Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle’s Love Story for the Ages

June 4, 2024
By Rachel Gonzalez

Love is in the air, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than by looking back at one of the greatest love stories of all time. We’re talking about Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle, one of our favorite women’s soccer couples.

The year is 2016: Abby Wambach is in her first year of retirement from professional soccer, her marriage to former Portland Thorns player Sarah Huffman, has ended, her first book, an autobiography titled Forward, is on the shelves, and she has just met an intriguing woman named Glennon Doyle. At this time, Glennon is releasing her second book, Love Warrior, a memoir about the recovery of her 12-year marriage to Craig Melton after infidelity.

Neither of them has any idea, but everything is about to change.

The two met in Chicago at a launch event for writers, and it was something at first sight. They definitely felt an instant connection. For Doyle, it was something of a shock to her system; for Wambach, a strange fascination. In the span of just a few minutes together Abby felt completely at ease with Glennon; she listened to Glennon speak about her book and her marriage and laughs and cries.

Abby, a slow reader who prefers audiobooks, read Love Warrior in one sitting that same night. A few days later, Glennon emailed her. The former USWNT forward had just read the intimate details of this woman’s marriage and responded to the email expecting nothing but friendship. However, Glennon had already made up her mind.

This moment with Wambach turned her life upside down. Pursuing Abby was not a question of choosing this new person or sticking with her marriage, it was a matter of being true to herself. Casting off the public mask and being who she really is, and with the right person.

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In September 2016, Abby’s divorce was announced, and by November, her relationship with Glennon was confirmed. And on May 14, 2017, the two were married. They now live in Naples, Florida, with their three children and French bulldog. Since their whirlwind romance and marriage, they quickly skyrocketed to the ranks of a power couple. Romantics everywhere fill their dating profile bios with “Looking for the Glennon to my Abby.”

In 2020, Glennon released her best-selling novel Untamed, a memoir about self-love, female empowerment, and her own journey. Untamed is a must-read for all of our Socceristas out there. And, if you’re not already, do yourself a favor and follow Glennon on social media.

The couple uses their platforms to promote messages of anti-racism, social justice change, reform, feminism, and above all, love and family. Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle’s story is about taking a risk and not being afraid to trust your heart no matter the outcome.

Featured Image via @GlennonDoyle on Instagram