Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - They've been the class of women's soccer both in the U.S. and abroad.

For the backbone of the U.S. women's soccer team from nearly its conception, the 2003 FIFA's Women's World Cup may be their last. Even after two world championships and one Olympic gold medal, they're not ready to script retirement speeches just yet.

Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett and Kristine Lilly, known in the soccer community as the Fab Four, realize this is their last World Cup, but they're not dwelling on it.

"I don't think of it as that last hurrah, the last World Cup," Foudy, 32, told the Associated Press. "I don't think any of us approach it that way. It's more important that we focus on the team and what we can achieve."

Achievement is nothing new to this ageless group that is looking to dominate the world stage yet again, and in the friendly confines of the USA.

They've played in every World Cup match since the tournament began for women in 1991. That's 18 to be exact. Yet they've done more than just excel and dominate in those 18 games.

To understand what they've meant to the game, you need not look any further than a simple and often underrated process -- communication.

For example, Foudy and Lilly are two of the most skillful midfielders. Both have uncanny passing ability which is partly responsible for Hamm leading the world in goals scored. In fact, some believe, the two could play the game blindfolded and have no trouble finding each other on the pitch.

The players have relationships with communication as their rock-solid foundation.

"Relationships built over 15 years don't happen overnight," said Brandi Chastain, another player probably participating in her final World Cup. "There were times when you would question yourself and what you are doing, and having people doing it with you and understanding where you are coming from makes it easier."

Need anyone say any more about Hamm. She's arguably the sport's icon like Tiger Woods is to golf and Michael Jordan was to basketball. When people mention women's soccer, Hamm is almost certainly mentioned in the dialogue.

And then there's Fawcett -- the States' resident soccer mom. She's still schooling the best and brightest stars on defense. In fact, she was the WUSA's top defender at 35-years-old. Young Danielle Slaton, Cat Reddick and Kylie Bivens are sure to benefit under Fawcett's tutelage.

The four players have played in a combined 941 U.S. matches. Lilly and Hamm lead the crew with 255 and 239, respectively. Foudy is a close third at 231 with Fawcett holding up the rear at 216. There's no team in the 2003 World Cup field, which begins for the U.S. Sunday against Sweden in Washington D.C., with as much combined experience as this crew. And to boot, they're all starters and have been for more than a decade.

"Love of the game," Lilly said as to how the crew keeps ticking along. "Love of being out there and the whole concept of team sports and you helping them, and them helping you."

Lilly continued: "We've got four players who have been together for 16 years. Nothing is better than that, the friendships you have, your friends surrounding you and having that success."

There's certainly no complacency this time around for the U.S. team. A third World Cup championship is definitely in their sights and Foudy describes the emotions quite poignantly.

"Hey, this is the World Cup," said the team co-captain. "If you go into the World Cup and your juices are not flowing, you're dead. You've got no pulse."

Aside from the 'Fab Four' and the vibrant Chastain, this world championship could also be the swan song for goalkeeper Briana Scurry, forward Tiffeny Milbrett and forward Shannon MacMillan.

Despite being in the twilight of their careers, the players want to focus on what they've built not what they'll eventually be missing.

"I was thinking about it on the bus ride from one of our games," said Foudy. "It usually takes a while to bond a group, to get the meshing of young with old or young, or player to player. But it's something we've had from the start."

Leadership on and off the field have made these players figureheads of women's sports. It's a quality that will make them important ambassadors of the game long after they retire and head coach April Heinrichs knows this.

"There will never be another generation like these five players," Heinrichs said.

The coach is probably right, for generations of female soccer players will never forget these icons.