Following on from our feature on the Top 10 Most Successful Male College Soccer Players of All Time, we now feature the women that have graced the college soccer field and gone on to achieve massive things in the sport. Our list includes multiple World Cup winners, Olympic Gold Medalists, NWSL Champions and icons of Europen Women’s soccer. In no particular order, here’s our top 10.
Julie Foudy: Stanford University
Julie Foudy won two NCAA national championships and was a two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy. After college, she played for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA and the California Storm in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). She also played for the US Women’s National Team and captained the team to World Cup and Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004. She earned over 270 caps and scored 45 goals throughout her international career. She was known for her versatility and leadership skills on and off the field.
Aly Wagner: Santa Clara University
Aly Wagner won an NCAA national championship in 2001 and was a three-time All-American. After college, she played for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA, FC Gold Pride, and magicJack in the WPS, and the Los Angeles Sol in the WPS. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and a World Cup in 1999. She was known for her technical ability and vision on the field, and her ability to control the tempo of the game as a playmaker.
Heather O’Reilly: University of North Carolina
Heather O’Reilly won three NCAA national championships and was a three-time All-American. After college, she played for the New Jersey Wildcats, Sky Blue FC, the Boston Breakers in the WPS, and later for the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City, and the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012, and a World Cup in 2015. She was known for her tireless work rate, speed, and ability to make runs down the flank.
Christine Sinclair: University of Portland
Christine Sinclair a Canadian player, won the NCAA national championship in 2002 and 2005 and was a four-time All-American. She is the all-time leading goal scorer for Canada, with over 186 international goals, and was the top goal scorer at the 2012 Olympics where she helped lead Canada to the bronze medal. She has also represented Canada in several World Cups and Olympic Games and has been named to the tournament All-Star team multiple times.
Mia Hamm: University of North Carolina
Mia Hamm is considered one of the greatest female soccer players of all time, Hamm won four NCAA national championships with the University of North Carolina and was a two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy. After college, she played for the Washington Freedom in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA). She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and the World Cup in 1991 and 1999. Hamm is the second all-time leading goal scorer for the USWNT and set the record for international goals scored by a female player (158) for over a decade. She is a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007.
Kristine Lilly – University of North Carolina
Another player considered one of the all-time greats, Lilly won four NCAA national championships with North Carolina and was a three-time winner of the Hermann Trophy. After college, she played for Tyresö FF in Sweden and the Boston Breakers in the WUSA. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and the World Cup in 1991 and 1999. Lilly is the most capped international soccer player of all time, with 354 caps. She is also the third all-time leading goal scorer for the USWNT and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014
Abby Wambach: University of Florida
Abby Wambach won a national championship in 1998 and was a two-time winner of the Hermann Trophy. After college, she played for the Washington Freedom and magicJack in the WPS, and Western New York Flash in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2015. Wambach is the all-time leading goal scorer for the USWNT and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012. She retired in 2015 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018.
Shannon MacMillan: University of Portland
Shannon MacMillan won an NCAA national championship in 1995 and was a three-time All-American. After college, she played for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA and the Boston Breakers in the WPS. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and a World Cup in 1999. In the 1999 World Cup, she scored the game-winning goal in the semi-final match against Brazil which helped the US team reach the final. She was also known for her speed, skill, and goal-scoring ability.
Cindy Parlow: University of North Carolina
Cindy Parlow won three NCAA national championships and was a three-time All-American. After college, she played for the Carolina Courage in the WUSA and the Atlanta Beat in the WPS. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and a World Cup in 1999. She was known for her aerial prowess, physicality and ability to score goals with her head. Parlow was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018 and now serves as the President of US Soccer.
Alex Morgan: University of California Berkeley
Alex Morgan: A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in Politcal Science, Morgan was a four-time All-American and won the national championship in 2010. After college, she played for the Western New York Flash and the Seattle Reign FC in the WPS, and the Portland Thorns FC and the Orlando Pride in the NW National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Morgan also found success overseas playing for Tottenham Hotspur in England before returning to the US with Orlando Pride and then San Diego Wave FC. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning World Cup in 2015 and Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2020. Morgan is considered one of the most recognizable and marketable female soccer players ever but her ability on the field has always been World Class.
Christie Pearce (Rampone): Monmouth University
Christie Rampone played for the Central Jersey Splash and the New York Power in the WUSA. She also played for the US Women’s National Team, winning two Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008 and a World Cup in 2015. Rampone is one of the most-capped female soccer players of all time, earning 311 caps for the USWNT. She served as the team’s captain for many years and was a key leader on and off the field. At 40 years old, Pearce was the oldest ever player to appear in a FIFA Women’s World Cup game!
Who did we miss? Should anyone else have made the cut? With so many great student-athletes going on to achieve so much in the game over the last few decades, there have been so many success stories that share similar journies to the players above. Women’s soccer is still moving from strength to strength and women’s college soccer continues to play a big part in the story.
Click here to read the men’s version: Top 10 Most Successful Male College Soccer Players of All Time
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