Reflections from Sophia Smith, a humble but exceptional NWSL MVP

The Wharf Dockmaster Building in Washington D.C. is almost entirely wall-to-wall lined with windows. Through them, you can see the shining Potomac River, stirring yellowing trees, and obscured peaks of familiar national landmarks. On a crisp Thursday in the nation's capital, one can see for miles.

All the scenery is just a backdrop, though. To both the NWSL media gathered and the women's soccer community worldwide, it is what's happening inside that modern maritime cottage that is of far greater interest. 

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, attentive at a podium, is flanked by the league's championship trophy. She announces live that Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is the 2022 NWSL MVP winner. 

The newly crowned youngest-ever NWSL MVP takes center stage, but not the spotlight.

"I think there's a lot of players in this league that can be up for this award. So, it's honestly an honor to be in contention, let alone win it." Smith reacted, moments after being handed the MVP trophy. 

As Smith toted her new trophy for the first time, the overbearing sound was not coming from her but her teammates. There was screaming, hollering, whooping and long howls of "Speech!"

"It's emotional"

But Smith is used to blocking out the noise. Poised, the U.S. national team forward reflected on her MVP season to the media scrum surrounding her.

It was no surprise that she credited her triumph to the noisy peers wearing red and black in the Wharf Dockmaster Building. Being able to receive the award live, with them enveloping her, was special too. 

"I literally couldn't do without being in the best environment. To actually get this in front of your team, it's emotional because it's been a long season. And I'm just honestly, like, this says a lot about my teammates. They, you know, push me through everything and want the best out of me. I'm thankful they let me just be Soph," said Smith.

Smith scored seven goals and notched one assist last season. After being a rookie in the curtailed 2020 season, 2021 served as her de facto debut NWSL campaign.

In 2022, Smith doubled her goal return and tripled her assists. The forward evolved into the fulcrum of the Thorns' attack. She became influential in almost every facet of play. 14 goals in a single season is also a club record for the Thorns.

READ MORE: Are we still not talking about Sophia Smith enough?  

"I think in my first season, it was just a matter of me kind of like getting a feel for the league. It's a very different environment. I felt like I couldn't fully find my place in my first year. But this year, I think I just everything just came together. I felt like I could play exactly how I wanted to play, and have the most support around me. It just feels like everything just kind of clicked this season," Smith explained. 

While Smith said she couldn't decide on a favorite strike from her 14, I was curious to know about another of her best highlights, a goal against the North Carolina Courage where she played provider, drawing seven defenders in before laying it off to Hina Sugita to get a cross into the box.

Modestly, Smith admitted that she didn't "pay too much attention" to the Courage defenders in the moment. In fact, she didn't even know that many defenders were closing in on her until she saw the highlights after the match. 

"I saw it later. And I was like, 'Oh, that's like their whole team.' But yeah, during the game, I'm just like, I just gotta keep the ball," she said. 

The last thing I needed to know before the 2022 MVP went on her way was what exactly she meant when she said that her teammates allow her to "just be Soph."

"Hmmm," Smith paused. "To just be so on the field is to try things. No one's ever gonna get mad at me for trying to do something crazy. Because that's just what I like to do. I like to be creative, be fun, put on a little show. But ultimately, yeah, the whole goal is just to help my team win in any way I can. And if that scoring goals, if that's assisting, if that's just working my butt off defensively, I will do anything you know, for this team."

The room settled. Smith smiled, thanked the media, handed her MVP trophy to general manager Karina LeBlanc and went on her way out into the D.C. sun. 

On her way out, she didn't look back over her shoulder at the NWSL Championship trophy. Not a glance. Being out of the spotlight and back with her teammates was the only thing on her mind.

Smith will "just be Soph." And the next piece of silverware the humble forward gets to handle might just well be that championship. Thursday's ceremony feels like just the beginning for one of the most exciting young players world soccer.