Hope Solo. It's a complicated name, punctuated with controversy. Like the taste of cilantro and the two-party system, Solo is a topic steeped in deep division. Now, a new film about the legendary former goalkeeper of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team endeavors to illuminate the woman beyond the headlines.
"Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer," the latest installment in Netflix's "Untold" anthology documentary series, seeks to challenge the greater public's understanding of the beleaguered soccer player. First came Solo's misdemeanor assault charges in 2015 after an altercation with family members. Then, the once-premier goalkeeper of U.S. Women's soccer suffered a career-killing blow when the USWNT's governing body, the U.S. Soccer Federation, suspended her and terminated her contract in 2016. The reason was chalked up to comments Solo made about Sweden's team following the U.S. final match against the country at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Solo, somewhat of a league firebrand, had called the Swedes "cowards" while speaking about the team's style of play in a press conference after the game.
