Sophia Smith setting records ahead of appearance with U.S. Soccer team in Colorado
Sophia Smith is making the NWSL her personal playground.
The Fossil Ridge High School graduate is dominating early in the 2024 season in the top professional American women's soccer league, breaking records along the way.
Soon, she'll be making an appearance in Colorado, and the Olympics should be ahead for Smith this summer.
More on her Colorado return and the Olympics in a moment, but first, records.
Sophia Smith sets NWSL scoring pace
Smith, a forward for the Portland Thorns, has been on a goal-scoring tear. She has eight goals in 10 games, which is two more than second-best in the NWSL. She also leads the league in assists with six.
Earlier in May she hit the mark of 40 career NWSL goals, making her the youngest player (23 years, 9 months) in league history to reach that number. She beat the mark made by star Samantha Kerr. Smith is also the youngest to register 50 goal contributions (goals and assists) across all competitions.
The Thorns have won six games in a row and have the fourth-most points in the league.
Smith was the 2022 NWSL MVP.
Sophia Smith to make Colorado return ahead of Olympics
Another huge stage awaits Smith. The U.S. Soccer Women's National Team (USWNT) has a new coach in Emma Hayes, who is about to lead her first game.
That game comes at 3 p.m. MT June 1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City when the Americans face Korea Republic. The USWNT announced the roster for the June camp on Tuesday (which also includes a June 4 game in Minnesota) with Smith as one of the selections.
Tickets for the June 1 game in Colorado are on sale at Ticketmaster and other secondary market sites, with the cheapest available going for $100.
Smith has made 45 appearances for the USWNT, scoring 16 goals and notching seven assists. She scored twice in the 2023 World Cup.
She played with the USWNT in Colorado for the first time in 2022, scoring twice in a win with family and friends in attendance.
The next big competition for the USWNT is the 2024 Olympics in France, which begins with a July 25 game against Zambia for the Americans.
The roster for the Olympics won't be announced until later in the summer, but Smith is expected to be on it and a key player.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Sophia Smith to play in Colorado with U.S. Soccer team
