Hope Solo's ESPN Body Issue Spread Will Help Women's Soccer

In case you haven't heard—and judging by the hype on the Internet, you have—Hope Solo is gracing the pages of ESPN's annual "Body Issue," which hits the shelves this Friday.

This is a major coup for Solo and women's soccer.

Solo, the soccer star who captured the hearts of sports fans thanks to her performance in the World Cup this summer (and the hearts of middle-aged women thanks to her current appearance on Dancing With the Stars) has become one of the most popular female athletes in the country.

Her face has been all over the news the last four months, and with ESPN including her in its biggest issue of the year, don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Coming off one of the most exciting World Cups that most of us have ever seen—and probably will ever see—women’s soccer needs to capitalize on the momentum that it has going right now.

Solo is doing the sport a huge service by staying in the public spotlight by posing in the "Body Issue."

As much as we hate to admit it, we have to be drawn into female sports by a marketable face. It is unfair, but it is the sad reality of the situation.

Solo has the face and personality to draw attention to the sport.

And now, with ESPN the Magazine—and to an extent, Dancing With the Stars—she has the forum to get people talking about women's soccer when they normally would not have a reason to think about it.

Solo has done her part to keep her sport relevant to a mainstream audience. In doing so, she is going to increase merchandise sales, ad revenue and help her fellow soccer players earn more money for what they do on the field.

Whatever your feelings are about the "Body Issue" itself, it gives lesser-known athletes the forum to bring more eyeballs to their sport.

Solo is taking advantage of that, as are the 20-plus athletes who are appearing in the magazine.