Despite being named after a famous ballerina, little Mia Hamm never cared for pirouettes. Instead, she chased the ball: the baseball, the basketball, and especially the soccer ball. She was often the only girl in the game until, at age fifteen, she stepped onto the soccer field as part of the US Women’s National Team. All around her, young women tackled and dribbled, passed and kicked, scored and screamed. They were just like her - but even more skilled. For Mia to improve, she had to play up to the levels of Michelle Akers, Briana Scurry, Brandi Chastain, and so many others. She was determined not to let her team down!