Striker Sophia Smith of Portland Thorns F.C. now has another trophy to add to her trophy case for 2022. The reigning National Women’s Soccer League Regular Season and Finals Most Valuable Player was named Women’s Soccer Player of the Year by U.S. Soccer. The award has been given since 1985 and Smith is the first Black player to receive the honor.
The 22 year-old was the leading goal scorer for the United States in 2022 with 11 goals, including her first hattrick against Uzbekistan. Smith also scored for country this year against Colombia, Jamaica, England and Germany last year. She finished second in the Golden Boot race in the NWSL with 14 regular season goals and 3 assists, and scored the go ahead goal in the NWSL final to lead the Portland Thorns to the 2022 NWSL Championship title, their third.
Asked what this award meant to her, Smith stated “It’s been a very exciting year, and certainly there’s 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 amazing players, players that I have looked up to for so long, has pushed me to become a better player and person.” Smith is currently out with a minor injury and will not travel with the USWNT as they compete in two friendlies in New Zealand later this month.
Also awarded today was the Women’s Soccer Young Player of the Year Award, which went to San Diego Wave FC midfielder/forward Jaedyn Shaw. Shaw scored 3 goals in 7 appearances in her rookie season for San Diego, including a goal in her debut match on July 30, 2022 against the Chicago Red Stars. She also had a standout performance as a member of the U.S U-20 Women’s Youth National Team that competed in the Women’s U-20 World Cup in India. Asked about the award, Shaw commented “It means everything to me to be a part of the list of players who have won this award, but it also tells me I have so much work to do to keep improving and growing.I just feel super honored and blessed and it’s an amazing way start to the year.
Quick Facts:
-In addition to being the first Black player to win this award, Smith is the youngest player since Mia Hamm at age 22.
-Smith becomes just the fourth player to win both the Women’s Soccer Young Player of the Year Award and the Player of the Year award, joining Tobin Heath (‘09,’16), Julie Ertz (‘12, ‘17, ‘19), Lindsey Horan (‘13, ‘21).
-Shaw becomes the second San Diego Wave FC player to win the award, joining teammate Naomi Girma (‘20)
