Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm, born March 17, 1972, is an American former professional soccer player who competed as a forward and midfielder for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 2004. Regarded as one of the best and most influential female soccer players of all time, she won two FIFA Women's World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals during her career. She was also a founding player in the Women's United Soccer Association, the first professional women's soccer league in the United States.

Hamm was born in Selma, Alabama, to Bill and Stephanie Hamm, the fourth of six children. She was born with a club foot and wore corrective shoes as a toddler. Growing up in a family that lived on various U.S. Air Force bases worldwide, Hamm first played soccer while living in Florence, Italy. She joined her first organized team at age five in Wichita Falls, Texas. Later attending Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, she helped the school's soccer team win a state championship in 1989.

From 1989 to 1993, Hamm played college soccer for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels, helping the team win four NCAA Division I Championship titles. She red-shirted the 1991 season to prepare for the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup. North Carolina lost only one of the 95 games she played. Hamm graduated in 1994 holding Atlantic Coast Conference records for goals, assists, and total points, and her No. 19 jersey was retired by the university.

In 2001, Hamm joined the Women's United Soccer Association as a founding player for the Washington Freedom. Playing as a forward and midfielder, she led the team in goals and assists in its inaugural season. Despite suffering a knee injury in late 2001, she returned in 2002 to help the Freedom reach the championship game. In 2003, Hamm helped lead the Washington Freedom to victory in the WUSA Founders Cup.

Hamm made her international debut for the U.S. national team in 1987 at age 15. She represented the nation in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, winning the title in 1991 and 1999, and securing third-place finishes in 1995 and 2003. She also competed in three Olympic Games, winning gold medals in 1996 and 2004, as well as a silver medal in 2000. Hamm retired from international soccer in 2004 following a ten-game farewell tour, finishing her career with 158 international goals.

Hamm's career is marked by numerous individual accolades and records. She was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year, earned U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year honors five consecutive times, and received six ESPY awards. In addition to being named Sportswoman of the Year twice by the Women's Sports Foundation, Hamm was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame and became the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. In 2004, Pelé named her one of the 125 greatest living players.

Following her playing career, Hamm expanded into sports ownership, media, and diplomacy. She is a co-owner of the professional soccer clubs Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC, serves as a global ambassador for FC Barcelona, and previously served on the board of directors for A.S. Roma from 2014 to 2020. Hamm is also the author of the book Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life and has appeared in several film and television projects.