This week, the United States Women’s National Team was eliminated from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing a penalty kick shootout to Sweden. And a critical missed penalty kick from young USWNT star Sophia Smith was a big reason why.
Sophia Smith had a chance to win the shootout for the USWNT and punch their ticket to the next round of the tournament, but she missed, sending the ball soaring over the post. Sweden then made two consecutive penalty kicks to take control and win the shootout.
It was a brutal miss for Smith, and she addressed the kick in an Instagram post this week.
“Heartbroken,” Smith wrote in her post on Instagram this week. “This World Cup was filled with just about every emotion possible, what I’ve learned is more valuable than any experience I’ve ever had. Thank you to those who believed and supported us throughout the tournament, and most importantly, to those who still do and never stopped. It wouldn’t be life without moments like this, and I know without a doubt we will be back and hungrier than ever.”
Smith is just 22 years old and was playing her first major tournament with the team. It’s clear that she has a bright future ahead of her despite the miss, but that’s unlikely to take the sting away completely.
