Mia Hamm: Class, Grace, Ferocity | OneFootball

Fewer people have had as much influence over women’s soccer in the United States as Mariel Margaret “Mia” Hamm. Today she turns 53 and is just as important now off the pitch, as she was when representing the U.S.A. on it or moving the women’s game forward.

Early Years

Born in Selma, Alabama to a military family, she was first exposed to soccer while living abroad in Italy. Upon returning to the U.S., she kept up with the sport under coaching from her father. At this time, there was no professional league for women’s soccer, so she competed at the club level and high school and was identified as a prospect for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).

She was the youngest player on the USWNT, only 15 years old. Playing as a forward, she saw limited playing time. It took her nearly three years and seventeen games before she scored her first goal, against Norway in 1990.

Hamm’s UNC Career

Hamm attended the University of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (UNC) from 1989 through 1993. She was an immediate impact player. The TarHeels won four of five NCAA titles when she played with the team (she took the 1991 season off to prepare for the Women’s World Cup). Out of 95 games played, she lost only one when she took the field. She won a plethora of NCAA and ACC awards, including the title of the ACC Greatest Athlete alongside TarHeel basketball legend Michael Jordan in 1994. She left UNC with a record 175 contributions (108 goals; 72 assists).

USWNT

Hamm playing for the U.S.A in 1995 (Source)

Hamm represented her country for over 17 years, until her retirement at age 32. She was on the U.S. team that won the inaugural Women’s World Cup hosted by China in 1991, scoring two goals, including the game winner against Sweden in their first match. She would appear in three more World Cup competitions, winning one more time (1999) and coming in third twice (1995, 2003).

Hamm also won two gold medals and a silver medal after women’s soccer was added to the Olympic Games in 1996. She was the U.S.A.’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies in 2004, an honor chosen by her fellow Olympians. She then retired at 32 years old having score 158 goals in 278 games for the USWNT.

Professional Career

Women’s soccer experienced a huge surge in popularity after the 1999 World Cup and this led to the foundation of the Women’s United Soccer Association, the first professional women’s league in the U.S. Hamm was a founding player alongside her other USWNT teammates. She played for the Washington Freedom with fellow forward Abby Wambach. In 2003 Hamm and Wambach’s partnership of 24 goals and 11 assists led the Freedom to the league championship. Alas, it would be the last title as the league suspended operations later that year. Though the league only lasted three years, it laid an essential foundation upon which the current NWSL has been built.

Post-Soccer Exploits

After retirement Hamm wasted no time in getting involved in numerous off-field projects. She had started the Mia Hamm Foundation in 1999 in honor of her brother Garrett, who died from complications of a rare blood disease. The Foundation’s dual mission is to raise awareness and provide support for families seeking bone marrow transplants, and empower women through sport.

Hamm and her husband Nomar Garciaparra are part owners of LAFC and Angel City FC, and she is an ambassador for Barcelona FC. She also sits on the board of directors for AC Roma. She has never stopped advocating for the growth and expansion of women’s soccer. Behind the scenes and on camera as a commentator she works tirelessly to support the game.

Happy Birthday, Mia Hamm! Many happy returns.