If you think you’d be nervous playing on worldwide TV in the biggest game of your life, imagine what a wreck your mom would be.
The moms of three stars on the U.S. national women’s soccer team talked about their pregame day jitters at a news conference ahead of Sunday night World Cup final.
“It is so stressful. Game day is the worst day,” said forward Abby Wambach’s mom, Judy Wambach,. “You get up in the morning and your stress level is ready to hit the roof.”
Defender Ali Krieger’s mom, Debbie Christopher, said she’s just excited to get there and for the game to start.
But they agreed that once the game starts, it doesn’t help lower their stress.
“It’s not until the final whistle blows and we have a win under our belt,” Wambach said. “What a sigh of relief and be so grateful that you are there and they have won for their country and done such a great job.”
Denise Rapinoe, midfielder and captain Megan Rapinoe’s mom, talked about the pressure on their daughters to win in the final against defending champions Japan.
This isn’t the first time the U.S. and Japan will be going head-to-head. The U.S. team hasn’t won in 16 years, coming close in 2011 but falling short in the final to the Japanese team.
“We moms are ready for it,” Rapinoe said.
Rapinoe said the support helps the women entering “the ultimate stage as elite athletes of their sport.”
Krieger told her mom: “We were little kids once, playing like these girls that want our autographs. We were those kids.”
Christopher said her daughter used to sit and watch the 1999 team when they were playing, telling her mom she would be out there one day.
“It’s exciting. We remind our kids, you are playing for your country, too,” Christopher said. “How many girls can actually say that?”
The moms have confidence in their daughters to pull out a victory, but they know that they and the team will be there to support everyone no matter what happens.
Wambach got choked up talking about a note her daughter sent her that read, “I wouldn’t be here without you.”
All the moms said they’re pumped for the game, but the nerves won’t stop till the game clock runs out.
