10 Best American Female Soccer Players Of All Time

Just like every country has the best female soccer players, America is not an exception to this achievement.

The American female soccer players have been known for a while now due to the awards they have been winning during FIFA World Cup competitions and in this article, I will be sharing with you, the 10 best female American soccer players of all time –

1. Hope Solo

hope solo

  • Date of Birth: 30 July 1981 (41 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Goalkeeper
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team
  • TV shows: Dancing with the Stars
  • Height: 1.75 m
  • Partner: Jerramy Stevens (2012)
  • Children: Lozen Orianna, Judith Stevens, Vittorio Genghis Stevens
  • Siblings: Teresa Obert, Marcus Solo

Hope Solo is a former and one of the biggest goalkeepers of all time in America. In 1999, Hope Solo left her hometown, Seattle, Washington to play college basketball for the University of Washington Huskies which she never thought about going back for once.

In the 2008 Olympics, she made her debut, showcasing impressive performances that helped the United States lift the 2008 Olympics.

Many other achievements have her name attached to them such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, two Olympic gold medals, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Glove on two separate occasions.

Moreover, it is regarded that when the United States won the World Cup in her time, she was a key factor in the project.

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2. Julie Foudy

julie foudy

  • Date of Birth: 23 January 1971 (52 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Club: United States Women’s National Team
  • Teammates: Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers
  • Height: 1.68 m
  • Partner: Ian Sawyers (1995)
  • Parents: Jim Foudy, Judy Foudy
  • Children: Isabel Ann Sawyers

As a notable midfielder for the United States Women’s National Team, Julie Foudy ranks among soccer all-time Icons.

She was the first woman from the United States to win the FIFA Fair Play Award. She had many FIFA World Cup records to her name and still maintained most of those achievements even while she retired from football.

Julie is a two-time winner of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding to her two Olympic gold medals, and was regarded as the best soccer player in Soccer America.

3. Alex Morgan

alex morgan

  • Date of Birth: 2 July 1989 (33 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team
  • Awards: Best Female Athlete ESPY Award, U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year
  • Height: 1.7m
  • Partner: Servando Carrasco (2014)
  • Children: Charlie Elena Carrasco

As of 2015 of active playing soccer, Alex Morgan was earning 450,000 USD from soccer as her weekly salary.

After playing her first 10 games for the United States at the International level, she bagged the net 11 times which was considered a great display from her.

However, due to pregnancy-related, Alex Morgan paused her soccer-related profession, and after giving birth to her first child in May of 2020, she decided to return to the NWSL and signed with San Diego where she continued to shine all through.

The 32-year-old, Alex Morgan has scored goals against the North Carolina Courage, the Chicago Red Stars, and the OL Reign, in addition to four goals against Gotham and two goals against Kansas City.

What boosted her record notes is her scoring streak.

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4. Christie Rampone

christie rampone

  • Date of Birth: 24 June 1975 (47 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Defender
  • Club: United States Women’s Soccer National Team
  • Teams Joined: 2013 (NJ/NY Gotham FC), 2011 (magicJack), 2009 (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
  • Career End: 2017
  • Weight: 64 kg
  • Partner: Chris Rampone (2001–2017)
  • Children: Rylie Cate Rampone
  • Siblings: Wendi Pearce Yocum

Without listing Christie Pearce Rampone as one of the most iconic players in international soccer, then you might be missing it all.

Before retiring in 2017 to become a television commentator for FOX Sports, she earned 311 international appearances for the United States National Women’s National Soccer team, with Kristine Lilly, her old teammate, having broken that record.

She has been seen in four Olympic Games and four World Cup finals, leading the United States to gold medal victories in Beijing in 2008 and also in London.

In 1999 she won the World Cup in the United States but came out unlucky in 2011 although she took her country to the second position.

Christie Pearce Rampone who was a defender rarely scored goals in her soccer career but was able to bag four goals in 311 appearances for her country, the United States. Her main duty was to protect her side from conceding goals.

5. Carli Lloyd

carli lloyd

  • Date of Birth: 16 July 1982 (40 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: (Manchester City W.F.C.) 2017, (Houston Dash) 2015
  • Awards: The Best FIFA Women’s Player, FIFA World Player of the Year
  • Teammates: Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Christen Press
  • Height: 1.7 m
  • Partner: Brian Hollins (2016)

One of the most decorated American soccer players is Carli Loyd who has been awarded FIFA player of the Year twice during her active days.

Currently, Lloyd is ranked second in the world for most-ever International appearances after representing her country in 315 games throughout her career.

In 2008 and 2012, Lloyd won the Olympic hero after scoring game-winning goals in the two years. Also, she captained her team to the World Cup victory in Canada.

In the World Cup against Japan in Canada, she scored a hat trick and had a total of six goals in that tournament.

She ranks third all-time in U.S. women’s team history with 134 goals due to her achievements.

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6. Megan Rapinoe

megan rapinoe

  • Date of Birth: 5 July 1985 (37 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team
  • Teammates: Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath
  • Height: 1.68
  • Partner: Sue Bird (2017)
  • Parents: Denise Rapinoe, Jim Rapinoe
  • Siblings: Rachael Rapinoe, and Brian Rapinoe

Another best female American Soccer player of all time is Megan Anna Rapinoe who played as a forward (winger) and was the captain of the OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Megan began her soccer career as a professional in 2002 in which she spent her first three seasons with Elk Grove Pride. Moreover, she sailed through her career with the Portland Pilots until 2008.

In her time, she played for a total of nine different clubs and won trophies at each of the clubs she stopped including the FIFA’s Women’s World Cup and the Division 1 Feminine with Lyon.

On the international stage, she appeared 150 times and bagged 50 goals

As the co-captain of the winning team at the World Cup that was held in France, she previously led her team to victory at the 2015 tournament and also the 2012 Olympic games that were held in London.

7. Mia Hamm

mia hamm

  • Date of Birth: 17 March 1972 (50 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team
  • Awards: Best Female Soccer Player ESPY Award, Best Female Athlete ESPY Award
  • Height: 1.65 m
  • Partner: Christian Corry (1994–2002), Nomar Garciaparra (2003)
  • Children: Garrett Garciaparra, Grace Isabella Garciaparra, Ava Caroline Garciaparra

Mia Hamm represented the United States in five World Cups and won the Women’s World Cup player of the Year Ward five consecutive times.

She is considered second all-time in assists and third all-time in career caps.

She was reportedly the youngest member of the United States Women’s National Team at the age of 15. Compared to other female footballers, the player has been decorated with different individual awards such as FIFA World Player of the Year twice, winning the Women’s World Cup twice, and winning an Olympic gold medal.

Until Abby Wambach surpassed the record, Mia Hamm had scored 158 goals in 276 games for the national team.

8. Michelle Akers

  • Date of Birth: 1 February 1966 (57 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team
  • Teammates: Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Briana Scurry, Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly
  • Career End: 2000
  • Height: 1.77 m
  • Partner: Roby Stahl (1990 – 1994), Steve Eichenblatt (2003 – 2007)
  • Children: Cody
  • Parents: Robert Akers, Anne Akers

Having played from 1985 to 2000, Michelle Akers is underappreciated by a lot of fans. Well, that is notwithstanding that she was one of two women nominated on Pele’s list of the best 100 living players in 2004.

Of all the players that played under former USA coach, Tony DiCicco, Akers is regarded as the finest woman. She won FIFA player of the century in 2000 and was regarded as the world’s top player throughout her 15 years of international career.

In 1998, she received FIFA’s highest distinction, the FIFA Order of Merit, for her worldwide contributions to the sport, having been the only woman to have received this honor.

But then, Injury could not let Akers sail through her beauty and promising soccer career. She retired from the national team before the 2000 Olympics was hosted, and scored 105 goals in 153 appearances before she announced her retirement from football.

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9. Mary Abigail Wambach

mary abigail wambach

  • Date of Birth: 2 June 1980 (42 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (Number 20)
  • Awards: FIFA World Player of the Year, ESPY Icon Award, Best Play ESPY Award
  • Career End: 2015
  • Height: 1.8 m
  • Partner: Sarah Huffman (2013 – 2016), Glennon Doyle (2017)
  • Siblings: Laura Wambach, Andrew Wambach, Peter Wambach, Beth Wambach

As a football Icon, Mary Abigail Wambach finished her International career after bagging 184 goals, getting her on the list of top scorers in international soccer which is more than any man or woman combined.

Abby Wambach’s appearance in a huge number of games did not stop the forward from bagging even more goals.

She averaged 0.72 goals per game which are incredible for a soccer player with a large number of appearances. Due to scoring goals, she was named the United States Women’s Player of the Year six times and was regarded as FIFA’s Women’s World Player of 2012.

The player was recognized during her time as a striker, but she had techniques that made her a good midfielder also.

Other than that, Mary also played for Western New York Flash, MagicJack, and Washington Freedom, and won an Olympic medal to her name, having won FIFA’s Women’s World Player award twice.

10. Kristine Lilly

  • Date of Birth: 22 July 1971 (51 years of age)
  • Nationality: American
  • Position: Forward & Midfielder
  • Club: The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (Number: 13)
  • Career End: 2011
  • Hall of Fame Induction: 2014
  • Height: 1.63 m
  • Partner: David Heavey (from 2006)

Being the only individual in Women’s soccer history to have appeared in the FIFA Women’s World Cup five times, is a very big achievement for Kristine Lilly although she could not bag more individual awards in her time.

Lilly is also considered the youngest and oldest player to score a goal for the United States in her entire career.

She played a very important role in her football career, playing as a forward and a midfielder in three participating Olympic games in which she won three medals out of the three games.

The former United States Women’s National Soccer Team player holds the record for international appearances, 354, in which she received an award known as the Moniker, “Queen of Caps.” She bagged the US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year award thrice in her career before retiring at the age of 39.

Final Words

In this article, we have provided you with information on the 10 best American Female Soccer players of all time. Do well to leverage this information and share.