After experiencing disappointment in the 2023 World Cup, the striker appears ready to assert her dominance in her upcoming second major tournament.
Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, many outlets, including GOAL, declared it the Summer of Smith. And seemingly with good reason.
Sophia Smith appeared destined to become the next big star in women’s soccer. With her title as the current NWSL MVP and reputation as a formidable goal scorer, she had solidified her position among the sport’s most formidable players. As she geared up for her inaugural USWNT tournament, it was clear that greatness was on the verge of being achieved.
However, the World Cup didn’t result in either a crowning achievement or a devastating downfall. Instead, it served as a mere obstacle along the way.
Despite not derailing, the hype train experienced a slowdown. Smith and the USWNT faced challenges in the World Cup, prompting a program-wide reset only a year before the Olympics. While not starting from scratch, the team critically evaluated itself following its worst-ever World Cup performance.
Smith, despite her crucial penalty miss in 2023, has successfully moved past that setback. She has regained her peak performance just in time for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics, where the U.S. team will heavily rely on her.
It’s possible that the Summer of Smith didn’t occur in 2023, but it’s likely that it was only postponed rather than canceled. As the USWNT pursues Olympic success, Smith is once again taking center stage, and this time, she is even better prepared for the high-pressure situations.
