Sophia Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming phase with the United States national team after a tumultuous period of emotions following their early exit from the World Cup last year. The 23-year-old forward, who showcased her talent in the tournament held in Australia and New Zealand, made a significant impact by scoring twice and providing an assist in the U.S.'s opening victory against Vietnam.
However, the journey for the four-time World Cup champions was cut short as they were eliminated in a penalty shootout against Sweden in the round of 16, with Smith being one of the players who missed their spot-kicks. Reflecting on her experience, Smith highlighted the importance of her late penalty goal in the Gold Cup semifinal against Canada, a competition that the U.S. eventually won.
