USWNT’s former legendary goalie Hope Solo is now the talk of the town in US Soccer circles. She is giving the fans a glimpse of her fights with the US Soccer Federation in a Netflix documentary named Untold: Hope Solo vs US Soccer. Former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas was one key figure who quickly empathized with the veteran US goalkeeper. While doing so, Lalas also questioned Solo’s teammates and fellow equal pay advocates for not joining her in the recent Netflix endeavor.

Hope Solo’s Netflix project became a talking point in the recent episode of the State of the Union podcast hosted by Alexi Lalas. “I think, throughout this documentary, what I’m left with is that you know, she goes through all her fight with the United States Soccer Federation. And I think it’s telling that not a single one of her teammates participated in this documentary,” said Lalas. The ex-US defender then lamented that Solo feels the world is against her.

“What I found myself being almost sad about was that Hope Solo continues to feel like the world has been against her. The world is against her. And going forward, the world will continue to be against her. And again, there I, I find that sad that she kind of perpetuates this and and lives this,” Lalas added.

Notably, Hope Solo brought together her former teammates, such as Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, among others, to file an equal pay lawsuit against US Soccer in 2016. Having fought for rights shoulder-to-shoulder with Solo, it is surprising that the likes of Rapinoe and Morgan haven’t spoken in the former’s documentary.

Since the documentary is gaining wide traction, let’s discover what happened between Solo and US Soccer.

A sneak peek into Hope Solo’s rough exit from the USWNT

It won’t be a stretch to say Hope Solo spurred the USWNT’s biggest fight against pay discrimination. She sprouted the fighting spirit in Rapinoe and Morgan, back in 2016. After the lawsuit signing, Solo brushed the Sweden team wrongly at the 2016 Olympics. During a penalty shootout, she called Swedish players “cowards.”

Anyhow, many Swedes empathized with the 2015 World champion, stressing her antic was understandable considering the tensions at the moment.

Nevertheless, US Soccer suspended her for six months and, later, terminated her contract. Meanwhile, the Seattle Reign legend had no plans to give up her fight against discrimination. In 2018, she ensued yet another legal battle against US Soccer for violating two equal pay norms.

Finally, Solo’s ex-teammates, including Rapinoe, proudly signed the equal pay CBA in 2022. But it wasn’t for the battle Solo started in 2016. Many perks, such as the 2022 CBA and the NWSL’s new player-friendly CBA, would have remained distant dreams.