wambach
10. “If given a really great chance, I’m going to put it away every single time.” – Abby Wambach
11. “I’m the saddest person I have ever known” – Abby Wambach
12. “When you stand up and demand the ball, you give others permission to do the same.” – Abby Wambach
13. “Good question! But only if you’ve asked every male speaker you’ve hired if his message is applicable to women, too.” – Abby Wambach
14. “To watch people push themselves further than they think they can, it’s a beautiful thing. It’s really human.” – Abby Wambach
15. “The world needs to see women take risks, fail big, and insist on their right to stick around and try again. And again. And again. A champion never allows a short-term failure to take her out of the long-term game. A woman who doesn’t give up can never lose.” – Abby Wambach
16. “Failure is not something to be ashamed of – nor is it proof of unworthiness. Failure is something to be powered by. When we live afraid to fail, we don’t take risks. We don’t bring our entire selves to the table – so we end up failing before we even begin. Let’s stop worrying: What if I fail? Instead, let’s promise ourselves: When I fail, I’ll stick around.” – Abby Wambach
17. “Because no matter who you are or what you’ve done with your life, you recognize the feeling I’ve described, that private, flailing terror that makes you wonder if you’re lost for good.” – Abby Wambach
18. “I don’t care who scores the goals, I’m going to leave my human beingness on the field!” – Abby Wambach
19. “Your drinking is killing us. When you drink it feels like you’re leaving me, like you don’t want to be with me, like you want to be by yourself.” – Abby Wambach
20. “We can choose our own comfort even if it makes other people uncomfortable.” – Abby Wambach
21. “You can do as many sprints as you want but there’s nothing like playing in a 90-minute soccer game. There’s no better way to gain your fitness, in my opinion, than playing in consistent games.” – Abby Wambach
22. “You see, soccer didn’t make me who I am. I brought who I am to soccer, and I get to bring who I am wherever I go. So do you.” – Abby Wambach
23. “It’s not pressure. It’s responsibility We put it on ourselves.” – Abby Wambach
24. “Note: When they say you’re ridiculous, you know you’re onto something.” – Abby Wambach
25. “I’m not going to tell people how to live their life and I surely wouldn’t tell people my life is the way you should be living. People get to choose what they do want to do with their life and I appreciated that.” – Abby Wambach
26. “You never know if you can actually do something against all odds until you actually do it.” – Abby Wambach
27. “Leadership is volunteering at the local school, speaking encouraging words to a friend, and holding the hand of a dying parent.” – Abby Wambach
28. “Women – who are feared by many to be a threat to our system – will become our society’s salvation.” – Abby Wambach
29. “It’s always really challenging trying to go from player to player/coach. You have a kind of friendship basis of relationship with all of your teammates and now you go to this power position where you have to make decisions that might hurt people’s feelings.” – Abby Wambach
30. “A champion never allows a short-term failure to take her out of a long-term game.” – Abby Wambach
31. “You might find yourself holding a baby instead of a briefcase and fearing that your colleagues are “getting ahead” and leaving you behind. Here’s what’s important: You are allowed to be disappointed when it feels like life’s benched you. What you aren’t allowed to do is miss your opportunity to lead from the bench. If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the field. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere.” – Abby Wambach
32. “Playing on turf affects everything, you know, it affects the way the ball rolls, it affects the way the ball bounces, it affects the way you think about whether or not going into a slide. It’s kind of a nightmare.” – Abby Wambach
33. “Strength is a full gamut. You’ve got to be strong from top to bottom, but you also have to raise your hand and say, “I’m feeling weak right now. I need some help.” There is true strength in being able to ask for help.” – Abby Wambach
34. “A woman who doesn’t give up can never lose.” – Abby Wambach
35. “Old Rule: Play it safe. Pass the ball. New Rule: Believe in yourself. Demand the ball.” – Abby Wambach
36. “I’m not going to tell people how to live their life and I surely wouldn’t tell people my life is the way you should be living. People get to choose what they do want to do with their life and I appreciated that.” – Abby Wambach
37. “Claim your power, and bring along your full humanity. Clear the way for others to do the same. Because what our families, our companies, and the world needs is nothing more—and nothing less— than exactly who we are.” – Abby Wambach
38. “Here’s what’s important: You are allowed to be disappointed when it feels like life’s benched you. What you aren’t allowed to do is miss your opportunity to lead from the bench. If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the field. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere.” – Abby Wambach
39. “Leadership is taking care of yourself and empowering others to do the same. Leadership is not a position to earn, it’s an inherent power to claim. Leadership is the blood that runs through your veins – it’s born in you. It’s not the privilege of a few, it is the right and responsibility of all. Leader is not a title that the world gives to you – it’s an offering that you give to the world.” – Abby Wambach
40. “If we can trust each other and leave everything-all our hearts-out on the field, I think we’re going to have something to come home to and cheer about.” – Abby Wambach
41. “I’ve never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.” – Abby Wambach
42. “You must not only have competitiveness but ability, regardless of the circumstance you face, to never quit” – Abby Wambach
43. “Today was about execution, period. Every single player, all of us in the dressing room right now, we’re embarrassed because that’s not the way we want to play soccer.” – Abby Wambach