Sarah Huffman

Sarah Eileen Huffman (born March 5, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player who last played for Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL.

Sarah Huffman
Huffman with Western New York Flash, July 2013
Personal information
Full name Sarah Eileen Huffman[1]
Date of birth (1984-03-05) March 5, 1984
Place of birth Danbury, Connecticut, United States
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2002–2005 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Washington Freedom Reserves 17 (2)
2008 Røa IL 13 (14)
2009–2010 Washington Freedom 22 (1)
2011 magicJack 18 (1)
2012 Pali Blues 6 (3)
2013 Western New York Flash 14 (0)
2014 Portland Thorns 22 (1)
National team‡
2000–2002 United States U-19
2003–2007 United States U-21
2010 United States 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 23, 2014
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 13, 2010

Early life

Huffman was born in Danbury, Connecticut. She grew up in Flower Mound, Texas and attended Marcus High School.[2]

University of Virginia

Huffman attended the University of Virginia. A four-year starter, she is one of the top players in the school's history. She was a two-time NSCAA All-American, a two-time Soccer America MVP, and a three-time first team All-ACC selection.[3]

In 2004, she was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was also Co-MVP of the ACC Tournament as the Cavaliers won the first conference championship in school history. She was named Virginia State Player of the Year and was a finalist for Soccer Buzz National Player of the Year.[3]

As a senior in 2005, she was named Soccer Buzz All-American, Soccer America MVP, and NSCAA All-American.[3]

She ended her collegiate career with 12 goals and 28 assists (second most assists in school history).[4][5]

Playing career

Club
Huffman with magicJack teammates Becky Sauerbrunn and Christie Rampone in August 2011

Huffman was a member of the 2007 W-League champion, Washington Freedom.[3]

In 2008, she played for Norwegian team, Røa IL, and helped the team win the Norwegian Women's Cup.[6]

In 2009, Huffman was the number one pick in Round 1 of the 2008 WPS General Draft and signed with the Washington Freedom in Women's Professional Soccer. Under new ownership, the team moved to Florida and was renamed magicJack (WPS).

In 2012, after the WPS folded, Huffman signed with the Pali Blues in the W-League.[7][8] She helped the team to an undefeated season and the Western Conference championship title.[9][10]

In 2013, Huffman signed with the Western New York Flash.

April 5, 2014 Huffman was traded with a player to be named later to the Portland Thorns for Courtney Wetzel, Kathryn Williamson, and a first-round pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. That pick later became Jaelene Hinkle. Huffman had earlier decided to live in Portland in the house she bought with her spouse Abby Wambach, who will play 2014 with Western New York Flash.[11] April 7, 2014, Portland Thorns revealed that the player to be named later was Verónica Boquete.[12]

November 18, 2014 Huffman announced her retirement from professional soccer.[13]

International

Huffman was a member of the U-16, U-17, U-19, U-21, and U-23 United States women's national soccer teams. She helped her team win the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and won the Nordic Cup with the U-21s in 2004, 2005, and 2007.[3]

In 2010, she was called to play with the United States women's national soccer team.[14]

Coaching career

Huffman is a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, University of Virginia.[15]

Personal life

Huffman resides in Portland, Oregon.[11] Her nickname is "Huffy."[16] Huffman came out as gay in a statement on the Athlete Ally website supporting equality in sports.[17] On October 5, 2013, she married her longtime girlfriend, Abby Wambach, in Hawaii.[18] In September 2016, in a new autobiography, Wambach announced that she and Huffman are divorcing. Their divorce was finalized in 2016.[19]

gollark: It may not *quite* meet the quality you're used to, though. Mostly in terms of spelling.
gollark: More guest content on osmarks.tk, this time from <@160279332454006795>: https://osmarks.tk/heavpoots-game.html
gollark: I should probably add a "limit number" option.
gollark: ++list_deleted
gollark: There is no `++remind delete all`, you fool.

References
  1. "Sarah Eileen Huffman". Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  2. "2002 U.S. Under-19 Women's National Team". Soccer Times. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  3. "Sarah Huffman player profile". Pali Blues. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  4. "Sarah Huffman coach profile". University of Virginia. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  5. "The Record Book". University of Virginia. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  6. "Røa vendte til storseier". Aftenposten. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. "Blues Sign Midfielder Sarah Huffman". USL Soccer. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  8. "Q+A with Pali Blues' Sarah Huffman and Liz Bogus". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  9. "Blues Finish the Season Undefeated with 1–0 Victory over Seattle". Pali Blues. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  10. "Pali Blues Win Western Conference Championship 1–0 Against Seattle". Pali Blues. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  11. "Equalizer Soccer – Thorns send Williamson, Wetzel, pick to Flash for Huffman, player to be named".
  12. http://www.timbers.com/news/2014/04/thorns-fc-acquire-spanish-international-veronica-bouquete-midfielder-sarah-huffman-west
  13. http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/2014/11/thorns-fc-defender-sarah-huffman-announces-retirement
  14. "Huffman and Lindsey Called into National Team Camp". University of Virginia. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  15. "Sarah Huffman coach profile". University of Virginia. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  16. "Keep an eye on Sarah Huffman". W League. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  17. Bendix, Trish (July 25, 2013). "Soccer player Sarah Huffman comes out in Athlete Ally announcement". AfterEllen. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  18. "Abby Wambach Marries Longtime Girlfriend In Hawaii". Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  19. "Abby Wambach -- Fastest Divorce Ever ... Focusing On New Girlfriend". Retrieved June 13, 2018.
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