Top 10 best footballers in United States women's national soccer team history

The USWNT have dominated women's football

The United States women's national soccer team is the most successful women’s team in the world, as they have managed to dominate the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic women’s soccer event since women’s football became a competitive and attractive Sport.

In six women’s Olympic tournaments, the USWNT have won four of them, and in eight Women’s World Cups, the USWNT have won four. Through their impressive history, world-class players have come and gone from the US women’s national team.

Such success has made the players some of the biggest household names in women’s sports. There are many other legends in the history of U.S. women’s football. Here are the top ten best footballers in USWNT history:

10. Julie Foudy

Foudy was one of the first set of USWNT players and played for the national team for twenty years, amassing 273 caps in an era when female football was taking shape globally. She didn’t miss a game from the 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003 World Cups or the 1996, 2000, or 2004 Olympics.

Foudy was known for her technical skills, vision, and tactical awareness, which allowed her to control the midfield and set up scoring opportunities for her teammates. She was also a fierce competitor, never giving up on a play and always fighting for her team until the final whistle. She served as the team's captain from 2000 to 2004, as well as co-captain from 1991 to 2000.

9. Joy Fawcett

Fawcett played in a tonne of games and logged a tonne of minutes. The defender played every single minute of the 1995, 1999, and 2003 Women’s World Cups. Combine that with her 241 caps, and she made a massive impact on the national squad. Her 27 goals are high among American defenders. Fawcett was a founding member of the WUSA and was elected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009.

8. Hope Solo

Solo is one of the most controversial goalkeepers in women’s soccer, but this doesn’t diminish her status as one of the best. She holds many US Women’s national team records and has won the World Cup once and two Olympic gold medals. She was in the net for a 55-game undefeated streak and was once U.S. Soccer’s Female Athlete of the Year. 202 international appearances is a record that no other goalkeeper, male or female, can claim. Solo also has a record of 102 clean sheets to her name.

7. Carli Lloyd

The midfielder is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 and 2012), a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion (2015 and 2019), and a two-time FIFA Player of the Year (2015 and 2016). She scored 134 goals in 316 appearances for the US women’s national team and won a medal at each women’s World Cup between 2007 and 2019. She was highly regarded for her exceptional control, technical skill, and passing accuracy and was a valuable asset to her team both defensively and offensively.

6. Briana Scurry

Scurry played for the United States of America between 1994 and 2008 and clinched several trophies in that period. She won the World Cup once and Bronze three times, plus three golds and a silver medal at the Olympics. In her career, she notched 71 clean sheets. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on August 3, 2017, becoming the first woman goalkeeper and the first black woman to be awarded the honour.

5. Kristine Lilly

Lilly played for 23 years with the national team, picking up 354 caps. That’s a record for men or women. She had 130 goals and 106 assists in between and remained in the top three of the record goals scored by any USWNT player.

The two-time world champion played at five different FIFA World Cups between 1991 and 2007. She captained the USWNT late in her career before retiring. She is known for being a versatile player who was able to play in multiple positions, such as midfielder or forward. Her longevity is also one of her great qualities, which makes her one of the most incredible US women’s soccer players of all time.

4. Abby Wambach

Few people could score like Wambach, as she finished with 184 goals in international play. That’s not just higher than any woman, but it’s also higher than any man. While she played a tonne of games, Wambach also averaged 0.72 goals per game. That’s an incredible number.

Abby Wambach competed in a total of six international tournaments, including four FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and two Olympic tournaments. Wambach’s height and physique gave her an advantage in the air, and she was celebrated for her ability to score with her head, often producing goals from spectacular diving headers and, on rare occasions, from bicycle kicks.

3. Michelle Akers

Michelle Akers may have retired in the year 2000. Nevertheless, she’s still seen as one of the legacy makers of women’s football and was duly awarded the FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2002. Michelle Akers was known for her physical style of play, which made her nearly impossible to stop on the field. She was a powerful, aggressive player with excellent ball control and technical skills. Her tenacity and determination made her a formidable opponent, and she was often praised for her ability to score goals in crucial moments.

2. Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan may be the new school and also the youngest of all the names on this list, but she has definitely paid her dues and even become a legend before retiring from soccer. Alex Morgan is considered one of the greatest US women's soccer players of all time due to her impressive qualities on and off the field.

She is known for her speed, strength, and agility, which have helped her become one of the leading scorers in soccer. Morgan also possesses excellent ball control skills, making her a formidable opponent for defenders. Morgan is also known for her tactical awareness and ability to read the game. She has a great sense of positioning, which allows her to make quick decisions and capitalise on scoring opportunities.

1. Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm is the second woman with the most international goals behind Abby Wambach and Canadian Christian Sinclair; she ended her career with 158 international goals when she retired in 2004. For years, she was the face of women’s soccer in this country.

She appeared in five World Cups and was named the U.S. Women’s Player of the Year five years in a row. Pele also named her to his FIFA 100. Mia Hamm is widely considered one of the greatest female soccer players of all time, known for her exceptional athleticism, dynamic playing style, and technical abilities as a striker.

Her speed, skill, footwork, and stamina on the field were unmatched, making her a consistent and reliable player. With her excellent dribbling skills and remarkable control, she was admired for her grace, pace, and elegance in possession of the ball.