April 4, 2026, Cary, North Carolina, USA: Portland Thorns forward SOPHIA WILSON takes a shot on goal. NC Courage tied the Portland Thorns, 2-2, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. Soccer 2026: North Carolina Courage Vs Portland Thorns PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAm261 20260404_zsp_m261_004 Copyright: xPatrickxMagoonx
April 4, 2026, Cary, North Carolina, USA: Portland Thorns forward SOPHIA WILSON takes a shot on goal. NC Courage tied the Portland Thorns, 2-2, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. Soccer 2026: North Carolina Courage Vs Portland Thorns PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAm261 20260404_zsp_m261_004 Copyright: xPatrickxMagoonx
While motherhood was previously treated as premature retirement in women's football, Sophia Wilson is the latest USWNT player to change it to a new beginning in her career.
Wilson returned to the pitch in national colors for the first time since 2024 after giving birth to her daughter, Gigi, in September last year.
Wilson played 67 minutes as a center forward in the USWNT's 2-1 win against Japan on April 11. The 25-year-old recorded 33 touches and combined well with winger Alyssa Thompson and 'Triple Espresso' member Trinity Rodman.
Before that 67-minute game with the USWNT, she had played four games with the Portland Thorns and one more friendly.
She created dangerous attacking sequences with Rodman and Rose Lavelle, whom she had not played alongside in 17 months.
“Any time you can get a result (like this) against a team like Japan, we’ll take it. I think we put out a solid performance. There were definitely moments within the game that we maybe dipped a little bit, but that’s something that we’ll work on,” Wilson said post-match.
This was Wilson's 59th cap and 41st start on the night, becoming the 18th mother to play for the USWNT. She joins icons like Joy Fawcett, Amy Rodriguez, and Jessica McDonald in this elite group.
Her impressive performance did not go unnoticed by those in charge.
USWNT coach Emma Hayes praised Wilson's return
Coach Emma Hayes explained it was the right moment for Wilson's return.
"It felt like it was the right game to play, Soph, and I knew she'd probably only play 60 minutes. We don't have a lot of windows left, so we need to get some of these players playing back together again," Hayes said.
Wilson's last USWNT match before Saturday was on October 27, 2024, against Iceland, and her most recent goal was three days prior to that date.
"One of the things I said to her is she's got to build her way back to it, but I'm really pleased with her. It's a great, great start," Hayes added.
What are your thoughts on Sophia Wilson's triumphant return? Drop your comments down below.
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Written by
Joy Bassy
Edited by
Utsav Gupta