Hamm Named Player of the Week

May 26, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release


ATLANTA (Monday, May 26, 2003) - Washington Freedom forward Mia Hamm has been selected as the league's MET-Rx Player of the Week for the week ending May 25, 2003. The world's all-time leading scorer tallied two goals and added an assist in the Freedom's 4-0 blanking of New York Saturday night on the road at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The only two-time winner of the MET-Rx Player of the Week in 2003, Hamm edged out Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper by one point in the voting.

In Saturday's victory, Hamm put the Freedom on the board in the eighth minute with her fifth goal of the year on a spectacular individual effort that showcased her incredible breakaway speed. After taking a long headed pass from Abby Wambach, Hamm single-handedly outraced the Power defense and cracked a right-footed shot 18 yards over the outstretched right hand of diving Power goalkeeper Carly Smolak to put Washington ahead 1-0. Hamm converted her WUSA-leading fourth penalty kick of the season when she beat Smolak in the 41st minute. Three minutes later, Hamm's corner kick found the head of Wambach, who in turn flicked the ball onto Lindsay Stoecker who headed the ball past a diving Smolak.

Hamm's six goals and four assists for 16 points lead all WUSA scorers. Her 16 points eclipse her point total from the 2001 season. Last season, she sat out the first 10 games after knee surgery and finished with eight goals and six assists for 22 points in a part-time role.

With Hamm winning the weekly award, it marks the eighth consecutive week a forward has garnered MET-Rx Player of the Week honors. Hamm's 23 points (10 first place, 3 second place) narrowly defeated Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper (6, 10, 22 pts.). Others who received votes were San Jose's Pretinha, San Diego's Aly Wagner, Washington's Skylar Little and the Freedom's Siri Mullinix. The MET-Rx Player of the Week is selected every Monday throughout the regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 26, 2003


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