Long touted as the next big thing in U.S. soccer, Sophia Smith's moment finally arrived. In the NWSL final in late October, Smith beat Kansas City Current keeper Adrianna Franch one-on-one and buried the go-ahead goal for the Portland Thorns-then flashed an instantly iconic, meme-worthy Michael Jordan shrug. It was an unforgettable moment for the league's 2022 MVP-a celebration she says she didn't plan, but one that put her critics on notice.
"I try not to look at it, but it's always going to be there," Smith says of the online discussion surrounding her award. "It's hard to avoid, but... there always will be conversations, arguments [and] debates, and I wanted to make it a point that I really, truly believed that I deserved to win MVP."
Smith notched 14 goals, one fewer than Golden Boot winner Alex Morgan, and three assists through the regular season. The former Stanford star's ascension to the top of U.S. professional soccer materialized at warp speed. She lifted the league trophy just two years after being selected first by Portland in 2020, the first teenager to be picked in the NWSL draft, and is emerging as a mainstay on the U.S. women's national team. Smith is no longer the future of the sport-she is the now.
NATURAL TALENT
Watching Smith compete, it's evident that she thrives when given the latitude to run at players, take opponents one-on-one, and be creative on the ball. Her liberated approach also creates space off the ball for herself and her teammates, opening up channels despite defenders' fixation on her.
This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Sports Illustrated Kids.
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This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Sports Illustrated Kids.
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