US women's soccer star Abby Wambach says her marriage about love, not politics

FILE - In this July 17, 2013, file photo, soccer players Abby Wambach, left, and Sarah Huffman arrive for the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. Wambach's marriage to partner and professional teammate Sarah Huffman instantly made her one of the highest-profile athletes in the national debate over same sex-marriage. (AP Photo/Invision, Paul A. Hebert, File) (The Associated Press)

For Abby Wambach, marrying her professional teammate and partner Sarah Huffman was purely a statement of love, not politics.

Yet the star of the U.S. women's national soccer team understands that she has become perhaps the highest-profile athlete in the national debate over same-sex marriage and a role model for advocates.

Wambach and Huffman play for the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League.

The couple had a wedding ceremony in Hawaii on Oct. 5. Wambach says they didn't know Hawaii state lawmakers will meet later this month to debate a bill allowing gay marriage in that state.

Wambach and the national team play Australia on Sunday in San Antonio.