dramaturgy
THE WOLVES
Iconic Women in Soccer
Women who made their mark on the game, competed at the international level, and inspired a generation of soccer players.
MIA
HAMM
Competed with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team for 17 years
Led team to victory in the 1991 (when she was only 19) and 1999 World Cups as well as the 1996 and 2004 Olympics
Named FIFA’s Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002
Led the UNC Chapel Hill team to four consecutive NCAA Championships
In 2004 she was named as one of the “125 Greatest Living Soccer Players” with teammate Michelle Akers, making them the only women and only Americans to make the list that year
Founded the Mia Hamm Foundation dedicated to bone marrow research after her brother’s death
Held the title for all time top scorer until 2013
Named Soccer USA’s “Female Athlete of the Year” five years in a row (1994-1998)
MARTA VIERIA DA SILVA
Named FIFA Player of the Year from 2006-2010
Holds the record for most goals scored in World Cups at 15 goals
Trained with the Vasco de Gama women’s club at age 14
Moved to Sweden to join Umea IK at age 17
Led Brazil to silver medals in 2004 and 2008
Won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards in the 2007 World Cup
Played for the Women’s professional Soccer league and earned MVP honors in 2009 and 2010
Has been an outspoken advocate for women’s advancement in the world of soccer
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
Competed in the Algarve Cup at the age of 16 when she scored her first international goal, and has since scored more than 160 career goals.
Scored six of 12 total goals for Canada in the 2012 London Olympics
Was the first soccer player to win the Lou Marsh Award as Canadian Athlete of the Year
Inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2013
Won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the 2002 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Edmonton
Canada Soccer’s female Player of the Year from 2004 to 2014
Nominated for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year eight times
HOMARE SAWA
Played in Japan’s first division when she was 15 and scored four goals against the Philippines
First World Cup in 1995, then again in 2011 when she scored five goals. As the teams top scored and top player, she won the Golden Boot and Golden ball
Won gold in the Asian Games in 2010
Won silver in the 2012 London Olympics and gold in the 2014 Asian Games
Retired after the Japanese team lost in the finals to the U.S. in the 2015 World Cup
Ended her career with 205 international appearances in games and 83 international goals, both records for Japan
CRISTIANE
ROZEIRA
Debuted for Brazil at age 15
Competed in her first Olympics at age 18
Competed in the 2002 World Cup
Won the silver medal in the 2004 Olympics
Played in Sweden, USA, Germany, Russia, Korea, and Brazil
Currently has 109 international caps and 75 international goals
Holds title of all-time leading goalscorer at Olympic Football tournaments, in both men’s and women’s events
Plans to continue her career by coaching youth teams
ABBY WAMBACH
Holds all-time international record for most game appearances (254) and goals scored (184)
Holds record for most goals (96), assists (49), game-winning goals (24), and hat tricks (10) performed in her college career at University of Florida
Two Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2012
One World Cup title in 2015
The fourth of a total six players to ever score five goals in one game in a 5-0 victory over Ireland in 2004
Tied for second most goals scored in the World Cup at 14
27 yellow cards and 0 red cards received
BIRGIT
PRINZ
Led Germany to two World Cup titles and five European Championships
Earned three FIFA Player of the Year titles while playing for FCC Frankfurt
Scored the winning goals for Germany in 1994 and 1995 in the European Championships
Led FCC Frankfurt to win four German Cups
Won the Golden Ball award for her performance in the 2003 World Cup
Scored 128 goals in 214 appearances to claim the national record for Germany
Tied for second most goals scored in the World Cup at 14
RENATE LINGOR
Earned a total of 149 senior caps between 1995 and 2008
Led Germany to World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007
Three-time European Champion
Seven-time German Champion and German Cup winner
Two-time UEFA Cup winner
Two Olympic bronze medals
Spent 11 years with FCC Frankfurt
Currently with the DFB staff where she heads new schools’ football sections
KRISTINE LILLY
A member of the US Women’s National team for 23 years, she holds the record for the most international game appearances
Was the captain of the U.S. Women's National Team from 2005 - 2007
Became a member of the US National Team before completing high school
Played in the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 Women’s World Cups
Played in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic games where she won two Golds and a Silver medal
Earned her 300th cap against Norway in the Four Nations Tournament in China
Was named the U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in for the third time in 2006
BRANDI
CHASTAIN
Played for the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team from 1988 - 2004
Two time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion
Two time Olympic Gold medalist
Earned 192 caps
Scored the winning shootout goal against China in the 1999 World Cup final
Was named to the U.S. WOmen’s National Team All-Time Best IX in 2013
Inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017