When Sophia Smith isn’t on the pitch for the Portland Thorns and the U.S. women’s national team, she’s probably making her way through a book.
As a kid growing up in Colorado, Smith, who scored twice in the U.S. squad’s 3-0 win over Vietnam in its World Cup opener, wasn’t a reader. The thought of having to read for school put her off it as a hobby, and there were other things to keep her occupied.
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After she entered the NWSL in 2020 and became a professional, though, she found herself with more time.