Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra

(born March 17, 1972) is a retired
professional soccer player, two-time
Olympic gold medalist, and two-
time FIFA Women's World Cup
champion. Hailed as a soccer icon,
she played as a forward for the
United States women's national
soccer team from 1987–2004.
Hamm was the face of the Women's
United Soccer Association
(WUSA), the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, where she played for
the Washington Freedom from 2001–2003. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar
Heels women's soccer team and helped the team win four consecutive NCAA Division I
Women's Soccer Championship titles.

During her tenure with the national team, Hamm competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup
tournaments: the inaugural 1991 in China, 1995 in Sweden, 1999 and 2003 in the United States.
She led the team at three Olympic Games, including: 1996 in Atlanta (the first time women's
soccer was played), 2000 in Sydney, and 2004 in Athens. She completed her international career
having played in 42 matches and scored 14 goals at these 7 international tournaments.

Hamm held the record for most international goals scored—by a woman or man—until 2013 and
remains in third place behind former teammate Abby Wambach and Canadian striker Christine
Sinclair as of 2017. She currently ranks third in the history of the U.S. national team for
international caps (276) and first for career assists (144). Twice named FIFA World Player of the
Year in 2001 and 2002, Hamm and her teammate Michelle Akers were hailed by Pelé as two of
FIFA's 125 greatest living players when he included them in the FIFA 100 to celebrate the
organization's 100th anniversary. Hamm was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year five
years in a row and won three ESPY awards including Soccer Player of the Year and Female
Athlete of the Year. The Women's Sports Foundation named her Sportswoman of the Year in
1997 and 1999. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of
Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame and was the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall
of Fame.

A co-owner of Los Angeles FC, Hamm is also a global ambassador for FC Barcelona and is on
the board of directors of Serie A club A.S. Roma. Author of Go For the Goal: A Champion's
Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life, Hamm has been featured in several films and television
shows, including the HBO documentary, Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer
Team.

Playing career

From 1989 to 1994, Hamm attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
where she helped the Tar Heels win four NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships in
five years. She red-shirted the 1991 season to focus on preparation for the inaugural 1991 FIFA
Women's World Cup in China. North Carolina lost one game of the 95 she played on the team.
She earned All-American honors, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the
Year for three consecutive years, and was named ACC Female Athlete of the Year in 1993 and
1994. She graduated from North Carolina in 1994 with the ACC records for goals (103), assists
(72), and total points (278). In 2003, she and Michael Jordan were named the ACC's Greatest
Athletes of the conference's first fifty years.

Hamm made her debut for the United States women's national soccer team in 1987 at the
age of 15 — just two years after the team played its first international match. She was the
youngest person ever to play for the team. She scored her first goal during her 17th appearance.
She competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: the inaugural 1991 in China,
1995 in Sweden, 1999 and 2003 in the United States. She led the team at three Olympic Games,
including: 1996 in Atlanta (the first time women's soccer was played), 2000 in Sydney, and 2004
in Athens. In total, she played 42 matches and scored 14 goals in international tournaments.

In 1991, Hamm was named to the roster for the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in
China under North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance. At 19 years old, she was still the youngest
player on the team. During the team's first match of the tournament, Hamm scored the game-
winning goal in the 62nd minute, leading the U.S. to a 3–2 win over Sweden. She also scored
once in their second group stage match when the defeated Brazil 5–0. The U.S. squad finished
first in Group B after a third win against Japan on November 21 and advanced to the knockout
stage of the tournament. During the quarterfinal match, the U. S. defeated Chinese Taipei 7–0.
After defeating Germany 5–2 during the semi-final, the U.S. faced Norway in the final. In front
of 63,000 spectators, the U.S. clinched the first World Cup championship title after a 2–1 win.

Hamm's second World Cup appearance came during the 1995 tournament in Sweden. The
United States were led by head coach Tony DiCicco. During the team's first match of the
tournament, she scored the team's third goal in the 51st minute in a 3–3 draw against China PR.
The U.S. faced Denmark during its second group stage match. Goals from Kristine Lilly and
Tiffeny Milbrett led to a 2–0 win for the U.S. Hamm played goalkeeper for a few minutes after
Briana Scurry received a red card and was removed from the match.
 After defeating Australia 4–1 on June, 10, the U.S. advanced to the knock-out stage and
defeated Japan 4–0 in the quarter-final. The U.S. was defeated by eventual champion Norway 1–
0 in the semi-finals and captured third place after defeating China PR 2–0 on June 17. Hamm
scored the second U.S. goal of the match in the 55th minute.

On May 22, 1999, Hamm broke the all-time international goal record with her 108th goal
in a game against Brazil in Orlando, Florida. The following month, she led the national team at
the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted by the United States. During the team's first group
stage match against Denmark, she scored her 110th international goal and served an assist to
Julie Foudy as the U.S. won 3–0. Against Nigeria, Hamm's low free kick was knocked into the
goal by a Nigerian midfielder. Within a minute, Hamm scored with a free kick She later served
an assist to Kristine Lilly before being substituted in the 57th minute. The U.S. won 7–1 and
secured a berth in the quarter-finals. During the team's final group stage match, head coach Tony
DiCicco rested a number of players, including Hamm, who was substituted at half-time. The
U.S. defeated Korea 3–0 and finished Group A with nine points. In the quarter-finals, the U.S.
defeated Germany 3–2. Playing Brazil in the semi-finals, Hamm was knocked down in the
penalty area late in the second half; Michelle Akers converted the subsequent penalty and their
team won 2–0.

Originally scheduled for China, the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup was moved to the
United States due to the SARS outbreak. Hamm was named to the U.S. roster in August, and
stated that it would be her final World Cup appearance. During the team's first group stage
match, Hamm's three assists helped the U.S. to a 3–1 win over Sweden. She scored twice against
Nigeria and served the assist for the team's third goal to lead the U.S. to a 5–0 win and
qualification for the quarter-finals with one match to play. The U.S. faced North Korea in their
final group stage match and dominated 3–0. Hamm and a number of others were rested for the
game by head coach April Heinrichs; this was the first World Cup match Hamm had missed in
her career. The U.S. faced Norway in the quarter-finals; Although the U.S. won 1–0, Hamm was
fouled throughout the match as Norway played with physicality to counter the U.S. team. One of
Norway's 24 fouls resulted in a penalty kick for Hamm which was saved by the Norwegian
goalkeeper. After the U.S. was defeated 3–0 by Germany in the semi-finals, the team defeated
Canada 3–1 to secure a third-place finish

During a friendly game against Australia on July 21, 2004, Hamm scored her 151st
international goal setting the record for most international goals scored by any player in the
world, male or female. She held the world record until Abby Wambach scored her 159th goal on
June 20, 2013. The Australia match also marked Hamm's 259th international appearance; only
two of her teammates, Kristine Lilly and Christie Rampone, have played in more international
games.

Hamm competed as a member of the United States national soccer team in four FIFA
Women's World Cup tournaments including 1991 in China, 1995 in Sweden as well as 1999 and
2003 in the United States. She competed at three Summer Olympic Games: 1996 in Atlanta,
2000 in Sydney, and 2004 in Athens. All together, she played in 38 matches and scored 13 goals
at seven top international tournaments. With her teammates, Hamm finished third at two World
Cup tournaments in 1995 and 2003, second at the 2000 Olympics, and first at the four other
international tournaments.

Early life

Born in Selma, Alabama, Mia was the fourth of six children of Bill and Stephanie Hamm.
She wore corrective shoes as a toddler after being born with a club foot. Hamm spent her
childhood on various United States Air Force bases around the world with her family. While
living in Florence, Italy, Hamm first played soccer, which was hugely popular there; her entire
family quickly became involved in the sport. At age five, then living in Wichita Falls, Texas,
Hamm joined her first soccer team.

Her father coached Mia and her newly adopted brother, 8 year old Garrett.Hamm played
sports from a young age and excelled as a football player on the boys' team at junior high school.
As a high school freshman and sophomore, she played soccer for Notre Dame Catholic High
School in Wichita Falls. She played at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival, the youngest player to
play for the United States women's national soccer team. As a new player, she often started as a
forward but did not score a goal during her first year on the team. Hamm spent a year at Lake
Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, and helped the Lake Braddock soccer team win
the 1989 state championship.

Style of play

Regarded as one of the greatest women soccer players of all time, and by many as the best
ever, Hamm was an athletic, dynamic, and technically gifted striker, renowned for her speed,
skill, footwork, stamina, and ability on the ball, as well as her consistency. An excellent, agile
dribbler, she was highly regarded for her control, as well as her grace, pace, and elegance in
possession. A prolific goalscorer, she was known for her powerful and accurate striking ability,
although she was also a creative and hard-working forward, and a team player, who was equally
capable of assisting many goals for her teammates, due to her accurate passing, and was also
willing to aid her teammates defensively when possession was lost. She was capable of playing
in any offensive position.

Retirement
 On May 14, 2004, Hamm announced her retirement effective after the 2004 Athens
Olympics. Following the 2004 Olympics, Hamm and her teammates played in a 10-game
farewell tour in the United States. The final match of the tour against Mexico at the Home Depot
Center in Carson, California, on December 8, 2004, marked the final international match for
Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett. The U.S. defeated Mexico 5–0 and Hamm assisted on two
of the goals. Hamm retired at age 32 with a record 158 international goals. She and teammates
Foudy and Fawcett were honored with a pre-game ceremony where they were presented with
framed jerseys and roses in front of 15,549 fans at Home Depot Stadium in Carson, California.
During the 5–0 win against Mexico, Hamm provided the assist on the first two goals.

Honors and awards

Hamm was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation in 1997
and 1999. In June 1999, Nike named the largest building on their corporate campus after Hamm.
In December 2000, Hamm was named one of the top three female soccer players of the twentieth
century in the FIFA Female Player of the Century Award, finishing behind only Sun Wen and
compatriot Michelle. In March 2004, Hamm and former U.S. teammate Michelle Akers were the
only two women and Americans named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living soccer
players, selected by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA for the organization's 100th anniversary.
Other accolades include being elected U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year five years in a row
from 1994 to 1998, and winning three ESPY awards including Soccer Player of the Year and
Female Athlete of the Year.

In 2006 Hamm was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, followed by the Texas
Sports Hall of Fame on March 11, 2008. In 2007, during her first year of eligibility, Hamm was
selected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2008, an image of her silhouette
was used in the logo for the second professional women's soccer league in the United States:
Women's Professional Soccer. ESPN named her the greatest female athlete in 2012. In 2013,
Hamm became the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame, located in
Pachuca, Mexico. She was named to U.S. Soccer's USWNT All-Time Best XI in 2013.

In popular culture

Hamm has been called the most marketable female athlete of her generation. During her
time as an international soccer player, she signed endorsement deals with Gatorade, Nike,
Dreyer's Ice Cream, Pepsi, Nabisco, Fleet Bank, Earthgrains, and Powerbar. Hamm was featured
on a Wheaties box following the 1999 World Cup and endorsed the first Soccer Barbie by
Mattel. She co-starred with Michael Jordan in a popular television commercial for Gatorade
which featured the two athletes competing against each other in a variety of sports while the song
Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) is heard. The commercial ends with Hamm throwing
Jordan to the ground in a judo match.

Philanthropy

In 1999, Hamm founded the Mia Hamm Foundation following the death of her adopted
brother Garrett in 1997 from complications of aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease he had
endured for ten years. Dedicated to promoting awareness of and raising funds for families in
need of a bone marrow or cord blood transplant, the foundation encourages people to register in
the national bone marrow registry and provides funds to UNC Health Care and Children's
Hospital Los Angeles. Hamm hosts an annual celebrity soccer game in Los Angeles to support
the foundation.