Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm is widely considered the greatest female soccer player in history and one of the most important figures in growing women’s sports in the United States. Born at a military base in Selma, Alabama, Hamm’s family moved frequently during her childhood due to her father’s Air Force career. She became the youngest player ever to join the US Women’s National Team at age 15, beginning a career that would span nearly two decades and transform women’s soccer globally.

Hamm was a central figure in the US Women’s National Team dynasty that dominated international soccer through the 1990s and early 2000s. She won two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999, with the 1999 tournament becoming a watershed moment for women’s sports in America. She also won two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, and held the record for most international goals scored by any player, male or female, with 158 goals until her record was broken in 2013.

Beyond her playing achievements, Hamm was instrumental in establishing professional women’s soccer in the United States. She played in the WUSA and later became an owner in the National Women’s Soccer League. Her advocacy for women’s sports and equal pay helped pave the way for future generations of female athletes. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007 and the FIFA Hall of Fame.

After retiring from playing in 2004, Hamm has remained active in soccer as a co-owner of LAFC in Major League Soccer and through her philanthropic work with the Mia Hamm Foundation, which supports bone marrow transplant research and programs for young women in sports. She is married to former MLB star Nomar Garciaparra. Her endorsement deals during her playing career with Nike, Gatorade, and other brands were groundbreaking for women’s sports, and her continued business ventures and ownership stakes contribute to her estimated $10 million net worth.