Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm (born March 17, 1972) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward and midfielder for the United States national team from 1987 to 2004. She competed in four editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup, winning in 1991 and 1999. She won gold at the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2004, and won silver in 2000. She was a founding player of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)—the first U.S. professional women's soccer league—where she played for the Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels, helping the team win four NCAA Division I Championship titles. Hailed as a soccer icon, she is widely considered one of the best and most influential female players of all time.

As of March 2026, Hamm ranks third on the list of most international goals scored, by players of any gender. She ranks fourth in U.S. national team appearances (276) and first in international assists (144). She was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year, was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year five years in a row, and won six ESPY awards, including Best Soccer Player, Best Female Soccer Player and Female Athlete of the Year. The Women's Sports Foundation named her Sportswoman of the Year in 1997 and 1999.

Hamm was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame, and was the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. In 2004, Hamm was chosen by Pelé as one of the 125 greatest living players.

Hamm is a co-owner of the professional soccer clubs Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. She is a global ambassador for FC Barcelona and was on the board of directors of the Italian Serie A soccer club A.S. Roma from 2014 to 2020. She is the author of Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life, and 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.