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). 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.

Early life Hamm was born on March 17, 1972, in Selma, Alabama to Bill and Stephanie Hamm. She is the fourth of six children. She wore corrective shoes as a toddler after being born with a club foot. Hamm spent her childhood on various U.S. Air Force bases around the world with her family. She first played soccer while living in Florence, Italy, and her entire family quickly became involved in the sport. At age five, Hamm joined her first soccer team in Wichita Falls, Texas. Her father coached Hamm and her newly adopted brother, 8-year-old Garrett. Hamm earned All-American honors, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year for three consecutive years, She graduated from North Carolina in 1994 with the ACC records for goals (103), assists (72), and total points (278). In 2003, Hamm and Michael Jordan were named the greatest athletes of the ACC's first fifty years. Hamm was a member of the United States women's national college team that won a silver medal at the 1993 Summer Universiade in Buffalo, New York. The University of North Carolina retired Hamm's No.19 jersey in 1994.

Club career In 2001, Hamm was a founding player in the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), and played for the Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003. Throughout the league's history, Hamm was hailed as the star of the league and used heavily in marketing and promotion. In a poll of 1,000 advertising executives conducted in 2001, she was voted "the most appealing female athlete", garnering almost twice as many votes as the runner-up Anna Kournikova.

During the league's inaugural match between the Freedom and the Bay Area CyberRays at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Hamm was fouled in the penalty area, which resulted in a penalty kick that her teammate Pretinha converted to mark the first goal scored in the league. The Freedom won 1–0. The 34,148 fans in attendance surpassed the turnout of every MLS game that weekend, while the television broadcast reached 393,087 households. Playing as a midfielder and forward, Hamm played in 19 of the Freedom's 21 matches during the 2001 season. She led the team in goals (6) and assists (4). The Freedom finished in seventh place during the regular season with a record.

Hamm suffered a knee injury in November 2001 that kept her off the field for several months during early 2002. She played half of the 2002 season with the Freedom, scoring eight goals. After winning the semifinal against the Philadelphia Charge 1–0, the Freedom were defeated 3–2 by the Carolina Courage in the 2002 WUSA Founders Cup.

During the 2003 season, Hamm started in 16 of the 19 games in which she played. Her 11 goals ranked second on the team behind Abby Wambach's 13, while her 11 assists ranked first. The Freedom finished the regular season in fourth place with a record and secured a berth in the playoffs. The Freedom defeated the Atlanta Beat 2–1 in overtime to win the Founders Cup on August 24, 2003.

International career

1987–2004: Women's national team Hamm made her debut for the United States women's national soccer team at the age of 15 at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. She did not score a goal during her first year, and scored her first goal during her 17th appearance. During the team's first match of the tournament, Hamm scored the game-winning goal as the U.S. achieved a 3–2 victory over Sweden. She also scored once in their second group stage match as they defeated Brazil 5–0. The U.S. eventually advanced to the final, where they defeated Norway 2–1 to win the World Cup.

1995 FIFA Women's World Cup Hamm's second World Cup appearance came during the 1995 tournament in Sweden. The U.S. were led by head coach Tony DiCicco.8888 During the first match of the tournament, Hamm scored the team's third goal in a 3–3 draw against China PR. During the second group stage match against Denmark, Hamm played the position of goalkeeper for a few minutes after Briana Scurry received a red card and was removed from the match. The U.S. was ultimately defeated in the semifinals by eventual champion Norway. Hamm's team achieved third place after defeating China PR 2–0 on June 17, with Hamm scoring one goal.

1996–1998: Atlanta Olympics and 100th international goal

The 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta was the first Olympics to include women's soccer. Hamm scored a goal and served an assist as the U.S. defeated Denmark 3–0 in the first group stage match. After defeating Norway in the semifinals, the U.S. faced China in the final. Hamm played despite having foot and groin injuries, and was carried off on a stretcher in the final minute. The U.S. achieved a 2–1 victory witnessed by 76,481 fans—the largest crowd for a soccer event in the history of the Olympics, and the largest crowd for a women's sports event in the United States.

The 20 goals scored by Hamm in 1998 were the highest annual total of her international career. She also provided 20 assists. On September 18, she scored her 100th international goal in a friendly match against Russia in Rochester, New York. The following month, she led the national team at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted by the United States. During a group stage match against Nigeria, Hamm scored one goal and served one assist as the U.S. won 7–1. During the final group stage match, head coach Tony DiCicco rested Hamm, who was substituted at halftime. In the semifinal against Brazil, Hamm was knocked down in the penalty during the second half; Michelle Akers scored the resulting penalty kick as the U.S. won 2–0.

The World Cup Final was decided by a penalty shootout between the U.S. and China. All five American players to take penalty kicks converted, including Hamm; China missed one kick, resulting in a U.S. victory. The match surpassed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics final as the most-attended women's sports event in history, with more than 90,000 people filling the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. With 17,975,000 U.S. television viewers, it held the record for the largest U.S. television audience for a soccer match until 2014.

After the match, Hamm collapsed in the locker room from severe dehydration. She was treated by medical staff with an intravenous drip and three liters of fluids.

2000 Sydney Olympics Hamm represented the U.S. at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. During the group stage of the tournament, she scored a goal as the U.S. defeated Norway 2–0. In the semifinal against Brazil, Hamm's game-winning goal marked the 127th of her international career and set a record for the most international goals scored by a player of any gender. The U.S. faced Norway in the final and were defeated 3–2 in overtime, earning the silver medal.

2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

In August 2003, Hamm was named to the U.S. roster for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, which was moved from China to the United States due to the SARS outbreak. She stated 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 contributed two goals and an assist in the second match against Nigeria, leading the U.S. to a 5–0 win and qualification for the quarterfinals. Coach April Heinrichs rested Hamm for the following game against North Korea, which the U.S. won 3–0; this was the first World Cup match Hamm had missed in her career. The U.S. was defeated 3–0 by Germany in the semifinals, but achieved a 3–1 win over Canada to secure a third-place finish.

2004: Athens Olympics and retirement On May 14, 2004, Hamm announced that she would retire after the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. During the Olympic tournament, Hamm scored twice during her team's first group stage match against Greece as the U.S. won 3–0. Hamm scored once during the next match, a 2–0 win over Brazil. In the semifinal against Germany, Hamm served an assist to Heather O'Reilly, who scored to secure a 2–1 win. The U.S. faced Brazil for a second time in the gold medal match and won 2–1 in overtime. The game marked the last Olympic appearance for five players who had helped win the inaugural 1991 Women's World Cup: Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain, and Kristine Lilly (often referred to as the Fab Five).

Following the Olympics, Hamm and her teammates played in a 10-game farewell tour in the United States. During the tour, Hamm scored her 158th international goal, setting the record for most international goals scored by a player of any gender. The final match of the tour against Mexico in Carson, California, on December 8, marked the final international match for Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett. The three players were honored in a pre-game ceremony and were presented with framed jerseys and roses. The U.S. defeated Mexico 5–0 with Hamm assisting on two of the goals. Hamm's No.9 jersey was inherited by midfielder Heather O'Reilly.

Style of play Regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players of all time, Hamm was a technically gifted striker, known for her speed, footwork, stamina, and consistency. An agile dribbler, she was highly regarded for her control, pace, and elegance in possession. As a prolific goalscorer, Hamm was known for her powerful and accurate striking ability. She was also a creative and hard-working forward and team player, capable of assisting many goals with her accurate passing. She was able to aid her teammates defensively when possession was lost.

Endorsements 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. In 1997, she starred in a commercial for Pert Plus. 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 commercial for Gatorade in 1999, which featured the two athletes competing against each other in a variety of sports.

Other activities

In 1997, Hamm's adopted brother Garrett died from complications of aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease. In 1999, Hamm founded the Mia Hamm Foundation, which raises awareness of the disease and raises funds for people in need of bone marrow or cord blood transplants. The foundation encourages people to register in the national bone marrow registry and provides funding to UNC Health Care and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. It also focuses on creating opportunities for girls and women in sports.

In 2012, after Pia Sundhage's departure as head coach of the U.S. national team, Hamm joined Danielle Slaton and Sunil Gulati on the search committee for Sundhage's successor. In 2014, Hamm was named to the board of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

In October 2014, Hamm was announced as a co-owner of the future Major League Soccer team, Los Angeles FC. The same month, she joined the board of directors of the Italian Serie A soccer club A.S. Roma, and served until 2020. She joined Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden as members of the U.S. delegation to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final in Vancouver, Canada. In 2023, when asked if she would ever consider coaching the U.S. women's national team, Hamm said she lacks the patience and "bandwidth" for the job.

Hamm is the author of the national bestselling book Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life, and the juvenile fiction book Winners Never Quit. She is a global ambassador for FC Barcelona.

In popular culture

Hamm has been featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated and People. She has made appearances on numerous television shows, including Late Night with David Letterman, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Today, Good Morning America, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. She was profiled in ESPN's SportsCentury and Biography documentaries and ESPN 25: Who's #1?. She was also featured in the documentaries Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team (2005), and in Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (2006). Her likeness was used in the logo of Women's Professional Soccer, the second women's professional soccer league in the United States.

In 2000, the video game Mia Hamm Soccer 64 was released for Nintendo 64. It was the first game to feature only female players, and sold 42,886 copies in the United States.

Personal life Hamm was first married to her college sweetheart Christian Corry, a United States Marine Corps helicopter pilot; they divorced in 2001 after six years of marriage. On November 22, 2003, she married Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in Goleta, California, in a ceremony attended by a few hundred guests. On March 27, 2007, Hamm gave birth to twin girls. The couple had a son in January 2012.

Career statistics

International goals

Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hamm goal. + List of international goals scored by Mia Hamm

Winnipeg, Canada

Friendly

Winnipeg, Canada

Friendly

Varna, Bulgaria

Friendly

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

1991 CONCACAF Women's Championship

Vianen, Netherlands

Friendly

Yanji, China

Friendly

Guangzhou, China

1991 FIFA Women's World Cup

Guangzhou, China

1991 FIFA Women's World Cup

Medford, United States

Friendly

Agia, Cyprus

Friendly

Columbus, United States

Friendly

Hamilton, Canada

Friendly

Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal

1994 Algarve Cup

Fairfax, United States

Friendly

Montreal, Canada

1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship

Montreal, Canada

1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship

Faro, Portugal

1995 Algarve Cup

Strasbourg, France

Friendly

Davidson, United States

Friendly

Gävle, Sweden

1995 FIFA Women's World Cup

Gävle, Sweden

1995 FIFA Women's World Cup

Washington, D.C., United States

1995 Women's U.S. Cup

Campinas, Brazil

Friendly

Tampa, United States

Friendly

San Antonio, United States

Friendly

Decatur, United States

Friendly

Orlando, United States

1996 Summer Olympics

Melbourne, Australia

Friendly

Portland, United States

Friendly

Washington, D.C., United States

1997 Women's U.S. Cup

Taubaté, Brazil

Friendly

Guangzhou, China

1998 Four Nations Tournament

Orlando, United States

Friendly

Fort Lauderdale, United States

Friendly

Tampa, United States

Friendly

Atlanta, United States

Friendly

Milwaukee, United States

Friendly

Chicago, United States

Friendly

Orlando, United States

Friendly

Portland, United States

Friendly

East Rutherford, United States

1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

Chicago, United States

1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

Columbus, United States

Friendly

Fort Lauderdale, United States

Friendly

Lagos, Portugal

2000 Algarve Cup

Davidson, United States

Friendly

Portland, United States

2000 Women's U.S. Cup

Louisville, United States

2000 CONCACAF Women's Championship

Göttingen, Germany

Friendly

Annapolis, United States

Friendly

Melbourne, Australia

2000 Summer Olympics

Canberra, Australia

2000 Summer Olympics

Blaine, United States

Friendly

Pasadena, United States

2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup

Charleston, United States

Friendly

Loulé, Portugal

2003 Algarve Cup

Birmingham, United States

Friendly

Salt Lake City, United States

Friendly

Carson, United States

Friendly

San Jose, United States

Friendly

Ferreiras, Portugal

2004 Algarve Cup

Birmingham, United States

Friendly

Albuquerque, United States

Friendly

Blaine, United States

Friendly

Hartford, United States

Friendly

Heraklio, Greece

2004 Summer Olympics

Thessaloniki, Greece

2004 Summer Olympics

Rochester, United States

Friendly

Cincinnati, United States

Friendly

East Rutherford, United States

Friendly 2x ACC Female Athlete of the Year: 1993, 1994 2x Honda Sports Award: 1993, 1994 Honda-Broderick Cup: 1994 3x All-American 3x ACC Player of the Year

Washington Freedom WUSA Founder's Cup champion: 2003

United States

2x FIFA Women's World Cup champion: 1991, 1999 2x FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 1995, 2003 2x Olympic gold medalist: 1996, 2004 Olympic silver medalist: 2000 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year: 2001, 2002

Halls of Fame Alabama Sports Hall of Fame: 2006 National Soccer Hall of Fame: 2007 Texas Sports Hall of Fame: 2008 2013 National Women's Hall of Fame: 2021

Other honors 5x U.S. Female Soccer Player of the Year: 1994–1998 2x Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year: 1997, 1999 2x ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete: 1998, 2000 3x ESPY Award for Best Soccer Player: 2000, 2001, 2005 Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, Princeton University: 2006 ESPN Greatest Female Athlete: 2012 USWNT All-Time Best XI: 2013 Golden Foot Legends Award: 2014 ESPNW Impact 25: 2014