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Sophia Smith like you’ve never seen her before: USWNT star’s life in pictures

Mike Snider, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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As a teenager, Sophia Smith told her father she was "going to be special in soccer." She's already doing special things at the 2023 World Cup.

It took just shy of 14 minutes for Smith to score the United States' first goal of the 2023 World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Her debut goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead over Vietnam. She made it 2-0 just before the end of the first half.

Smith, 22, is poised to be the new face of the USWNT, which is attempting to win its third consecutive World Cup. She began representing the U.S. in the 2016 FIFA U-17 World Cup and played in the 2018 U-20 World Cup. While soccer may have been her destiny, but it wasn't the obvious athletic path.

Follow the action live! USA vs. Vietnam live blog

Sophia Smith, who was born Aug. 10, 2000, fell in love with soccer at an early age while playing in Fort Collins, Colorado. But she and two older sisters, middle daughter Savannah and oldest sister Gabrielle, all played basketball in addition to soccer. Their father, Kenny, played basketball at Wyoming from 1989 to 1991. Savannah remains Northern Colorado's all-time leading scorer.

It's not just soccer: Basketball is a big game in the Smith family

As girls Sophia Smith (center) and her sisters Savannah (left) and Gabby (right) were regulars at former Colorado State star and current WNBA coach Becky Hammon's games.
As girls Sophia Smith (center) and her sisters Savannah (left) and Gabby (right) were regulars at former Colorado State star and current WNBA coach Becky Hammon's games.

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Even as a young soccer player, Sophia Smith found the goal

When she was 5 years old, in the car on the way to a 3-on-3 soccer tournament, Smith said she was going to score 10 goals, in a story reported by Fox Sports. She scored 10.

Sophia Smith with one of her soccer heroes, former USWNT star Abby Wambach, when Smith was just 7 years old.
Sophia Smith with one of her soccer heroes, former USWNT star Abby Wambach, when Smith was just 7 years old.
Sophia Smith (front, with ball) told her parents early on that she was going to be “special” at soccer.
Sophia Smith (front, with ball) told her parents early on that she was going to be “special” at soccer.

In high school, Smith was chosen as the 2017 U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year after scoring for three different national teams that year: the Under-18 national team, the Under-20 team and the U-23 team.

Sophia Smith juggles a ball in the hallways of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colo., on May 3, 2018.
Sophia Smith juggles a ball in the hallways of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colo., on May 3, 2018.
Fossil Ridge High School's Sophia Smith, in this photo taken December 24, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colo., was called up to the U.S. senior women's national soccer team.
Fossil Ridge High School's Sophia Smith, in this photo taken December 24, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colo., was called up to the U.S. senior women's national soccer team.
Sophia Smith poses for a photo on May 3, 2018 in Fort Collins, Colo. The Fossil Ridge High School student had been chosen to play in the upcoming U-20 FIFA World Cup in France that summer.
Sophia Smith poses for a photo on May 3, 2018 in Fort Collins, Colo. The Fossil Ridge High School student had been chosen to play in the upcoming U-20 FIFA World Cup in France that summer.
USA's forward Sophia Smith (R) vies with Paraguay's defender Natalia Villasanti during the Women's World Cup U20 Group C football match between USA and Paraguay on August 9, 2018, at the Guy Piriou Stadium in Concarneau, western France.
USA's forward Sophia Smith (R) vies with Paraguay's defender Natalia Villasanti during the Women's World Cup U20 Group C football match between USA and Paraguay on August 9, 2018, at the Guy Piriou Stadium in Concarneau, western France.

Sophia Smith wins soccer championship at Stanford University

Smith played two seasons at Stanford University, where her team won the 2019 NCAA Championship before for-going the remainder of her collegiate eligibility to turn pro.

Stanford Cardinal forward Sophia Smith (9) dribbles as North Carolina Tar Heels defender Julia Dorsey (7) defends in the first half of the College Cup championship match at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, on Dec 8, 2019.
Stanford Cardinal forward Sophia Smith (9) dribbles as North Carolina Tar Heels defender Julia Dorsey (7) defends in the first half of the College Cup championship match at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, on Dec 8, 2019.

She made her debut on the senior national team Nov. 27, 2020 against Netherlands and scored her first goal onSept. 21, 2021, against Paraguay in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was the first player born in the 2000s – and the first born after the USWNT's 1999 World Cup win – to start for the team, according to U.S. Soccer.

Smith has thrived since then. She won U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2022, after leading the USWNT in goals, scoring 11 times in 17 appearances.

United States forward Sophia Smith (11) takes a shot on goal as Czech Republic midfielder Kamila Dubcová (18) looks on in the first half during a 2022 SheBelieves Cup international soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on Feb 17, 2022.
United States forward Sophia Smith (11) takes a shot on goal as Czech Republic midfielder Kamila Dubcová (18) looks on in the first half during a 2022 SheBelieves Cup international soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on Feb 17, 2022.

In second full pro season, Smith leads Portland to NWSL Championship

Sophia Smith was drafted No. 1 by Portland Thorns FC in 2020, the first teenager drafted in league history.

In 2022, she scored 14 goals, the club's single-season record, won the league MVP award, then was named MVP of the NWSL Championship game, won by Portland 2-0 over Kansas City Current.

Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith (9) celebrates defeating the Washington Spirit at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, on Jun 23, 2023.
Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith (9) celebrates defeating the Washington Spirit at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, on Jun 23, 2023.

What's next for Sophia Smith?

Glory at the World Cup is something she is striving for. “I do feel like I’m at that point ... but I have to prove myself on the big stage, in a big tournament like the World Cup," she told USA TODAY recently. "And not just one time, but I have to continue to do that every time I’m out there. I don’t think there’s an end point to being the best in the world.”

Contributing: Lindsay Schnell and Kevin Lytle of The Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2023 World Cup: USWNT star Sophia Smith's life in pictures