USWNT 'Triple Espresso' star Sophia Wilson inspired by Alex Morgan to return with fresh approach after pregnancy
USWNT 'Triple Espresso' star Sophia Wilson inspired by Alex Morgan to return with fresh approach after pregnancy originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Since Emma Hayes arrived as head coach and led the USWNT to a 2024 Olympic gold medal, her tenure has been filled largely with the development of the U.S. women's soccer player pool.
Hayes has handed a first international cap to 32 different players since her hire almost two years ago, a remarkable number that has given the USWNT a larger talent base from which to draw from.
However, some of that has been out of necessity. A number of established USWNT stars have been forced off the field for various reasons. Most notable was the "Triple Espresso" attacking trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson who developed a palpable chemistry throughout the latest gold medal run.
Rodman has struggled with a back injury and only just recently returned to international duty, while Smith — now Sophia Wilson after her marriage to NFL wide receiver Michael Wilson — and Swanson have been absent as they navigate pregnancy.
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While Swanson's return is not yet clear, Wilson has made her way back to the field after the birth of Gianna Capri, who affectionately goes by "Gigi." Having made four appearances for her NWSL club KC Current, she has been called back into the USWNT squad for three friendlies against Japan this April, with the first set for action on April 11 from San Jose.
Now en route to her first international appearance since the gold medal victory over Brazil in August of 2024, Smith has returned to USWNT camp refreshed after giving herself the space to enjoy the process of becoming a mother.
"For me, I knew from the time I got pregnant that I was going to be very patient with myself through the whole process, even during pregnancy," Smith told the media while speaking from USWNT camp.
"Getting back to playing at a high level, it's not just a straight path, it's not gonna happen with the snap of my fingers. A lot of work went into it behind the scenes that a lot of people didn't see, and a lot of work is still going into it, and I think for me it's 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 is continuing to for me.' Knowing that it is very possible to be great at both things, be a great mom and a great athlete.
"Knowing myself, knowing my body, knowing that it will take time to get back to...I wouldn't even say normal, because what is normal, but just getting back to feeling 100% myself. But I feel like I'm in a really great place right now, I think I've taken this journey the right way, I think I've gone about it the right way. I've had so much support, so much help, and I haven't felt pressured in any way which is really special.
"I felt like I've taken my time and gone about it how I need to go about it, and I feel like I'm in a really great place and have balanced all the things graciously because I've seen people before me do the same."
As examples for her to follow, Wilson pointed to seeing former USWNT star Alex Morgan return from her pregnancy with daughter Charlie that was her first experience seeing a teammate go through and return from pregnancy. She also mentioned fellow USWNT star Crystal Dunn and her return from pregnancy with son Marcel, as well as former club teammate Bella Bixby of the Portland Thorns.
"Everyone navigates it differently, but it's just been very inspiring, and having those examples made me believe and know I could do the same thing."
Morgan's pregnancy was clearly an eye-opening experience for Wilson, who has hoped to follow the example set by her former international teammate. Morgan, who amassed 224 USWNT appearances during her illustrious career and sits fifth on the national team's all-time goal scoring list , took over a year off for the birth of her daughter Charlie. After starting in the 2019 Women's World Cup final against the Netherlands, she did not appear again for the national team until November of 2020, with Charlie born in May of that year.
"I knew I always wanted to be a mom," Smith said. "I've always been very maternal and I love kids, and I feel like that's my biggest calling in life is to be a mom.
"Having players like Alex going through it was just the coolest thing to see, and now being that player that I once viewed Alex as is pretty surreal, and I hope that I carry myself in the same way as Alex did where it showed young girls and athletes that it's very possible to do both and have a family and play at a high level."
Most notably for Wilson, her time away from soccer to bring Gigi into the world has given her a new perspective and new approach to being a professional athlete, one that prioritizes enjoyment and revolves around moving forward instead of dwelling on the past.
"I feel more grounded, I feel more present, and I'm trying to approach it with a goldfish mentality. It's just being present in whatever practice, whatever game I'm in and then it's on to the next, take what I need and what I want to learn from and leave the rest behind. Being a mom has taught you to do that because life just goes too quick, and we put too much pressure on what we can't control.
"I feel like I've learned to focus on what I can control and enjoy every moment as it comes because life goes fast, Gigi's growing up quick, and I've realized that my career is going by, so while I'm in the prime years of my career I want to enjoy it all."
With Rodman back from injury earlier this year and Smith set for an imminent return, there is still just over a year to get the "Triple Espresso" firing once again. Swanson remains out after the birth of her daughter Josie in November, the hope is to get the band back together in time for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Since Wilson last played for the USWNT, Hayes has ushered in the next generation of international talent. Wilson, meanwhile, has made an exciting and life-changing addition to her own team at home. The future is bright on each front, and at 25 years old, Wilson has plenty of time left to enjoy balancing both together.
