When Sophia Smith allows her performance to speak for itself, there is nothing left to say but “that’s that.”
¯ (ツ) /¯
Ahead of Saturday night’s National Women’s Soccer League Championship match between the Kansas City Current and her Portland Thorns, the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player was aware that some supporters were upset that she had gotten the NWSL’s highest individual accolade the day before.
Smith poses with her NWSL MVP trophy for 2022.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Whether these skeptics supported one of the league’s other players or simply disliked the Thorns and their 22-year-old hero, Smith made it a mission to prove them wrong.
Four minutes into the championship game, which was broadcast on CBS in primetime, Smith eluded the defense just outside the 18-yard box and faced off against Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch. She cut to the left to avoid the two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and then touched the ball into the wide-open goal.
(@NWSL) National Women’s Soccer League
30 October 2022
Smith celebrated in a manner reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s famous shrug from the 1992 NBA Finals, as if to say, “How about that?”
However, like His Majesty, the former Stanford Cardinal standout and current USWNT starter is confident in her ability. She knew precisely what she could accomplish with the ball at her feet, was fully deserving of being the youngest MVP in NWSL history, and had done more than enough to earn NWSL Championship MVP and her team’s third championship.
—Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) on Twitter
30 October 2022
During the post-game press conference, Smith stated, “I just did it” in reference to his celebratory shrug. “Numerous individuals believe that I do not deserve to win MVP. So, that was a little bit of that, you know.”
¯ (ツ) /¯
Smith will not have much time to bask in the glory of her dominance in the NWSL. She has been included to the USWNT’s 24-player roster for upcoming friendlies against the third-ranked women’s national team in the world, Germany.
Fans may watch the opening match against Germany on FS1 on November 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Three days later, at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN, the two powerhouses would meet off.