ABCHope Solo has broken her silence.
In her first interview since returning to the U.S. women's national soccer team Saturday, the goalie expressed regret for the "horrible choice" that led to her 30-day suspension earlier this year. Team USA suspended Solo after her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was arrested for DUI while driving a team van during training camp in California.
"Well, clearly, I wasn't thinking. I mean, it was a horrible choice," the 33-year-old, two-time Olympic gold medalist admitted to Good Morning America's Robin Roberts Wednesday. "I think I just wasn't in a good place, emotionally, to even make good decisions. I mean, it's not an excuse, but I just...it was stupid. I should've called a taxi."
Solo was reinstated after a formal review by U.S. Soccer, and she is expected to join the 25-player squad that will travel to Portugal for the Algarve Cup in March. Now that she's back on the field, she hopes fans will focus on her talents and not her troubles. "I want people to realize I'm just human. I'm just human and I make mistakes. I want people to be able to forgive me they're willing to do so. I just want to be the best athlete I can be, the best person I can be, and I know I have a lot of room for improvement," Solo admitted.
She's well on her way, too. "I'm working through those emotions. I was filled with anger," Solo recalled. "I'm finally able to sit down, talk to somebody about what I've been going through—very traumatic events over the last year. Just being able to talk to somebody has been really beneficial to me. I can cry it out. I can try to understand it. It's been healthy for me to talk it out and to deal with my emotions instead of tucking them away."
Solo also addressed another headline-making incident during the interview.
Last summer, the U.S. Soccer Federation decided not to suspend Solo after she was charged with two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault from an alleged incident with her half-sister and nephew; the charges were dropped in January. "All of us, in my opinion, have a fundamental right to be considered innocent until proven guilty," Solo argued. "I know U.S. Soccer took a lot of heat, but I am very grateful that they let due process play itself out. Those eight months were some of the worst months of my entire life."