Mia Hamm

Lore & Background

Hamm was born in Selma, Alabama, the fourth of six children, and wore corrective shoes as a toddler after being born with a club foot. She spent her childhood on various U.S. Air Force bases and first played soccer in Florence, Italy. At age five, she joined her first soccer team in Wichita Falls, Texas. She attended Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, and helped the Lake Braddock soccer team win the 1989 state championship. From 1989 to 1993, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she helped the Tar Heels win four NCAA Division I Championships in five years. She red-shirted the 1991 season to focus on preparation for the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. North Carolina lost one game of the 95 she played on the team. She graduated in 1994 with ACC records for goals (103), assists (72), and total points (278).

Reader's Guide

Mia Hamm's significance lies in her role as a foundational figure in women's soccer. She was a key player on the U.S. national team from 1987 to 2004, winning two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. As a founding player of the Women's United Soccer Association, she helped establish the first professional women's soccer league in the United States. Her individual accolades include being twice named FIFA World Player of the Year, five-time U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year, and six-time ESPY award winner. As of March 2026, she ranks third on the list of most international goals scored by players of any gender, fourth in U.S. national team appearances (276), and first in international assists (144). She was inducted into multiple halls of fame and was the first woman inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame. Her legacy extends off the field as a co-owner of Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC, a global ambassador for FC Barcelona, and author of Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life.

Did You Know?

• Hamm was born with a club foot and wore corrective shoes as a toddler.
• She played goalkeeper for a few minutes during the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup after Briana Scurry received a red card.
• She scored her 100th international goal in a friendly match against Russia on September 18, 1998.
• Hamm was chosen by Pelé as one of the 125 greatest living players in 2004.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Mariel Margaret Hamm (born March 17, 1972) is an American former professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion." — Mia Hamm "During our Zoom interview just before Labor Day. She notes that nothing less that winning each World Cup is the expectation placed on the USA’s women." — Mia Hamm "Mia Hamm Says Olympics Are USA's Next Huge Test By Andy Frye, Sep 11, 2023, Retrieved 23/11/2023." — Mia Hamm