Sophie Schmidt

She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to parents who immigrated from Paraguay, and her grandparents were originally from Germany.

She speaks German fluently and even studied it in Portland.

She grew up in a Mennonite community and has described her faith as the most important thing in her life.

She played high school basketball in addition to soccer.

While playing college soccer at the University of Portland, she played as a forward despite never having played the position before, finishing the season with seven goals and seven assists.

She played for the Vancouver Whitecaps alongside Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair and former US star Tiffeny Milbrett.

During the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Final, she scored a penalty that helped Houston Dash win their first-ever major trophy.

She played in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games, winning gold in 2020 and bronze in 2012 and 2016.

She made her 200th international appearance for Canada in February 2021 in a match against the United States.

After Canada’s 2023 World Cup exit, she retired from international football but briefly returned to play in two farewell matches alongside longtime teammate Christine Sinclair.

Her first football idol was her older brother, Spencer, because he was the first footballer she ever knew.

She first started playing soccer with her brother in Paraguay before joining her first organized girls' teams.

She looked up to both Zinedine Zidane and Michelle Akers, drawing inspiration from Akers' story after reading her book as a child.

Before realizing her dream of becoming a professional footballer at age 12, she wanted to be either a teacher or a nurse.

She didn't initially know that women could play soccer professionally or that there was a national team.

She considers Brazil’s Marta and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsán to be the best players she has ever faced.

If she weren’t a footballer, she would likely be a teacher, a nurse, or a "beach bum living in a camper van."

She got engaged to Nic Kyle, an actor and singer, in September 2017, and they married in New Zealand in December 2018.

She used to write Joshua 1:9 verse on her soccer boots to help calm her nerves before games. “Have I not commanded you; be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you always.”

She and her teammates have held Bible studies and pre-match prayers during their national team camps.

Her hobbies include reading, photography, video editing, cooking, and hiking.

She graduated from the University of Portland with a Bachelor of Arts in Life Science and German in December 2010.

Her nickname is "Soph."

She has two dogs.