Forward Sophia Smith was named US Soccer Women’s Player of the Year on Friday after leading the national team with 11 goals and starting 17 games.
Smith, 22, is the youngest player to win the award since Mia Hamm won it, also at age 22, in 1994. Smith is also the youngest player to lead the United States in scoring since Hamm scored 10 goals in 1993.
“Obviously this is surreal and I am very honored,” Smith said in a statement. “It’s been a very exciting year, and certainly there have been some challenges, but just being able to grow and develop in the environments with the National Team and the Thorns, and being surrounded by such incredible players, players that I’ve looked up to. for so long, it has pushed me to become a better player and person.”
Smith, who plays for the Portland Thorns, was also named the National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player. after scoring 14 goals in 18 regular season games. He also scored for the Thorns in the league title game,
“This was a great year for Sophia, and she deserves this recognition, but I’m excited to see where she can take her game from here,” said national team coach Vlatko Andonovski. “She’s a special player with special qualities, but what’s best is that she has the humility, work ethic and drive to keep developing all aspects of her game.”
Smith is currently recovering from a foot injury that kept her out of the national team roster for her January training camp in New Zealand. The United States will play New Zealand on January 18 in Wellington and on January 21 in Auckland. The matches will help both teams prepare for this summer’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Smith is one of the players who have emerged as Andonovski has focused on developing young talent in preparation for the World Cup.
Andonovski said in a conference call with reporters Thursday that Smith’s injury is not serious.
“We felt like this was the time that we wanted to fix this and not have any problems in the future,” he said. “In fact, now he’s back to training or light training. Due to the treatment she received in December, she was unable to train and catch up or have the necessary physical condition to be in the January camp.”
Smith is only the fourth player in history to win player of the year and young player of the year honors, joining Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz and Tobin Heath.
Smith finished second on the team with 1,192 minutes played last year. She became the youngest player since 2000 to score a hat trick when she played in her first career three-goal game against Uzbekistan on April 9.
The awards are decided through votes cast by national team coaches and players, members of the US Soccer board of directors, the federation’s Athlete Council, NWSL coaches, select members of the media, college coaches, and fans. .
Smith won with 50.8% of the vote, ahead of Alex Morgan with 18.4%.
Jaedyn Shaw, 18, a midfielder and forward who excelled at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, was named US Soccer’s Young Player of the Year. Shaw, who plays for the San Diego Wave, won with 35.1% of the vote, followed by forward Alyssa Thompson with 34.4%.
“It means everything to me to be part of the list of players who have won this award, but it also tells me that I have a lot of work to do to continue to improve and grow,” Shaw said in a statement.
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