'Special' Sophia Smith leads USWNT to SheBelieves Cup title - ESPN

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Scoring exceptional goals is nothing new for Sophia Smith, but she's making a habit of finishing them against Canada.

Smith scored twice Tuesday at Lower.com Field as the United States defeated Canada 5-4 in a penalty shootout to lift the SheBelieves Cup for the seventh time in nine editions of the tournament.

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It was the USWNT's second penalty shootout victory over Canada in 34 days after prevailing in a Gold Cup semifinal, and Smith's individual play was another example of the 23-year-old forward «being a special player in a special moment within our team concept,» USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore said.

Smith scored an equalizer from outside the box five minutes after halftime and the go-ahead goal 18 minutes later, when she got on a through ball from second-half substitute Trinity Rodman.

«The first goal was just class,» Kilgore said. «Sometimes individuals just do special things. It was a left-footed finish for Soph in a crowded box, just an exceptional moment, but also there's a big team concept there.»

Smith started the game on the right wing, a position she has been asked to play often in her blooming USWNT career but not her preferred No. 9 position, which she plays for the Portland Thorns. She won National Women's Soccer League MVP and a league title in 2022 and the Golden Boot in 2023. Portland recently rewarded Smith with the largest annual contract in NWSL history.

Four minutes after Smith moved to her preferred No. 9 role Tuesday, she tallied her second goal. Jaedyn Shaw found the ball centrally after moving into the attacking midfield role, then Shaw turned and played a vertical ball to Rodman, who found a streaking Smith in behind.

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