USWNT top scorers of all time
In the world of international women's football, the United States women's national soccer team is indubitably the most decorated team. Read on to know more about USWNT top scorers of all time.
The
United States women's national soccer team(USWNT team) represents the women of the United States at the national level. This team is under the supervision of the American Football Federation and is the most honorable and successful national women's soccer team in the world in terms of the titles and honors they have won.
The team has won medals in all periods of the history of the Women's World Cups and Olympic games from 1991 to 2015, and was ranked second in the world by FIFA from 2003 to 2009 and ranked No. 1 in the world from 2008 to 2014. This team was selected as the Olympic team in 1997 and 1999.
In the following article, we will briefly review the history of USWNT, then we will provide a list of the
USWNT top scorers of all time
, and then share the personal and professional backgrounds of each of these USWNT leading goal scorers of all time.
Before we get into the list of USWNT leading goal scorers in history, we will have a brief look at the history, foundation and honors of USWNT.
Women's soccer has grown in popularity across the United States since Article 9 was introduced in 1972 as part of an educational reform amendment to eliminate gender discrimination in federally funded programs.
The Football Association of America has selected a team of student players to participate in the Mundialito tournament in Italy. The team finished fourth in its first appearance in international football competitions, after Italy, Denmark, and England teams.
In the next round of the Mundialito tournament, the American team reached the final and after losing to Italy, became the runner-up in this competition, and this was the beginning of the progress of women's football in the United States.
Since then, the United States women's national team has competed in almost every international competition, including the World Cups, CONCACAF competitions and the Olympic Games, and is the proudest and most successful national women's soccer team in the world, winning various titles and honors.
The American Women's National Football League, which began in 2013, helped improve the performance of the national team by having tough competition and providing opportunities for players who were on the margins of the national team roster.
The USWNT holds the record for a 43-match unbeaten run over two years, becoming the first women's soccer team in history to win three FIFA Women's World Cup titles. They also have recorded the fastest hat-trick in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 16 minutes. USWNT was also the first women's team to be welcomed into the White House by President Barack Obama.
The 1999 Women's World Cup final against the United States broke the record for the largest number of spectators in women's sports with 90,185 tickets sold at Rose Bull Stadium in Southern California.
In recent years, players on the U.S. women's national soccer team have begun legal battles with the U.S. Football Federation against gender discrimination, specifically for equal pay for men.
These players point to their low wages compared to the US men's national team, despite the greater success of women compared to the men's team. For example, the men's team received a $ 9 million prize for qualifying for the round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the US women's national football team received only $ 2 million despite winning the 2015 Women's FIFA World Cup.
Although these legal battles have yielded positive results so far, the conditions of the US women's national team have not yet achieved the same privileges and opportunities as the men's team, and these battles continue.
Of the total of 8 Women's World Cup tournaments- the first one in 1991- the USWNT has won 4 titles (including the first one in 1991 and the last one so far in 2019, as well as 1999 and 2015). They finished the 2011 World Cup runner-ups, and paced 3rd in the other 3 World Cups, meaning they have always reached the semi-finals.
Moreover, the United States women's national team has achieved 4 Olympics gold medals, in addition to winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup on 8 occasions. From 1991 to 2015, they placed among the top 3 teams in each of the tournaments –Olympics or Women's World Cup- they competed in.
FIFA national team rankings were established in 2003, and USWNT has been ranked 1st for a total of 13 years. Only one other team,
Germany, has been able to take their place at the top of the ranking, by standing 1st for a total of four and a half years. The USWNT has never been ranked lower than 2nd, which is an astonishing record.
Although the Unites States men's soccer team has not been successful in being regarded as one of the prominent national teams in the world, the USWNT has completely compensated for this matter by unquestionably being the best team in the world, alongside having the best women soccer players.
The mentioned achievements would not have been possible without the numerous great players who represented their national team.
USWNT top scorers of all time
In the following article, we mainly focus on the USWNT top scorers of all time, who played the vital roles in the United States women's national team triumphs over the years.
Christen Press (60)
Full name: Christen Annemarie Press
Date of birth: December 29, 1988 (age 33)
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, US
Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s): Forward
stands 9th (jointly with Shannon MacMillan) in the list of USWNT leading goal scorers of all time by scoring 60 goals in 142 appearances.
She made her debut for the USWNT in 2013, and has been a pivotal player in the squad ever since. With her in the squad, the team has won 2 women's World Cups in 2915 and 2019 and 2 COANCACAF Women's Championships, as well as some other less-major titles such as the Algarve Cup in 2013 and 2015, and CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016 and 2020.
Regarded as one of the USWNT leading goal scorers in history, Press, who is currently playing for
Manchester Unitedin English FA Women's Super League, has played for many clubs throughout her career.
After leaving Pali Blues in 2010, she went on to represent magicJack in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), the Swedish Clubs Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC and Tyreso FF as well as playing for
Chicago Red Starsand
Utah Royals FCin National Women's Soccer League.
Furthermore, she won the Swedish Cup with Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC in 2012, and reached the final match of the UEFA Champions League with Tyreso FF in 2014.
Speaking of individual achievements, Press won the soccer America Player of the Year award and the Hermann Trophy in 2010, and was named the WPS Rookie of the year in 2011. Moreover, she became the first American to win the Damallssvenskan (the Swedish League) Golden Boot, by being crowned the league's top scorer with 23 goals in 2013.
In addition, she has been named in the National Women's Soccer League's best XI on 4 occasions, and has won the player of the month award twice. She also achieved the 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament's Golden Ball, and was listed in the team of the tournament. The title was won by the USWNT as they had won the previous one in 2016 as well.
Although she is the 9th player in the list of the
USWNT top scorers of all time
, she has the chance to lift her name since she is still an active player.
Shannon MacMillan (60)
Full name: Shannon Ann MacMillan
Date of birth: October 7, 1974 (age 47)
Place of birth: Syosset, New York, U.S.
Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position(s): midfielder/forward
Shannon Ann MacMillan, born October 7, 1974, is an American retired soccer player, coach, FIFA Women's World Cup champion, Olympic gold and silver medalist.
Named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year for 2002, MacMillan played for the United States women's national soccer team from 1994 to 2006 and was part of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup-winning team.
MacMillan jointly stands 9th on the list of USWNT all-time top scorer alongside Christen Press. However, she is on thin ice and is highly likely to lose her place in the ranking as she is retired, whereas Christen Press, who is still an active player, is in a great form and will probably surpass MacMillan in near future.
She has featured in 176 games for the USWNT from 1994 to 2006, and helped them to the conquest of 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, the 1996 Olympics Gold Medal and Olympics Silver Medal in 2000.
Regarded as one of the
United States women's national soccer top scorers of all time
, she won the Hermann Trophy in 1995, and was voted the U.S.
Soccer athlete of the year in 2002. Moreover, MacMillan was one of the 20 founding players of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) and is an inductee to Oregon Sports and the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She played for the San Diego Spirit team for 3 years.
Cindy Parlow (75)
Full name: Cynthia Marie Parlow Cone
Date of birth: May 8, 1978 (age 43)
Place of birth: Memphis, Tennessee
Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s): Midfielder
Cynthia Marie Parlow Cone, born May 8, 1978, née Cynthia Parlow, is an American soccer executive and president of the United States Soccer Federation.
With 75 goals, Parlow stands 8th in the ranking of USWNT top scorers of all time. She has made 158 appearances within 11 years from 1995 to 2006 for her country's national team.
Parlow was a part of the squad that won the 1996 and 2004 Olympics Gold Medal, as well as achieving the Olympics Silver Medal in 2000. Moreover, she helped the USWNT win the 1999 Women's World Cup, and taken part in the 2003 World Cup where they finished 3rd and won the Bronze Medal.
Furthermore, she was among the 20 players who founded the WUSA, and has been the president of the United States Soccer Federation since 2020.
Parlow has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's soccer Player in 1998, and Female Athlete of the year in 1999, in addition to being a member of National Soccer Hall of Fame. Moreover, she won the Hermann Trophy for 2 consecutive years in 1997 and 1998.
Tiffeny Milbrett (100)
Full name: Tiffeny Carleen Milbrett
Date of birth: October 23, 1972 (age 49)
Place of birth: Portland, Oregon, United States
Height: 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s): Forward
Tifenny Carleen Milbrett is the 7th player in the list of USWNT top goal scorers ever with 100 goals. For the years between 1991 and 2006, Milbrett was a vital part of the squad and appeared in a total of 206 matches. With 64 assists provided, Milbrett stands 5th in the ranking of top assist providers in the national team's history.
She was a part of the squad which finished the 1995 and 2003 Women's World Cups in the third place, and was the U.S national team's top scorer that won the World Cup in 1999.
Moreover, she has taken part in 2 Olympics, earning the Gold Medal in 1996 in Atlanta and Bronze Medal in 2000 in Sydney. She has won 28 caps in total in all of the 5 major tournaments mentioned, and has scored 12 goals.
Milbrett made his career debut for a Japanese club named Shiroki Serena, and went on to play for the New York Power, where she became a founding player of the team in the WUSA. She was named the League's MVP and the Offensive Player of the year in 2001.
Later in her career, she moved to Sweden to play for Sunnana SK for 2 months. Later, Milbrett went to Canada to have a 2-year spell with Vancouver Whitecaps, and returned to Sweden in 2008 to wear Linkopings FC's shirt. She has also played for the American club FC Gold Pride.
Additionally, Milbrett has been named the United States Women's Soccer Player of the Year on 2 occasions, in 2000 and 2001. She is also an inductee to the National Soccer Hall of Fame and was named the CONCACAF offensive player of the year as well as Chevrolet's Female athlete of the year in 2000.
She replicated the feat (being Chevrolet's Female athlete of the year) the next year. Milbrett was also nominated for the first FIFA World Player of the Year award. Moreover, not only is she the 7th player in the list of USWNT leading goal scorers of all time, but she is also the University of Portland's all-time top scorer with 103 goals.
In addition to being one of the
USWNT top scorers of all time
, she also holds the records of providing the most assists in a single match by doing it 5 times against Australia in 1997.
Michelle Akers (107)
Full name: Michelle Anne Akers
Date of birth: February 1, 1966 (age 54)
Place of birth: Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s): Midfielder, Forward
The 6th place in the list of the United States women's national soccer top scorers of all time is occupied by Michelle Akers, who is also regarded as one of the best female soccer players ever. In a total of 155 appearances for the USWNT, she has netted 107 times.
She was called up to the national team in 1985, when the USWNT was to play its first game in history. Although she did not manage to play in the first game due to injury, Akers played in the second national team's game in history and scored the first ever goal of the tournament.
Akers has won 2 World Cups with USWNT, including the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, where she also won the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament with 10 goals as well as winning the Silver Ball of the World Cup.
She played a very pivotal role in winning the 1999 World Cup, where she was awarded the Bronze Ball. Moreover, with Akers in the squad, the USWNT managed to earn the Gold Medal in 1996 Olympics. When she was forced to retire due to injuries in 2000, she was the second player in the list of USWNT top scorers of all time, in addition to 36 assists she had provided.
Moreover, Akers won the Hermann trophy in 1988, as the country's best college soccer player. As a tribute to her, the school retired her number 10 jersey. She was jointly (alongside the Chinese Sun Wen) named the Female Player of the Century by FIFA in 2002, and was listed among the 125 greatest living soccer players selected by Pele in 2004, being one of the only 2 women in the list alongside Mia Hamm.
Furthermore, Akers has been named the Female U.S. Soccer Player of the Year on 3 occasions, was voted in Soccer America College Team of the Century and won the Soccer America Women's Player of the Year award in 1987.
Additionally, she is an inductee to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, as one of the
USWNT top goal scorers ever
and one of the greatest American players of all time.
Alex Morgan (108)
Full name: Team: Alexandra Morgan Carrasco
Birth name: Team: Alexandra Patricia Morgan
Date of birth: Team: July 2, 1989 (age 32)
Place of birth: San Dimas, California, U.S.
Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s): Striker
is widely regarded as one of the current greatest female football players in the world. With an aggregate of 108 goals so far, she jointly stands in the 5th place of the list of the
USWNT leading goal scorers in history
.
However, she is very likely to improve her record as she still plays for the national team. Morgan has won 173 caps with the United Stated national team since she made her debut in 2010.
Morgan has a very exhilarating career with the U.S. women's national team by winning numerous prestigious awards, both with the team and individually. She has won 2 FIFA Women's World Cups in 2015 and 2019, was named in the Dreams of both tournaments, and was awarded the Silver Boot of the latter.
She was the national team's co-captain alongside 2 of her team mates from 2018 to 2020. Hence she has won the 2019 WC as the captain. Moreover, with Morgan added to the squad as the youngest player of the team, the USWNT finished runner-up in 2011 World Cup.
Furthermore, she played a vital role in winning the 2012 Olympics Gold Medal, as well as has helping her national team to the conquest of 2 CONCACAF Women's Championships, and 2 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
She was also a part of the UNDER-20 team that won the Women's World Cup in 2008, where she won the Silver Ball. With her, the U.S. national team has won some other less-major trophies such as Algarve Cup and Four National Tournament.
Furthermore, Morgan has had a glittering career on individual stage. Known as one of the USWNT all-time top scorers, Morgan has been named the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the year on 2 occasions, and was a FIFA World Player finalist in 2012.
She placed 2nd in the 2019 the Best FIFA Women's Player, with her national teammate Megan Rapinoe winning the award. Moreover, Morgan has been voted CONCACAF Player of the Year 4 times, FIFPro World XI 3 times and was named in IFFHS Women's World team thrice.
In 2013, she was voted in the USWNT all-time best XI. Moreover, she has been named in the IFFHS World's Women Team of the Decade, and CONCACAF Team of the Decade (2011-2020). She won the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship Golden Boot, playing the key role in the U.S. winning the title. She also has been voted in the 2013 and 2017 NWSL Team of the Year.
Alex Morgan has played for many clubs during her luminous career. In this article we only mention the ones with which she has won at least 1 trophy. She won the Women Professional Soccer (WPS) Championship in 2011 with Western New York Flash.
She joined
Portland Thorns FCin 2013, where she stayed for 2 years and managed to win the 2013 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Morgan won 3 titles with the French Club
Lyon, including the Division 1 Feminine, Coupe de France feminine and the UEFA Women's Champions League, all in 2016-17. She is currently playing for
Orlando pride, after spending a short-spell in England with
Tottenham Hotspur.
Morgan can surely develop her situation in the ranking of USWNT top scorers of all time, given that she is only 31.
Carli Lloyd (124)
Full name: Carli Anne Hollins
Birth name: Carli Anne Lloyd
Date of birth: July 16, 1982 (age 39)
Place of birth: Delran Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s): Midfielder / Forward
is regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players in the history of the sport. She is still an active player who plays for
Sky Blue FCwhich competes in NWSL and represents the United States women national team. In nearly 300 appearances- and counting- she has scored 124 goals, placing her 3rd in the ranking of most-capped players, and 4th in the list of USWNT top scorers of all time.
Moreover, by providing 62 assists, Lloyd stands 6th in the list of top assist-providers in the history of the national team. All of the mentioned stats are likely to change as she still plays for the national team and has a good form.
Carli Lloyd has won 2 Women World Cups with the USWNT, in 2015 and 2019, with the latter being the co-captain of the team, and was a part of the squad that finished runner-up in 2011.
Moreover, she has won 2 Olympic Gold Medals in 2008 and 2012, scoring the winning goal in both of the tournaments' final match. Furthermore, by scoring a hat-trick in the final match of 2015 World Cup against Japan, Lloyd became the first player to have ever done the feat in Female's soccer.
She won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, and the Silver Boot as the second-top scorer with 6 goals. Moreover, with her being in the squad, the USWNT has won 2 CONCACAF Women's Championships as well as 4 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
In addition to being regarded as one of the
USWNT leading goal scorers of all time
, Lloyd has won numerous individual awards that make her one of the unquestionable greatest female players of all time.
Some of which are ; Being voted as the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the year in 2008, CONCACAF Women's Player of the year in 2015, IFFHS World's Best Women Playmaker OF 2015, World's Women Team of the Decade and CONCACAF Women's Team of the Decade. Most notably, Lloyd was named the Best FIFA Women's Player in 2016, and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2015. She has also been listed in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in both years.
In addition to the American clubs that the hard-working mentally strong player has played for, she spent a short spell with the English Club
Manchester Cityon loan in 2017, where she won the FA Women's Cup.
Kristine Lilly (130)
Full name: Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey
Date of birth: July 22, 1971 (age 50)
Place of birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Height: 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Playing position(s): Forward/Midfielder
Not only is Kristine Lilly a highly honored player in Women's Football, she is also a unique player in the history of the sport (Men's and Women's), for she is the most international capped player in the history of football with 354 appearances.
She was a part of the USWNT for 23 years-from 1987 to 2010- and with 130 goals, stands 3rd in the list of USWNT top scorers of all time. Furthermore, she has provided 106 assists with the U.S. shirt, placing her 2nd in the list of top assist-providers in the history of the national team.
Lilly has taken part in 5 Women's World Cup tournaments, from the first ever World Cup in 1991 until her last participation in 2007. With her in the squad, the USWNT has won 2 of these World Cups in 1991 and 1999, and finished 3rd in 3 other World Cups, obtaining the Bronze Medal.
Moreover, she has also participated in 3 Olympics from 1996 to 2004, earning the Gold Medal twice in 1996 and 2004, and finishing runner-up in 2000 in Sydney.
In addition to being one of the 3 USWNT leading goal scorers in history, she has also had a glittering career on personal level by achieving numerous individual awards. Lilly won the Hermann trophy in 1991, as the best female college soccer player of the year, as well as winning the Honda Sports Award in 1992 as the country's best soccer player.
Furthermore, she was voted the U.S. Female Soccer Player of the Year in 1993, 2005 and 2006. Additionally, she was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women's Soccer Player of the Year in 1991, was listed in Soccer America Team of the Century as well as being voted as Soccer America Women's Player of the Year in 1990.
Mia Hamm (158)
Full name: Mariel Margaret Hamm-Garciaparra
Date of birth: March 17, 1972 (age 49)
Place of birth: Selma, Alabama, United States
Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position(s): Forward, midfielder
Considered as one of the greatest players in women's soccer history and of the most iconic American players ever, Mia Hamm is the 2nd player on the list of the
USWNT all-time top scorers
with 158 goals. She was a national team's player from 1987 to 2004 and helped them to the conquest of 2 Olympic Gold Medals as well as winning 2 Women's World Cups.
Regarded as one of the most brilliant female players in the history, she has competed in a total of 4 World Cups and 3 Olympics. Hamm has featured in 276 appearances for the USWNT, meaning she is the 4th-most capped player in the history of the team.
Moreover, in addition to being one of the 2 USWNT top goal scorers ever, with 145 assists, Mia is the USWNT's all-time best assist provider. She is the 3rd-top goal scorer for international teams-both men and women- behind Abby Wambach and Christine Sinclair. Mia Hamm was the face WUSA, playing for Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003.
Additionally, she has a luminous career on individual stage. Hamm has been named FIFA World Player of the year on 2 occasions in 2001 and 2002. Furthermore, for 5 consecutive years from 1994 to 1998, Hamm was named the U.S. Female soccer player of the Year.
She was the ACC Women's soccer player of the year 3 times, and ACC Female Athlete of the year in 1993. Besides, she was named in the Soccer America College team of the Century. Moreover, she earned the Hermann trophy I 1992 and 1993, and won the Honda Sports Award in 1993 and 1994, as well as being one of the only 2 women enlisted in Pele's list of 125 greatest living players.
Hamm was voted Soccer America Women's Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993. She was awarded the Golden Foot Legends Trophy in 2014, and is an inductee in National Soccer Hall of Fame, North Carolina Hall of Fame (where she the college team win 3 consecutive NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships), Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and became the first women to be a member of World Football Hall of Fame.
Abby Wambach (84)
Full name: Mary Abigail Wambach
Date of birth: June 2, 1980 (age 41)
Place of birth: Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s): Forward
Mary Abigail Wambach, born June 2, 1980, is an American retired soccer player, coach, two-time Olympic gold medalist, a FIFA Women's World Cup champion and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
And eventually, the leading player on the list of USWNT top scorers of all time is Abby Wambach with 184 goals, only 2 goals behind the Canadian Christine Sinclair, who holds the record of most international goals among both women and men.
She has appeared in 256 matches for the USWNT, meaning she is the 6th most-capped player of the team. Wambach has taken part in 4 World Cups, as well as 2 Summer Olympics, helping her country win the 2015 edition of the World Cup and the Gold Medal in both of the Olympics she took part in (2004 and 2012). Overall, she has played in 29 games and scored 22 goals in the 5 mentioned major tournaments she has appeared in.
Furthermore, Wambach has won the U.S Soccer Athlete of the Year on 6 occasions, and was named the FIFA World Player of the year in 2012. She also won the Silver Ball as well as the Bronze Boot in 2011 World Cup, where they finished runner-up.
Moreover, she was named in the 2013 NWSL Team of the Year and was the 2014 CONCACAF Female Player of the Year.
In 2011, Wambach was voted the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. Needless to say that she stands first in the list of United States women's national soccer top scorers of all time, she is an inductee to the Nations Soccer Hall of Fame.
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