UNC women’s soccer legend Mia Hamm was recognized Thursday by the NCAA as the winner of its prestigious Silver Anniversary Award for 2019.

The award has been given out annually since 1973 to honor six distinguished former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of their college graduations.

Nominees must be a college graduate and a varsity letter-winner at an NCAA member institution and must have achieved personal distinction since his or her graduation.

Hamm is widely considered to be the greatest women’s soccer player of all-time, having competed in four World Cups for the U.S. National Team and winning four. Her 158 goals are the most in national team history.

She was named FIFA’s World Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002.

“Mia’s extraordinary exploits on the field are well documented and legendary but she is so much deeper than her athletic resume,” UNC coach Anson Dorrance said. “Mia represented the best of selflessness and team above individual.  She is so deserving of this honor.”

Others receiving the Silver Anniversary Award in 2019 include: fencer Tim Cullen of Air Force, wrestler David Hirsch of Cornell, basketball player Lisa Leslie of USC, football player Heath Shuler of Tennessee and baseball player Jason Varitek of Georgia Tech.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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