U.S. Soccer has terminated the contract of goalkeeper Hope Solo after she engaged in what they're calling "conduct that is counter to the organization's principles" following the team's devastating loss to Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinal. She has also been suspended from the women's national team for six months.
The suspension is a result of comments that Solo, 35, made following the game offering harsh criticism of the Swedish team:
"We played a creative game. We had many opportunities on goal. We showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal down. I’m very proud of this team. We played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today. I strongly, firmly believe that. Sweden dropped back. They didn't want to open play. They didn’t want to pass the ball around. They didn’t want to play great soccer, entertaining soccer. It was a combative game. A physical game. Exactly what they wanted. Exactly what their game plan was. We had that style of play when Pia was our coach. I think it was very cowardly. But they won, they’re moving on. And we’re going home."
Solo's comments were received by many, not just the U.S. Soccer organization, as unsportsmanlike. Her teammate Megan Rapinoe told NBC that she was "really disappointed" by the remarks. Solo tried to contextualize the comments she made on Twitter after the match, admitting that she wasn't good at losing.
The goalkeeper will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on the team after her suspension ends in February 2017. If she doesn't, the Olympic game could have been her last game played for the United States.