Sophia Smith Is Ready For The Big Stage
Written by Oluwaseun Oyediji
In her final National Women Soccer League (NWSL) game before leaving for World Cup duty with the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), Portland Thorns star Sophia Smith made a major statement.
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The 22-year-old registered her second hat trick of the season, launching herself into first in the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot race.
With 31 goals, she is now the youngest player in NWSL history to reach 30 career goals, a record previously held by Sam Kerr.
The 2022 NWSL Most Valuable Player (MVP) and USWNT leading scorer has picked up where she left off, scoring 10 goals with five assists so far this season.
She now has two career hat tricks after an impressive performance against fellow Shield contenders the Washington Spirit on Friday night.
“I have to go into this tournament as my best self, feeling like my most confident self and I knew this game was important in doing that,” Smith said after the 4-2 win.
“When I’m dribbling towards the goal, if I see a sliver of an open net, I’m taking a shot. Recently I’ve had some good luck with shots from distance, so I’m going to keep doing that,” she said.
Meanwhile…
Despite a number of high-profile departures in the 2023 offseason, the North Carolina Courage are climbing the NWSL standings.
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After 13 games, the Courage sit in second, two points behind the league-leading Portland Thorns.
Known for their postseason prowess, the Courage just missed the playoffs in 2022.
Debinha and Diana Ordoñez’s departure in the offseason could have set the club further adrift.
Kerolin, however, has been spectacular, leading the club with eight regular-season goals.
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