U.S. national team goalkeeper Hope Solo could again face assault charges stemming from an altercation last year with family members after a Washington state appeals court on Friday reversed a lower court’s dismissal of the case.
The case stems from a dispute between Solo and her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew during a party in June 2014. Solo was charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault. She pleaded not guilty.
A municipal judge dismissed the case in January, but prosecutors [—] in a rare move [—] appealed that decision. The appeals court sent it back to the lower court on Friday.
“We are shocked and disappointed by the judge’s ruling this morning. However, we maintain our position that the charges in this case should have never been filed, that the original trial court’s dismissal of the case was correct, and we plan to file an appeal of today’s decision with the Court of Appeals,” Solo’s attorney, Todd Maybrown, said in a statement.
Solo was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer. The 34-year-old Washington native was named the Golden Glove winner as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, allowing just three goals overall with five shutouts and going for a record 540-minute span without conceding a goal.
She is a 15-year veteran of the senior national team, holding U.S. records for most wins (138) and shutouts (89) over 180 appearances.
Following her arrest in 2014, there was an outcry over U.S. Soccer’s decision to allow her to remain on the team while the assault case played itself out.
Solo has always claimed that she was defending herself against her 17-year-old nephew, who is 6-foot-9 and weighs 280 pounds, according to court documents. Solo’s relatives have maintained that she instigated the assault.
Solo was later suspended from the U.S. team for 30 days in January after her husband, former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens, was arrested in Southern California for driving under the influence in a U.S. Soccer team van. Solo was his lone passenger.
Solo, who plays at the club level for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Seattle Reign, was in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday night for the league’s championship match between the Reign and FC Kansas City.
Kansas City won the match 1-0.
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