Hamm goes out a winner

CARSON, Calif. — The preteen girls with ponytails shrieked in delight when Mia Hamm walked over to the stands, smiled and began autographing the programs, hats, shirts and scraps of paper thrust at her over the stadium railing.

Those starry-eyed youngsters, many of them wearing jerseys with Hamm's No. 9, are part of the legacy the retiring Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett are leaving for the future of women's soccer in America.

"I think having Mia stay in it for a few years after the 1999 World Cup really helped the sport. My daughters just love her," said Janell Brink, the mother of two young soccer players.

Hamm and Foudy played their final game for the United States on Wednesday night and went out in style with a 5-0 victory over Mexico. Hamm made two fine plays to set up the first two goals, and Foudy was a dominant presence in the midfield.

Hamm, the United States' career scoring leader — female or male — made a point of going to the stands to sign autographs, with some of the young fans lingering for more than an hour after the game.

"We all understand there's a bigger perspective," she said. "We want to make sure this game and these girls go forward together."

Pedro Campos, coach of the girls' under-10 Power Soccer Club team, said he was grateful for the trails blazed by Hamm and the others.

"Our girls are really excited to be here for this," said Campos, sitting with the team in the stands. "My daughter, Briana, has posters of Mia all over her room."

Said Briana: "I like Mia because she plays the same position I do, that she scores a lot of goals, and she never gives up. And that she started at a young age."

The 32-year-old Hamm joined the national team when she was 15.

"It's hard to believe that it's over," she said. "Julie was crying, I'm crying. "I'm extremely blessed."

Foudy said it really hit her that it was her last game in a U.S. uniform when she walked down the tunnel before the game.

"Then I was thinking that this was the last time I will hear the national anthem before I go out on the field," said Foudy, 33.

The friendly match against the Mexican national team was the finale of a 10-game "Fan Celebration Tour, and the game drew 15,549.

Longtime U.S. defender Joy Fawcett, 36, also is retiring and was in uniform, but was unable to play because she's recuperating from back surgery.