At 19, Mia Hamm led the U.S. victory in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991. Until 2013, Hamm was the women's national team leader in goals and assists. In her esteemed career, Hamm won four NCAA National Championships, two FIFA World Cups and three Olympic medals.
There may not be a better player than Mia Hamm, but there sure are some great ones who have played on the pitch.
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Abby Wambach: US's leading goal scorer
Abby Wambach will eventually retire as one of the best soccer players, male or female, ever. The two-time Olympic gold medalist's 184 international goals is the most all-time for the national team. Wambach was named the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year award, the first time an American woman won the honor in over a decade.
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Marta: Most goals scored in women's World Cup
At 29, Marta is already recognized as one of the soccer greats. In Brazil's first match at the 2015 Women's World Cup, Marta scored her 15th career goal at the tournament, passing Birgit Prinz for first all time. She's won two Olympic silver medals, and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year five seasons in a row (2006-2010).
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Christine Sinclair: 12-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year
A 12-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year, Christine Sinclair is one of the most decorated athletes in the country's history. Her 155 international goals places her third all-time behind Hamm and Wambach.
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Hope Solo: Most wins by a US goalkeeper
Hope Solo is one of the best goalkeepers the women's national team has ever had. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has set multiple records since 2000. Her 136 wins, 89 shutouts and 56-game undefeated streak are the most ever by a U.S. goalie.
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Birgit Prinz: 3-time World Player of the Year
Birgit Prinz is one of the best goal scorers in women's soccer history. Before being topped by Marta, Prinz held the record with most goals scored in a Women's World Cup with 14. The German soccer star won the FIFA World Player of the Year from 2003 to 2005.
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Homare Sawa: 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year
Led by the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year in 2011, Japan pulled off the unlikely upset of the U.S. Women's National Team at the FIFA World Cup. Homare Sawa leads Japan with 201 caps, and in her first game for Japan she netted four goals.
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Kristine Lilly: Most capped player ever
Kristine Lilly was a model of consistency in her 24 years on the women's national team. Lilly's 130 goals are the third highest in the women's national team's history. She's also the most-capped player, male or female, in the sport with 352 appearances.
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Tiffeny Milbrett: Scored game-winning goal in the Olympics
Tiffeny Milbrett is one of the most clutch strikers in the U.S. Women's National Team's history. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Milbrett scored the game-winning goal against China to secure the gold medal. Three years later, Milbrett led the U.S. in scoring on its way to winning the 1999 Women's World Cup.
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Cristiane: Two Olympic hat tricks
Overshadowed by her Brazilian teammate Marta, Cristiane is pretty darn good, too. She helped lead the Brazilian national team to silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Cristiane is one of three women to score a hat trick in the Olympics, and she did it twice!
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Nadine Angerer: First goalkeeper to win World Player of the Year
Along with Hope Solo, Nadine Angerer is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She was in net for Germany's 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup championships. Her 2007 World Cup was highlighted by stopping Marta's penalty kick in the final round. In 2014, Angerer became the first goalkeeper - male or female - to be named FIFA World Player of the Year.
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Sun Wen: Co-FIFA Female Player of the Century
Sun Wen is simply the best women's soccer player in China's history. The former team captain was named co-FIFA Female Player of the Century, along with Michelle Akers. At the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, Sun Wen won both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
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Michelle Akers: Co-FIFA Female Player of the Century
Michelle Akers was a mainstay behind the U.S. women's FIFA World Cup wins in 1991 and 1999. In '91, Akers won the Golden Boot for leading the tournament in goals. She shared the FIFA Female Player of the Century award with Sun Wen.
