The former U.S. Women’s National Team goalie, who is often called the “Donald Trump” of women’s soccer, was found passed out in her car, drunk, with her children in the backseat, according to police in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Solo, who is known as one of the top female soccer goalkeepers of all time, stopped playing in 2016.
Police said they found Solo passed out behind the wheel of her car in a Walmart parking lot in Winston-Salem. Her two young children were in the backseat.
Solo issued a statement after her arrest through her lawyer.
“On the advice of counsel, Hope can’t speak about this situation, but she wants everyone to know that her kids are her life,” the statement said. “The story is more sympathetic than the initial charges suggest.”
Solo is a two-time Olympic gold medalist married to ex-NFL player Jerramy Stevens. Solo and Stevens got married the day after he was arrested for assaulting her.
In 2015, Stevens was arrested for DUI, and Solo was suspended for 30 days for showing poor judgment after arguing with arresting officers.
Solo was arrested in 2014 for two counts of assault after getting into a physical altercation with her half-sister and nephew. Those charges were eventually dropped after her victims failed to cooperate with the investigation.
In 2016, after losing to Sweeden during the Belo Horizonte quarterfinals in a shoot-out in the Rio Olympics, she called the Swedish team “A bunch of cowards.”
Swedish head coach Pia Sundhage replied, “I don’t give a crap. I’m going to Rio; she’s going home.”
Sweden went on to win the silver medal after eliminating Team USA in the first round.
Solo was an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
