"I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion"

The quote implies that Mia Hamm sees herself as a part of a team and understands that success is achieved through cooperation and assistance within the team, instead of simply private effort. She is willing to put the success of the group before her own personal goals and acknowledges that a team that functions effectively and harmoniously will ultimately achieve the greatest success.