Without any fanfare, Hope Solo’s six-month suspension from the U.S. women’s national soccer team expired two weeks ago. Any thoughts, however, of her rejoining the reigning World Cup champions this year — or perhaps ever again — were put to rest by two factors: major shoulder surgery during her layoff and speaking her mind too often.
Coach Jill Ellis has moved on, splitting assignments between Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris for friendlies last fall and the first competition of 2017, the SheBelieves Cup, which will culminate Tuesday at RFK Stadium with second-ranked Germany facing No. 5 England and the top-ranked Americans hosting No.