This has been a year of crowns for Sophia Smith.
The 22-year-old forward for the Portland Thorns and U.S. Women’s National Team is the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, earning the distinction in a landslide vote by the sport’s governing body.
Smith is the first Black woman to win the award, and the youngest USWNT player to win since Mia Hamm in 1994.
Let’s talk about #goals. Last year, Smith led the US with 11 goals and scored 14 for the Thorns during the regular season. She scored again in the championship game, helping the club clinch a league-record third title. It’s no wonder Smith became the youngest player to win the National Women’s Soccer League MVP award with the Thorns — she was also named the MVP of the NWSL final.
Despite a minor injury, Smith is focusing on training for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in July in Australia and New Zealand.
