Abby Wambach will donate brain for concussion research

Recently retired U.S. Women’s national team star Abby Wambach is the latest American soccer player to donate their brain for concussion research.

Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.

Recently retired U.S. Women’s national team star Abby Wambach is the latest American soccer player to donate her brain for concussion research, according to the Lantern. 

Wambach announced that she was following the lead of former U.S. teammate Brandi Chastain, who announced her plans to donate her brain in early March, at a discussion on the campus of Ohio State.

National team player Megan Rapinoe, who joined Wambach at Ohio State, says that she also plans to donate her brain.

• U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Len Oliver will donate brain for research

High-profile athletes donating their brains has become a recent trend as doctors have linked repetitive head trauma in sports to the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). 

On Saturday, three former Oakland Raiders players pledged to donate their brains in honor of quarterback Ken Stabler, who was discovered to be suffering from CTE after his death from colon cancer. 

Top NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also said he will donate his brain.