Sophia Smith is one of the most talented players in the United States right now. Scratch that – she’s one of the most talented players in the world. Last year, she was at such a level as the Portland Thorns won the NWSL Championship that she became the league’s youngest-ever MVP. What a boost it is, then, for the reigning champion to get her back just in time to defend that title.
Smith limped off with a knee injury in just her second game back with the Thorns after the U.S. women’s national team’s disastrous World Cup campaign, and in a women’s game rocked by devastating ACL injuries, it’s understandable that some fans feared the worst.
Fortunately, those dreaded three letters weren’t the diagnosis, and six weeks later she was back, playing seven minutes in the team's penultimate regular season outing and 30 minutes the week after.
Having followed that up with a first start since August while on duty with the USWNT last weekend, the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot winner is working her way towards perfect condition as Portland prepares to welcome Gotham in its NWSL playoff semi-final on Sunday evening.
It’s hard to overstate just how big Smith’s return is for the Thorns. This time last year, she was decisive, breaking the deadlock in the Championship game before being named its MVP as Portland collected a third title. Twelve months on, is she ready to make the difference again?