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. 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 in 1997|Hamm during a match against
Germany, 1997 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. 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==