A long-awaited chapter in women’s sports is finally making its way to the big screen, with a movie about Mia Hamm and her former team officially in the works. With Olympic gold medals and FIFA Women’s World Cup titles under her belt, former soccer player Mia Hamm hardly needs an introduction. But if the need for an introduction or a retelling does rise, it best be done at the hands of a Netflix reigning star; Emily Bader. 

Emily Bader, best known for her buoyant, free-spirited performances, is trading charm for championship pressure.

Emily Bader is hardly a new face, having already starred in Fresh Ki---, Prime Video’s My Lady Jane, and most recently People We Meet on Vacation, which pulled in 17.2 million views on its Netflix debut. Now, she is gearing up to portray soccer icon Mia Hamm in The 99’ers. The upcoming film will focus on the U.S. Women’s National Team’s historic 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory. 

While Mia Hamm is a crucial part of the story, the Netflix original sports drama will follow the USWNT as they battle their way to the World Cup final, ultimately defeating China in a nail-biting penalty shootout played in front of a packed stadium of more than 93,000 fans. Based on Jere Longman’s book and the real-life events surrounding the tournament, the film is written by Katie Lovejoy and Dana Stevens and will be directed by Nicole Kassell. 

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With the movie currently in pre-production and no release date announced yet, there is much curiosity about why this story is so important today. Perhaps the impact of the sports team has an answer.

The 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was special because it came at a time when soccer was growing fast in the United States. After losing the 1995 World Cup to Norway, the 1999 tournament gave the team a chance to bounce back, this time playing at home in front of American crowds. What made the tournament unforgettable was the huge support and the team’s strong performances. 

The USWNT played in front of crowds of more than 50,000 and then beat Germany 3–2 in an exciting quarterfinal and defeated Brazil 2–0 in the semifinals to reach the final. The victory made the United States the first country to win two Women’s World Cups and became a major moment for women’s sports in the US.

With how Mia Hamm could deliver hits with her limbs and her team, hopes are that Emily Bader can do the same with a spotlight and script; matching her recent success on Netflix.

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Are you excited to watch Emily Buder in a very different role? Let us know in the comments section below.