Cree's LED flood lights are used as replacement for the existing lighting for Abby Wambach's Portland home. (All Photo Courtesy of Cree)

LED innovator, Cree, Inc. recently teamed up with soccer phenom Abby Wambach to champion the importance of determination, innovation and performance when breaking barriers to achieve your goals, kicking off with the “Light a Better Way” video this summer. Following the U.S. Women’s National Team World Cup win, Cree is taking the campaign off-field, upgrading Wambach’s Portland home with high-quality Cree® LED technology, demonstrating the impact of uncompromising performance in creating better experiences.

"Everything looks so much brighter and clearer," said Wambach.

“You can really see the difference over my previous lights – everything looks so much brighter and clearer. I was shocked at the transformation,” said Wambach of her new Cree LED lighting. “One of the added benefits is that the Cree® LED bulbs last so long. Now I can enjoy my time at home with friends and family and never have to worry about replacing a burned out bulb again.”

Approximately 150 new LED lights were installed throughtout Wambach's home.

When Wambach moved to Portland in 2012, she envisioned a ‘modern comfort’ retreat overlooking the mountains where she could spend time with loved ones. In need of a transformation to achieve her dream home, Wambach led a renovation – from countertops to design and décor – with one element still lacking years later: better light. Cree installed about 150 new LED lights throughout Wambach’s renovated home, including New Cree LED Bulbs, offering an unmatched combination of lifetime, value and performance, and Cree BR30 LED Flood Lights. The Cree LED bulbs and flood lights also deliver ENERGY STAR® certified omnidirectional light, mimicking the incandescent lights they replace, while achieving better performance: consuming almost 8 times less energy for up to 27 years. With the new lighting, Wambach’s home glows from the garage and bathrooms to luxury living spaces, emphasizing the custom features that Wambach inspired. Now, when Wambach looks out from her mountainside estate, she can relax more comfortably and know that she won’t have to replace another light bulb over her entire mortgage.
“From stadiums to homes, Cree is transforming the way the world sees light. We’re on a mission to eliminate bad light on the way to 100 percent LED adoption,” said Betty Noonan, Cree's Chief Marketing Officer. “Similarly, Abby is on a pretty big mission herself; she personifies dedication to breaking barriers on the way to success whether that’s her team bringing home the trophy or eliminating inferior light. She is a natural fit to help us champion our belief that good enough is simply not enough.”

Wambach replaced conventional bulb with Cree's retrofit LED.

As the highest all-time goal scorer for the women’s national team, Wambach holds the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players. Beyond her extraordinary talent – Wambach’s carving a new pathway for athletes and females everywhere and the sport itself, capturing attention and admiration from fans the world over. Wambach gave fans a first look at her Portland home under new Cree LED lights during a live Twitter Q&A following the retrofit. She took to Twitter to answer questions on her journey to becoming World Cup champion; how a professional athlete unwinds after an all-star season; things she’ll NEVER compromise on; and why performance and breaking barriers have been key to her career.