Mia Hamm Game Quotations

This is the last time I will get to play with this group of players. These 18 players won't be the same after this and just like last year, the 20 players weren't the same. Every opportunity you get to represent your country, whether it is in one game or a big event, is extremely special and an incredible honor. This tournament is no different. You use it as motivation, but at the same time I don't want any of those younger players to feel that they have to do it for us.

Focus on what you know you can do. Know what you're capable of on any given day, and what you can count on. Do the simple things well, and then use the confidence to build up the rest of your game. Learn to differentiate between what is truly important and what can be dealt with at another time.

After each game, I want to be able to say: I gave it all I could, I gave it my best.

I'm not someone who goes around the locker room before a game trying to motivate my teammates. I don't say a lot before the game. I don't say a lot in general. It takes too much energy to do that.

I play for the intense challenges that the game on the highest levels present. The whole team enjoys playng exciting soccer for the fans and my part in that makes me feel good about myself. The whole concept of teamwork is what keeps us all going. It's my role to create scoring chances, and to come through for my teammates is extremely satisfying.

We play because we love the game, we love each other, and we love to win.

I was this shy, introverted kid and through the game and through athletics I was able to gain a lot more confidence and express myself on the field. It is about enjoying themselves and that's what I could tell about all of these girls. They played hard, respected the game and just had fun doing it.

To me, one of the reasons we were so successful was that we respected and cared about the game and felt the same way about each other, ... (Teammates) always understood there was a greater purpose. That the opportunity to play was extremely special, and let's try to make sure as many young girls have that opportunity.

I've enjoyed every minute of it and to be able to do it as long as I've had, I've had a lot of support from my family. The game has yet to see so much more growth.