It's safe to say Sophia Smith is off to a good start at her first career FIFA Women's World Cup.
In the USA's opening match against Vietnam, the 22-year-old scored twice in the first half to give her team a 2-0 lead at the break. It led to an eventual 3-0 win as the Stars and Stripes got their first victory of the competition.
Despite the win, it was a performance that left a lot to be desired from the USWNT. The Americans missed a slew of goalscoring opportunities throughout the match, but Smith found the net twice and served as arguably the biggest bright spot as her team accomplished its main objective: putting three points on the board.
Here's everything you need to know about Smith as she continues to shine in her maiden World Cup appearance:
MORE: Women's World Cup Golden Boot race: Sophia Smith chases trophy for tournament's top scorer
How old is Sophia Smith?
Smith was born on August 10, 2000, making her 22 years old. Her 23rd birthday will take place during this year's World Cup on the day of the first quarterfinal matchup.
She is the third-youngest player on this year's USWNT squad behind her fellow forwards Alyssa Thompson (18 years old) and Trinity Rodman (21 years old).
Sophia Smith hometown
Smith was born in Windsor, Colo., a small town about an hour north of Denver by car. She grew up there and attended Fossil Ridge High School in nearby Fort Collins.
She was a close childhood friend of fellow American star Jaelin Howell, who also hails from Windsor. The duo was noticed by Lorne Donaldson, now the head coach of the Jamaica women's national team but then the president of renowned club Real Colorado.
“When we saw her at 12 years old, she was just electrifying,” Donaldson told Our Game Magazine last year. “She had a competitive edge, she was the kind of player we liked."
“She has that cutting edge about her. She was very confident, thinks she can do it all. That’s the first thing we saw in her, the type of player we know can take it to the next level."
Sophia Smith parents
Smith comes from a very athletic family. Her father Kenny played basketball at the University of Wyoming, and her older sister Savannah is the all-time leading scorer for the University of Northern Colorado women's basketball program.
She was a high school standout in both soccer and basketball. But when it came time to focus on one, she broke from her family history and opted to pursue soccer.
Where did Sophia Smith go to college?
Smith committed to play her college ball under head coach Paul Ratcliffe at Stanford University. The program is one of the most successful in the country and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year since 1990 with just one exception (1997).
She got off to a quick start in college, scoring just 17 minutes into her debut match against San Francisco. She went on to notch seven goals and two assists in 13 appearances as a freshman.
As a sophomore, she finished with 17 goals and nine assists in 21 appearances, including a stunning hat trick in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. She also converted a penalty in the decisive shootout as the Cardinal took down North Carolina to win the 2019 national title.
Sophia Smith club team
After two seasons at Stanford, Smith declared for the 2020 NWSL Draft, where she was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Thorns.
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most of her rookie campaign, but she hit her stride quickly when the league resumed, scoring seven goals in her maiden season in 2021.
In 2022, she tallied 14 goals and three assists en route to being named NWSL MVP. The Thorns advanced to the championship game that season, and Smith scored the first goal in a 2-0 win over Kansas City that gave Portland its first championship in franchise history.
She's been red hot again in 2023, with ten goals and five assists through just 12 games. The Thorns sit in second place in the league, and will continue their quest for a second straight title when the season resumes in August.
Sophia Smith international career
Smith has been a part of the USWNT setup since 2016, when she competed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
In November 2020, she took the field for the USA senior squad for the first time in a match against the Netherlands. It made her the first player born after 2000 to appear for the American national team.
Including the two against Vietnam, she has now scored a total of 14 goals on the international stage. She'll look to add to that total as the USA attempts to win its third straight World Cup this summer.
