USA’s Spectacular Olympic Gold Is a Dream Come True

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have been a whirlwind for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), who appear to be in top form after helping the United States win the gold medal.

In the women’s tournament, veteran forward Sophia Smith scored three goals for her country, including a crucial strike in injury time, in a 1-0 semi-final win over 2016 gold medallists Germany.

Smith, a 24-year-old forward for Portland Thorns FC, said she and her teammates are having the time of their lives, but she’s happy to be back in the U.S. and in the thick of NWSL competition.

“Yeah, it’s been great,” Smith said in a virtual interview Tuesday. “But I’m happy to be back in Portland.”

On the horizon, once again, is the next FIFA Women’s World Cup. Smith said the next World Cup was always on the U.S. Women’s National Team’s mind, but capturing Olympic gold was not only a “dream come true,” but also a move that offered the U.S. women a fresh start.

“I’ve played in a World Cup before and it wasn’t the best experience for me. Because it’s difficult when you don’t get the results you want,” Smith said of 2023.

But as Smith said, this summer’s Olympics “were an experience I didn’t want to end. I had so much fun on and off the field.”

After being eliminated in the Group Stage of the World Cup last summer, the U.S. Women’s National Team got off to a strong start by winning all three of its group stage matches at the Paris Olympic tournament. The U.S. took the lead in Group B, beating all three of its opponents: Germany, Australia and Zambia. Smith scored twice in the U.S.’s second match against Germany, sealing a big 4-1 victory.

After twice winning 1–0 in overtime in the quarterfinals (against Japan) and semifinals (against Germany), the United States defeated Brazil 1–0 in the Olympic finals on August 10, again on a second-half goal by Mallory Swanson.

With Smith back in the continental U.S. and helping the sixth-ranked Portland Thorns close out the season strong, sponsors continue to demand the NWSL’s 2022 MVP.

Smith’s performed at the Olympic Games last season and this summer and has signed numerous endorsement deals with major brands, including Ally Financial, Chipotle, Hyperice and Nike.

He was also hired by nutrition company Clif Bar, a brand with a history of supporting the USNWT and its players with individual endorsements. Along with the nonprofit group Open air AfroClif Bar works to promote outdoor activities in nature and encourage youth to do good and experience nature through outdoor education, recreation and conservation activities.

Smith said nutrition, fitness and interaction with the world around him have been vital to him since he started playing with a ball.

“Clif Bars were something I ate all the time when I was little, something my dad always bought for me and my sisters on the weekends between games,” Smith said. “When the opportunity came up, it was a no-brainer for me.”

As part of its efforts to increase participation in sports, Clif Bar launched the following campaign in June: 2024 CLIF CORPS Athlete CoalitionA project that includes a variety of athlete-led projects in communities across the country, helping to improve equal access to sports and the outdoors.

In addition to Smith, the brand has signed up other top athletes as ambassadors, including WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, American professional tennis player Frances Tiafoe and Paralympic and Marathon Champion Daniel Romanchuk.

“I love Clif Bar and I love their products, but I also love what they stand for and how involved they are in the community,” Smith added. “The way they give back in different and unique ways especially resonates with me. I’m grateful to be a part of that.”

US’s next-generation strike force

Smith and fellow U.S. forwards Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson have scored a combined 10 goals at the 2024 Olympic Games.

By winning Olympic gold this year, the U.S. women’s national team not only won its first gold medal in soccer since London 2012, it also finished fifth overall and gave it a chance to silence its critics.

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“This team has a history of winning world tournaments and being the best in the world. That’s something we’re proud of,” Smith said, “and something the younger generation coming up knows (is) the standard – to be the best in the world.”

Smith also thinks the U.S. Women’s National Team’s successful Olympics has silenced “some people,” particularly “those who don’t believe in us or think our time is up.”

As well as delivering some excellent world football, Smith said two key things that made everything go so smoothly this time around.

First, English head coach Emma Hayes was hired by US Soccer. Hayes began her leadership role in the US more than two decades ago, first with the second-tier Long Island Rough Riders, then with the college team at Iona University, and then took over the women’s team at Chelsea FC. Hayes won seven domestic league titles and five FA Cup tournaments at Chelsea.

Smith said Hayes keeps things as simple as possible, even though her resume as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team is impressive.

“I’ve always heard about Coach Hayes, and knowing him now (as the USA head coach), I can see why he’s won so much,” Smith said.

“And it’s interesting with him because (football) is not rocket science. He didn’t come in and solve a world problem. He came in and put the pieces together and that’s all we needed. But he does it in a way that allows us to be ourselves.”

Smith said Hayes was ambitious but trusted his players and kept them focused on the most important goals.

“It brings a lot of pressure and stress, but it’s made us fall in love with playing for the national team again and I think that brings less stress.”

Smith also described his relationship and play with other forwards like Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman as perhaps the cornerstone of winning big again, with Smith hinting that their different personalities and life experiences blend well on the field.

“I think we all get along like we’re very different in a lot of ways. But we’re also similar in a lot of ways.” Smith adds that what Swanson and Rodman share is a positive outlook and a strong desire to win for the team.

“We are similar in how hungry we are to score goals, how we want to turn and move forward as efficiently as possible, how we want to link up and be fluid.”

Smith noted that the 2024 Olympics will be the first time Rodman and Swanson have played together in a competition. Last year, during the 2023 World Cup, Swanson out with injury and therefore could not travel to Japan.

Swanson tore his left kneecap tendon in a World Cup friendly against Ireland last April, but he has returned to full fitness, scoring four goals in all matches at Paris 2024.

“It’s honestly a lot of fun playing with them,” Smith said of his strike partners. “When you play soccer in the Olympics, you only play six games together. But we already bond so much and I think we all make each other better.

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