Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is an American former professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. Hailed as a soccer icon, she played as a forward for the United States national team from 1987 to 2004. Hamm was the face of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first professional women's soccer league in the United States, where she played for the Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and helped the team win four NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship titles.
The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's international governing body. The competition has been held every four years and one year after the men's FIFA World Cup since 1991, when the inaugural tournament, then called the FIFA Women's World Championship, was held in China. Under the tournament's current format, national teams vie for the remaining 31 slots in a three-year qualification phase. The host nation's team is automatically entered as the first slot. The tournament, called the World Cup Finals, is contested at venues within the host nation(s) over about one month.
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is an American former professional soccer player. She was a member of the United States women's national team for 23 years and is the most-capped football player in the history of the sport, gaining her 354th and final cap against Mexico in a World Cup qualifier in November 2010. Lilly scored 130 international goals for the US national team, making her the team's fourth-highest goal scorer behind Carli Lloyd's 134, Mia Hamm's 158 goals, and Abby Wambach's 184.
The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) represents the United States of America in international women's soccer. The team is governed by United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF.
The Germany women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football. The team is governed by the German Football Association (DFB).
Pia Mariane Sundhage is a Swedish football manager and former professional player. Currently, she is coaching Switzerland. As a player, Sundhage played most of her career as a forward and retired as the top scorer for the Sweden national team.
The Italy women's national football team has represented Italy in international women's football since their inception in 1968. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the governing body for football in Italy.
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international football, and is controlled by the Norwegian Football Federation. The team is former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams. However, the team has endured less success since the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Carin Leslie Jennings-Gabarra is an American retired soccer forward. She earned 117 caps with the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 to 1996 and was awarded the Golden Ball Award as the best player at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2000, she was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She currently coaches women's soccer at the United States Naval Academy.
The Spain women's national football team, officially known as the Spain national football team, has represented Spain in international women's football competitions since 1980. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.
Åsa Nilla Maria Fischer is a Swedish former footballer. Her last club was Linköpings FC. She played in the Swedish national team between 2001 and 2022. She was previously the captain of FC Rosengård. On 27 December 2022, she decided to retire.
Bente Dalum Nordby is a former Norwegian football goalkeeper. She played with the Norway women's national football team from 1991 to 2007.
Gro Espeseth is a former Norwegian footballer, world champion and olympic champion.
Agnete Synnøve Carlsen is a former Norwegian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. With the Norway women's national team, Carlsen won the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup and an Olympic bronze medal in 1996. At club level Carlsen played for SK Sprint-Jeløy in Norway, then joined Japanese L. League team Nikko Securities Dream Ladies on a professional contract.
Jenny Lynn Bindon is an American-born association football coach and former goalkeeper who represented New Zealand at international level. She played 77 full internationals in between 2004 and 2010. She is currently an assistant coach of the London City Lionesses.
Pauline Cope, whose married name is Pauline Cope-Boanas, is an English former football goalkeeper. She won 60 caps for the England women's national football team between her debut in 1995 and retirement from international football in 2004. Cope was England's first choice goalkeeper at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2001. Ted Copeland, England's coach at the former competition, described Cope as the best female goalkeeper in the world.
Gaëlle Thalmann is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Spanish Liga F club Real Betis and the Switzerland national team.
Federica D'Astolfo is an Italian football coach and former midfielder. She played for Italy at the 1991 and 1999 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Active at club level from 1978 to 2006, she won five women's Serie A winner's medals and one Coppa Italia winner's medal.
Stefania Antonini is an Italian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the Italy women's national football team. She was the national team's first choice goalkeeper at the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. At club level she collected five women's Serie A winner's medals and three Coppa Italia winner's medals.
Paola Bonato is an Italian footballer who played as a defender for the Italy women's national football team. She accrued 71 caps between 1983 and 1991, and was part of the team at four editions of the UEFA Women's Championship and at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. In a 19-year career at club level she won seven Serie A winner's medals and three Coppa Italia winner's medals, while playing for Trani, Lazio and Reggiana.
