Hamm, Mia (1972-…), an American soccer star, became perhaps the best all-around female soccer player in the world. She ranks as the world’s leading goal scorer in international competition, male or female. Hamm helped the United States to World Cup victories in 1991 and 1999 and starred on the teams that won gold medals for the United States in the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games. In addition to international competition, Hamm played professional soccer in the United States. She retired as a player in 2004.
Hamm has been one of the individuals most responsible for spreading the popularity of women’s soccer in the United States. Her skill, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit have made her a role model for young female athletes and one of the best-known female athletes in the world.
Mariel Margaret Hamm was born on March 17, 1972, in Selma, Alabama. Hamm attended the University of North Carolina from 1989 to 1994, graduating with a B.A. in political science. While at North Carolina, she led the school to four National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in soccer.
In 1999, Hamm formed the Mia Hamm Foundation, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for research for bone marrow diseases. Her brother had died of a bone disease in 1997. The foundation also encourages young female athletes. In 2003, Hamm married American baseball star Nomar Garciaparra.
