Sophia Wilson says being a mom has helped with her 鈥済oldfish mentality鈥� of living in the moment.
Wilson was named to the for three upcoming matches against Japan, starting April 11 in San Jose, California. She took time away from soccer for the birth of her daughter and has not played for the United States in 17 months.
鈥淚 feel like my perspective on just life in general has shifted a lot, I think, in all the best ways,” Wilson said Thursday. “I feel more grounded, I feel more present. And I think that鈥檚 how I view the game as well. I鈥檓 trying to approach it with 鈥� I always have, but I think more than ever 鈥� a goldfish mentality. It鈥檚 just, be present in whatever practice, whatever game I鈥檓 in, and then it鈥檚 on to the next.鈥�
Wilson gave birth to daughter Gianna last September. Formerly Sophia Smith, she is married to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson.
The 25-year-old forward was on the national team that . Fans nicknamed the front line of Wilson, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson as 鈥淭riple Espresso.鈥�
She has also to a starting role this season for her club team, the Portland Thorns, after taking all of last season off on maternity leave.
鈥淲atching her play 70 minutes the other night, it was almost like I couldn’t believe she’s had a baby and come back to perform at the level she’s done,鈥� U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. 鈥淩eal, real credit to her and the team around her that have really positioned pre- and post-pregnancy planning in a fantastic way.”
Wilson gave herself grace as she worked her way back.
“Knowing that getting back to playing at a high level, it鈥檚 not just a straight path. It鈥檚 not going to happen with the snap of my fingers,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淎 lot of work went into it behind the scenes a lot of people didn鈥檛 see, and a lot of work is still going into it. And I think for me, it鈥檚 just being gracious with myself, and going into it with the perspective of look at what my body has done for me and what it鈥檚 still continuing to do for me, and knowing that it is very possible to be great at both things, be a great mom, be a great athlete.鈥�
Wilson has played in 58 games with the national team, scoring 24 goals. She was named U.S. Soccer women鈥檚 Player of the Year in 2022 and Young Player of the Year in 2017.
She will be a key member of the team as it prepares for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Qualification starts in late November.
鈥淭his absolutely feels like the right time, not just because she’s playing again at a high level, but I think it’s really important for us to start getting these players like Soph back into a rhythm in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淪o I cannot wait to welcome her and Gigi. I know there will be a lot of fussing over them. I know I will steal Gigi a few times for sure.鈥�
Wilson had role models to lean on for advice, including Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby. She is the 18th mother to play for the U.S. national team. Eight moms have scored.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 in a really great place right now. I think I鈥檝e taken this journey the right way,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had so much support, so much help, and I haven鈥檛 felt pressured in any way, which I think is also really special, because there鈥檚 obviously a lot of reasons that someone would want to get back sooner rather than later. But I felt like I鈥檝e taken my time and gone about it how I need to go about it, and I feel like I鈥檓 in a really great place and have balanced all the things graciously, because I鈥檝e seen people before me do the same.鈥�
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