View source for Michelle Akers

{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                 = Michelle Akers
| image                =
| full_name            = Michelle Anne Akers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/women/akers.htm |title=Michelle Akers |work=SoccerTimes |access-date=August 4, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817205409/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/women/akers.htm |archive-date=August 17, 2016}}</ref>
| birth_date           = {{Birth date and age|1966|2|1}}
| birth_place          = [[Santa Clara, California]], U.S.
| height               = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
| currentclub          =
| position             = [[Midfielder]], [[forward (association football)|forward]]
| youthyears1          =
| youthclubs1          =
| collegeyears1        = 1985–1989
| college1             = [[UCF Knights women's soccer|UCF Knights]]
| collegecaps1         =
| collegegoals1        =
| years1               = 1990
| clubs1               = [[Tyresö FF (Ladies)|Tyresö FF]]
| caps1                = 18
| goals1               = 8
| years2               = 1992
| clubs2               = Tyresö FF
| caps2                =
| goals2               =
| years3               = 1992
| clubs3               = [[Orlando Lions (Ladies)|Orlando Lions Women]]
| caps3                = 29
| goals3               = 8
| years4               = 1994
| clubs4               = Tyresö FF
| caps4                = 19
| goals4               = 3
| nationalyears1       = 1985–2000
| nationalteam1        = [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1        = 155
| nationalgoals1       = 107
| manageryears1        = 2022
| managerclubs1        = [[Orlando Pride]] (assistant)
| medaltemplates       =
{{MedalSport | Women's [[association football|soccer]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{fbw|USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Football at the Summer Olympics#Women's results|Olympic Games]] }}
 {{MedalGold|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Women's World Cup]]}}
 {{MedalGold|[[1991 FIFA Women's World Cup|1991 China]]|Team competition}}
 {{MedalGold|[[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup|1999 USA]]|Team competition}}
 {{MedalBronze|[[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup|1995 Sweden]]|Team competition}}
}}

'''Michelle Anne Akers''' (formerly '''Akers-Stahl'''; born February 1, 1966) is an American former [[Association football|soccer]] player who starred in the [[FIFA Women's World Cup 1991|1991]] and [[FIFA Women's World Cup 1999|1999 Women's World Cup]] and [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|1996 Olympics]] victories by the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]]. At the 1991 World Cup, she won the [[1991 FIFA Women's World Cup#Awards|Golden Shoe]] as the top scorer, with ten goals.

Akers is regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players in history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Michael |title=The 20 Greatest Female Football Players of all Time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/03/the-20-greatest-female-football-players-soccer |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 3, 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802092335/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/03/the-20-greatest-female-football-players-soccer |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/9331039/espnw-most-influential-american-female-soccer-players|title=Players whose influence reaches beyond the pitch|publisher=ESPN|author1=Jeff Carlisle|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=February 16, 2016|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026160947/https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/9331039/espnw-most-influential-american-female-soccer-players|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Best American Soccer Players of All Time (Men and Women) |url=https://soccermavericks.com/best-american-soccer-players-of-all-time |website=Soccer Mavericks |date=December 21, 2023 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226182150/https://soccermavericks.com/best-american-soccer-players-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  She was named [[FIFA Female Player of the Century]] in 2002, an award she shared with [[China women's national football team|China]]'s [[Sun Wen (footballer)|Sun Wen]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Akers Named FIFA Player of the Century |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2000/12/michelle-akers-named-fifa-player-of-the-century.aspx |publisher=US Soccer |access-date=February 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313204136/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2000/12/Michelle-Akers-Named-FIFA-Player-Of-The-Century.aspx |archive-date=March 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA names Akers 'Player of the Century.'|url=http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2000/dec13a.htm|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214070142/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2000/dec13a.htm|archive-date=February 14, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2004, Akers and [[Mia Hamm]] were the only two women named to the [[FIFA 100]], a list of the 125 greatest living soccer players selected by [[Pelé]] and commissioned by [[FIFA]] for that organization's 100th anniversary.

Akers is a member of the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]], inducted in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/michelle-akers.html |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=December 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228162259/https://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/michelle-akers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Born to Robert and Anne Akers in [[Santa Clara, California]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Layden, Joseph, 1959-|title=Women in sports : the complete book on the world's greatest female athletes|date=1997|publisher=General Pub. Group|isbn=1-57544-064-4|location=Los Angeles|pages=14|oclc=36501288}}</ref> on February 1, 1966, Akers grew up in the [[Seattle]], Washington suburb of [[Shoreline, Washington|Shoreline]], where she attended and played soccer for [[Shorecrest High School]].<ref name="greatath">{{cite book |last1=Schafer |first1=Elizabeth D |editor1-first=Dawn P |editor1-last=Dawson |title=Great Athletes |edition=Revised |volume=1 |year=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=Salem Press |isbn=1-58765-008-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/greatathletes0000unse/page/26 26–28] |url=https://archive.org/details/greatathletes0000unse/page/26 }}</ref> Early in her career, she was not sure whether she was willing to do the training necessary to excel. After losing a youth game, she was frustrated and walked off the field in tears. Her father asked her "Did you have fun". Her answer was "yes" which led to the realization that this was the real reason she played, and that helped turn her into the fierce competitor she became.<ref name=":0" /> She was named an All-American three times during her high school career.<ref name="greatath"/>  At {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm}} in height and {{convert|150|lb|kg}}, Akers had an imposing physical presence on the soccer field and was noted for her aggressive and physical style of play.<ref>Miller, Marla ''All-American Girls'' New York: Pocket Books, 1999, pp. 14–15.</ref>

===University of Central Florida===
Akers attended the [[University of Central Florida]] on a scholarship where she was selected as four-time NCAA [[All-America]]n.<ref name="greatath"/> She was Central Florida's Athlete of the Year in 1988–89, was the all-time leading scorer in UCF history,<ref name="greatath"/> won the [[Hermann Trophy]] in 1988 as the nation's top college soccer player,<ref name="greatath"/> and had her #10 jersey retired by the school.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://ucfknights.com/sports/2018/7/26/211736290.aspx
|title=Michelle Akers - Women's Soccer (1984, 1986-88) - Class of 1998
|publisher=UCF Athletics
|access-date=September 6, 2019
|archive-date=September 6, 2019
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906171108/https://ucfknights.com/sports/2018/7/26/211736290.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==International career==
Akers was a member of the [[1985 United States women's national soccer team]] (USWNT) for its first-ever game, at a tournament in Italy in August 1985. Due to an ankle injury, she did not play in the first game. However, in the U.S.'s second-ever international game, she scored the first goal in the history of the program, in a 2–2 tie against [[Denmark women's national football team|Denmark]].<ref>"US WNT Flashback – 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Who Scored First?" http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2005/08/U-S-WNT-Flashback-20th-Anniversary-Of-First-Ever-Match-Who-Scored-First.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614193356/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2005/08/U-S-WNT-Flashback-20Th-Anniversary-Of-First-Ever-Match-Who-Scored-First.aspx |date=June 14, 2012 }}, accessed October 3, 2012.</ref>

Akers scored 15 goals in 24 games for the U.S. from 1985 to 1990, before scoring a team-record 39 goals in 26 games in the 1991 season. In 1990 and 1991 she was named the Female Athlete of the Year by the [[United States Soccer Federation]] (USSF).<ref name="greatath"/>  Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural [[1991 FIFA Women's World Cup|FIFA Women's World Cup]] in China in 1991, scoring ten goals, including five in one game.<ref name="greatath"/> This led the U.S. women's team to the first women's world championship, defeating [[Norway women's national football team|Norway]] 2–1 in the final. Akers scored both U.S. goals in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Michelle Akers - All 12 goals in World Cup|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGm66X4j19Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/zGm66X4j19Y| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|website=YouTube| date=September 2, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Abnos|first=Alexander|title=Start of Something Big|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/longform/soccer-goals/goal4.html|access-date=December 30, 2019|archive-date=February 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211232944/https://www.si.com/longform/soccer-goals/goal4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Throughout most of her career, Akers was afflicted by [[chronic fatigue syndrome]], repeatedly considering retirement only to continue playing in some of U.S. Soccer's most significant matches.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shipley |first1=Amy |title=Akers's Exhausting Opponent |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/06/04/akerss-exhausting-opponent/00e07c5d-38e7-4163-9a0f-9c12ac03bf7f/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304182056/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/06/04/akerss-exhausting-opponent/00e07c5d-38e7-4163-9a0f-9c12ac03bf7f/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the 1991 World Cup, she shifted from [[striker (association football)|striker]] to [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielder]], in part to minimize the beatings doled out by opposing defenders. Despite the precautions, Akers suffered a concussion and a knee injury early in the [[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup|1995 World Cup]], and was hampered by the knee in the U.S.'s semifinal loss to Norway.<ref>Michelle Akers Biography http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-akers-21321911#national-superstar {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610103134/http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-akers-21321911#national-superstar |date=June 10, 2015 }}</ref><ref>Michelle Akers enjoying life after soccer http://www.cfs-info.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109131848/http://www.cfs-info.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79 |date=November 9, 2014 }}</ref>

In 1996, Akers was again a member of the U.S. women's national team at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, where it won the first gold medal in [[Football at the Summer Olympics#Women's tournament|Olympic Women's Soccer]]. She played with a torn [[medial collateral ligament]] in the [[Midfielder#Holding midfielder|holding central midfielder]] role, anchoring the team's defense, dominating in the air, and playmaking out of the back to maintain possession and generate goal-scoring opportunities. After the tournament her knee required reconstructive surgery for the third time. She was also a member of the gold medal-winning [[1998 Goodwill Games]] team. On June 7, 1998, she was awarded the [[FIFA Order of Merit]], FIFA's highest honor in the global game of soccer, for her contributions to the game of soccer on and off the field; she was the first woman ever to receive it. Akers again was a leader and member of the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup|1999 Women's World Cup]] team, where the team won their second World Cup championship. Despite playing with a dislocated shoulder, caused by a fan in the quarterfinals,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/soccer-star-akers-out-of-games/ |title=Soccer Star Akers Out Of Games |publisher=CBS |date=August 24, 2000 |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
she was awarded the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup#Awards|Bronze Ball of the tournament]] by FIFA.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 FIFA Women's World Cup|publisher=U.S. Soccer|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/history/us-soccer-as-host/1999-fifa-womens-world-cup|access-date=December 30, 2019}}</ref>

Shortly before the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney]], Australia, Akers retired from the game due to injuries incurred before and during the 1999 FIFA World Cup. She was the U.S. national team's second all-time leading scorer (behind [[Mia Hamm]]) with 105 goals, 37 assists and 247 points.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Valerie|title=World Cup Soccer Stats Erase The Sport's Most Dominant Players: Women|date=July 7, 2014|url=http://jezebel.com/world-cup-soccer-stats-erase-the-sports-most-dominant-p-1601275793|publisher=Jezebel.com|access-date=July 13, 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921132844/http://jezebel.com/world-cup-soccer-stats-erase-the-sports-most-dominant-p-1601275793|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On January 19, 2022, the [[Orlando Pride]] announced Akers as an assistant coach for the 2022 season, serving under head coach [[Amanda Cromwell]]. She also served in a player development and mentorship role, and assisted with community outreach.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-pride-announces-assistant-coaching-staff-ahead-of-2022-nwsl-season |title=Orlando Pride Announces Assistant Coaching Staff Ahead of 2022 NWSL Season |work=[[Orlando Pride]] |date=January 19, 2022 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119165507/https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-pride-announces-assistant-coaching-staff-ahead-of-2022-nwsl-season |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
From 1990 to 1994, she was married and was known as Michelle Akers-Stahl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1995/06/05/203550/world-beater-michelle-akers-soccers-top-female-is-ready-to-lead-the-us-to-another-title|title=WORLD BEATER MICHELLE AKERS, SOCCER'S TOP FEMALE, IS READY TO LEAD THE U.S. TO ANOTHER TITLE|first=Kelly|last=Whiteside|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=June 5, 1995|access-date=January 9, 2016|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110085921/http://www.si.com/vault/1995/06/05/203550/world-beater-michelle-akers-soccers-top-female-is-ready-to-lead-the-us-to-another-title|url-status=live}}</ref> Later she married again (2003–2007) and had a son in Orlando, Florida.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-09-19-fbcucfrefer19-story.html |title=With the U.S. women chasing the World Cup, Michelle Akers is a happy mom at home just... |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |author1=Josh Robbins |date=September 19, 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906171113/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-09-19-fbcucfrefer19-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She has had several horses since 1996 and runs a horse rescue ranch on {{convert|8|acre|ha}} in [[Powder Springs, Georgia]], with her son Cody.<ref name="Times-Foals">{{cite news |last=Hanson |first=Scott |date=August 23, 2018 |title=She was America's first women's soccer star. Now, Michelle Akers has gone from goals to foals. |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/soccer/once-best-known-as-americas-first-womens-soccer-star-michelle-akers-is-now-devoted-to-a-different-passion-saving-horses/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>Wahl, Grant, "Green Acres", ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', July 4, 2011, pp. 98–101.</ref>

Since her retirement from the USWNT in 2000, she has also continued to promote the game of soccer as a spokesperson, advocate, and leader on various platforms.<ref>Cardenas, Natalia. [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Akers Michelle Akers.] [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Scavuzzo, Diane. (June 12, 2015). [http://goalnation.com/women-in-soccer-michelle-akers-spotlight/ Women in Soccer: Michelle Akers.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144025/http://goalnation.com/women-in-soccer-michelle-akers-spotlight/ |date=June 12, 2018 }} Goal Nation. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[United States women's national soccer team|United States]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/stats-centclub/52/00/60/fifawomenscenturyclub.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023160912/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/stats-centclub/52/00/60/fifawomenscenturyclub.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2014|title=FIFA Century Club|website=FIFA|date=February 9, 2011}}</ref>
|1985
|2
|2
|-
|1986
|5
|0
|-
|1987
|9
|3
|-
|1988
|2
|0
|-
|1990
|6
|9
|-
|1991
|26
|39
|-
|1993
|12
|6
|-
|1994
|12
|11
|-
|1995
|20
|17
|-
|1996
|17
|7
|-
|1997
|2
|1
|-
|1998
|15
|5
|-
|1999
|20
|6
|-
|2000
|7
|1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!155
!107
|}

===International goals===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || August 21, 1985 || [[Jesolo]], Italy || {{fbw|DEN}} || align=center|'''1'''–? || align=center| 2–2 || rowspan=22| [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| 2. || August 23, 1985 || [[Caorle]], Italy || {{fbw|ENG}} || align=center|'''1'''–? || align=center| 1–3
|-
| 3. || December 16, 1987 || rowspan=3| [[Taipei]], Taiwan || {{fbw|AUS}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 
|-
| 4. || rowspan=2| December 19, 1987 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0
|-
| 5. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 6. || July 25, 1990 || rowspan=2| [[Winnipeg]], Canada || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 4–0
|-
| 7. || July 29, 1990 || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–2 || align=center| 4–2
|-
| 8. || rowspan=3| August 5, 1990 || rowspan=7| [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]], United States || rowspan=3| {{fbw|URS}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 8–0
|-
| 9. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 10. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|- 
| 11. || rowspan=2| August 9, 1990 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|ENG}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0
|-
| 12. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 13. || rowspan=2| August 11, 1990 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|GER}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0
|- 
| 14. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 15. || rowspan=3| April 1, 1991 || rowspan=8| [[Varna, Bulgaria]] || rowspan=3| {{fbw|YUG}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 8–0
|-
| 16. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 17. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 18. || April 2, 1991 || {{fbw|BUL}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
| 19. || April 5, 1991 || {{fbw|FRA}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0
|-
| 20. || rowspan=3| April 7, 1991 || rowspan=3| {{fbw|URS}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 5–0
|-
| 21. || align=center|'''4'''–0
|-
| 22. || align=center|'''5'''–0
|-
| 23. || rowspan=2| April 18, 1991 || rowspan=11| [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]] || rowspan=2| {{fbw|MEX}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 12–0 || rowspan=11| [[1991 CONCACAF Women's Championship]]
|-
| 24. || align=center|'''4'''–0
|-
| 25. || rowspan=2| April 20, 1991 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|MTQ|snake}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 12–0
|-
| 26. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 27. || rowspan=2| April 22, 1991 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|TRI}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 10–0
|-
| 28. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 29. || rowspan=2| April 25, 1991 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|HAI}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 10–0
|-
| 30. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 31. || rowspan=3| April 28, 1991 || rowspan=3| {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 5–0
|-
| 32. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|-
| 33. || align=center|'''5'''–0
|-
| 34. || May 18, 1991 || [[Lyon]], France || {{fbw|FRA}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=10| Friendly
|-
| 35. || May 25, 1991 || [[Hirson]], France || {{fbw|ENG}} || align=center|'''2'''–? || align=center| 3–1
|-
| 36. || rowspan=2| May 30, 1991 || rowspan=2| [[Kaiserslautern]], Germany || rowspan=2| {{fbw|GER}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–2
|-
| 37. || align=center|'''4'''–2
|-
| 38. || August 4, 1991 || [[Changchun]], China || {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''1'''–? || align=center| 1–2
|-
| 39. || August 8, 1991 || [[Yanji]], China || {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''2'''–? || align=center| 2–2
|-
| 40. || rowspan=3| August 10, 1991 || rowspan=3| [[Anshan]], China || rowspan=3| {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 3–0
|-
| 41. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|-
| 42. || align=center|'''3'''–0
|-
| 43. || October 12, 1991 || [[Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax]], United States || {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0
|-  	
| 44. || November 19, 1991 || [[Guangzhou]], China || {{fbw|BRA}} || align=center|'''4'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=10| [[1991 FIFA Women's World Cup]]
|-
| 45. || rowspan=2| November 21, 1991 || rowspan=7| [[Foshan]], China || rowspan=2| {{fbw|JPN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0
|-
| 46. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|-
| 47. || rowspan=5| November 24, 1991 || rowspan=5| {{fbw|TPE}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=5 align=center| 7–0
|-
| 48. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|-
| 49. || align=center|'''3'''–0
|-
| 50. || align=center|'''5'''–0
|-
| 51. || align=center|'''6'''–0
|-
| 52. || rowspan=2| November 30, 1991 || rowspan=2| Guangzhou, China || rowspan=2| {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–1
|-
| 53. || align=center|'''2'''–1
|-
| 54. || March 11, 1993 || [[Agia, Cyprus]] || {{fbw|DEN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || rowspan=4| Friendly
|-
| 55. || rowspan=2| June 12, 1993 || rowspan=2| [[Cincinnati]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''6'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 7–0
|-
| 56. || align=center|'''7'''–0
|-
| 57. || June 21, 1993 || [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]], United States || {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
| 58. || rowspan=2| August 6, 1993 || rowspan=2| [[New Hyde Park]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|TRI}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0 || rowspan=2| [[1993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament]]
|-
| 59. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-	
| 60. || rowspan=2| April 14, 1994 || rowspan=2| [[San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago|San Fernando]], [[Trinidad & Tobago]] || rowspan=2| {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–1 || rowspan=5| Friendly
|-
| 61. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|-
| 62. || April 17, 1994 || [[Port of Spain]], Trinidad & Tobago || {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
| 63. || July 31, 1994 || Fairfax, United States || {{fbw|GER}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–1
|-
| 64. || August 7, 1994 || [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], United States || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || align=center| 4–1
|-
| 65. || rowspan=2| August 13, 1994 || rowspan=6| [[Montreal]], Canada || rowspan=2| {{fbw|MEX}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0 || rowspan=6| [[1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship]]
|-
| 66. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 67. || August 17, 1994 || {{fbw|TRI}} || align=center|'''?'''–1 || align=center| 11–1
|-
| 68. || rowspan=2| August 19, 1994 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|JAM}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 10–0
|-
| 69. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 70. || August 21, 1994 || {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''6'''–0 || align=center| 6–0
|-
| 71. || January 20, 1995 || rowspan=2| [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], United States || {{fbw|AUS}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=5| Friendly
|-
| 72. || January 23, 1995 || {{fbw|AUS}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || align=center| 4–1
|-
| 73. || rowspan=3| February 24, 1995 || rowspan=3| [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], United States || rowspan=3| {{fbw|DEN}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 7–0
|-
| 74. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|-
| 75. || align=center|'''?'''–0
|- 
| 76. || March 19, 1995 || [[Quarteira]], Portugal || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–3 {{aet}} (2–4 [[penalty shoot-out|p]]) || [[1995 Algarve Cup]]
|-
| 77. || April 11, 1995 || [[Poissy]], France || {{fbw|ITA}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || rowspan=8| Friendly
|-
| 78. || April 12, 1995 || [[Saint-Maur-des-Fossés]], France || {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 5–0
|-
| 79. || April 28, 1995 || [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]], United States || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0
|-
| 80. || April 30, 1995 || [[Davidson, North Carolina|Davidson]], United States || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 6–0
|-
| 81. || rowspan=2| May 14, 1995 || rowspan=2| [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|BRA}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–1	
|-
| 82. || align=center|'''?'''–?
|-
| 83. || rowspan=2| May 19, 1995 || rowspan=2| [[Dallas]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–1
|-
| 84. || align=center| '''4'''–1
|-
| 85. || rowspan=2| July 30, 1995 || rowspan=2| [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|TPE}} || align=center|'''7'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0 || rowspan=3| [[1995 Women's U.S. Cup]]
|-
| 86. || align=center|'''9'''–0
|-
| 87. || August 3, 1995 || [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]], United States || {{fbw|AUS}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || align=center| 4–2
|-
| 88. || January 13, 1996 || [[Campinas]], Brazil || {{fbw|RUS}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 8–1 || rowspan=5| Friendly
|-
| 89. || February 2, 1996 || [[Tampa]], United States || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 3–2
|-
| 90. || April 20, 1996 || [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]], United States || {{fbw|NED}} || align=center|'''6'''–0 || align=center| 6–0
|-
| 91. || April 26, 1996 || [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], United States || {{fbw|FRA}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 4–1
|-
| 92. || April 28, 1996 || [[Indianapolis]], United States || {{fbw|FRA}} || align=center|'''6'''–0 || align=center| 8–2
|-
| 93. || May 18, 1996 || [[Washington, D.C.]], United States || {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || [[1996 Women's U.S. Cup]]
|-
| 94. || July 28, 1996 || [[Athens, Georgia|Athens]], United States || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 {{aet}} || [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's tournament|1996 Summer Olympics]]
|-
| 95. || November 1, 1997 || [[Chattanooga]], United States || {{fbw|SWE}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 || Friendly
|-
| 96. || March 15, 1998 || [[Olhão]], Portugal || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || [[1998 Algarve Cup]]
|-
| 97. || April 24, 1998 || [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]], United States || {{fbw|ARG}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 8–1 || rowspan=2| Friendly
|-
| 98. || April 26, 1998 || [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], United States || {{fbw|ARG}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 7–0
|-
| 99. || July 25, 1998 || [[Hempstead, New York|Hempstead]], United States || {{fbw|DEN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || [[Soccer at the 1998 Goodwill Games|1998 Goodwill Games]]
|-
| 100. || September 20, 1998 || [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], United States || {{fbw|BRA}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || [[1998 Women's U.S. Cup]]
|-
| 101. || January 27, 1999 || Orlando, United States || {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 7–0 || rowspan=5| Friendly
|-
| 102. || January 30, 1999 || Fort Lauderdale, United States || {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 6–0
|-
| 103. || April 22, 1999 || [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey]], United States || {{fbw|CHN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–1
|-
| 104. || rowspan=2| April 29, 1999 || rowspan=2| [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], United States || rowspan=2| {{fbw|JPN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0 
|-
| 105. || align=center|'''2'''–0
|- 
| 106. || June 24, 1999 || Chicago, United States || {{fbw|NGA}} || align=center|'''5'''–1 || align=center| 7–1 || rowspan=2| [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup]]
|-
| 107. || July 4, 1999 || [[Stanford, California|Stanford]], United States || {{fbw|BRA}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0
|-
| 108. || August 13, 2000 || [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]], United States || {{fbw|RUS}} || align=center|'''4'''–1 || align=center| 7–1 || Friendly
|-
|}

<ref>Some scorelines in the goal log above are courtesy of [[RSSSF]]: {{cite web |last1=Garin |first1=Erik |title=RSSSF Archive - International Country Results - Women Tournaments |url=https://www.rsssf.org/intland-women.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117151327/https://www.rsssf.org/intland-women.html |url-status=live }}, others via Canada Soccer archive e.g.: {{cite web |title=Canada Soccer |url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/?gid=432&t=match |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819201508/http://www.canadasoccer.com/?gid=432&t=match |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2023 }}</ref>
<ref>Sources disagree on whether Akers scored vs Hungary on April 3, 1991, or whether Wendy Gebauer got 2 that day. Compare {{cite web |title=USWNT Results: 1990-1994 |url=https://www.ussoccerhistory.org/usnt-results/uswnt-results/uswnt-results-1990-1994/ |website=Society for American Soccer History |date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831083354/https://www.ussoccerhistory.org/usnt-results/uswnt-results/uswnt-results-1990-1994/ |url-status=live }} (credits Gebauer), vs RSSSF: {{cite web |last1=Litterer |first1=Dave |title=USA - Women - International Results |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-wom-intres.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=October 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028221815/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-wom-intres.html |url-status=live }} (credits Akers-Stahl)</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Women's association football|Sports|Olympics|Association football|Biography}}
* [[List of women's footballers with 100 or more international goals]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in football]]
* [[List of 1996 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
* [[List of players with the most goals in an association football game]]
* [[1985 United States women's national soccer team]]
* [[List of University of Central Florida alumni]]
* [[List of athletes on Wheaties boxes]]
* [[List of Golden Scarf recipients]]
* [[List of prizes named after people]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

;Match reports
{{reflist|group=m}}

==Further reading==
* Grainey, Timothy (2012), ''Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer'', University of Nebraska Press, {{ISBN|0803240368}} 
* Kassouf, Jeff (2011), ''Girls Play to Win Soccer'', Norwood House Press, {{ISBN|1599534649}}
* LaFontaine, P.; Valutis, E.; Griffin, C.; Weisman, L. (2001), ''Companions in Courage: Triumphant Tales of Heroic Athletes'', Hatchette Digital Inc., {{ISBN|0759520518}}
* Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), ''The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story'', Scarecrow Press, {{ISBN|0810874164}}
* Longman, Jere (2009), ''The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How it Changed the World'', HarperCollins, {{ISBN|0061877689}}
* Mitchell, N.; Ennis, L. (2007) ''Encyclopedia of Title IX and Sports'', Greenwood Publishing Group, {{ISBN|0313335877}}
* Rutledge, Rachel (2000), ''The Best of the Best in Soccer'', First Avenue Editions, {{ISBN|0761313923}}
* Silverman, Al (2004), ''It's Not Over 'til it's Over'', Penguin, {{ISBN|1468304313}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/michelle-akers.html National Soccer Hall of Fame profile]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419000459/http://www.ucfathletics.com/genrel/akers_michelle00.html |title=University of Central Florida biography |date=mdy}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106193119/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_37757.htm |title=Michelle Akers at the United States Olympic Team |date=mdy}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413010207/http://www.michelleakershorserescue.com/ |title=Michelle Akers horse rescue website |date=mdy}}

{{Navboxes
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|title= Awards
|list1=
{{US Soccer Athlete}}
{{SACTCW}}
{{Soccer America Women's Player of the Year navbox}}
{{M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Women's Recipients}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Shoe}}
{{FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Ball}}
{{FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Ball}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= United States squads
|bg= #002868
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|list1=
{{United States Squad 1991 Women's World Cup}}
{{United States Squad 1995 Women's World Cup}}
{{United States Squad 1996 Summer Olympics (Women's Football)}}
{{United States Squad 1999 Women's World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akers, Michelle}}
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[[Category:People with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]]
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