Sophia Smith grew up in Windsor, Colorado, as the youngest of three sisters. Her older sisters, Gabrielle and Savannah, are four and five years her senior.
The Smith household was deeply rooted in athletics, with all three sisters actively participating in various sports from an early age.
The Smith family’s athletic background
The sisters’ athletic prowess runs in the family. Their father, Kenny Smith, played basketball at the University of Wyoming, setting a foundation for athletic excellence.
Gabrielle Smith, born around 1996, is the eldest of the Smith siblings.
Growing up in Windsor, she actively participated in the family’s sporting culture, engaging in multiple sports, including soccer and basketball, during her youth.
Savannah Smith, born in 1997, is the middle sister and a standout athlete in her own right.
A basketball phenom, Savannah followed in her father’s footsteps, excelling at the University of Northern Colorado.
Savannah Smith is the program’s all-time leading scorer.
During the 2017-18 season, she led the Northern Colorado Bears to their first Big Sky Conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth, setting over a dozen program records, including scoring 40 points in a single game twice.
Her contributions were instrumental in elevating the team’s profile and cementing her legacy as one of the university’s greatest athletes.
Savannah’s athletic prowess extended beyond the court. Like Gabrielle, she played soccer in her youth.
Savannah’s success in a basketball-inspired Sophia, who briefly played the sport but ultimately chose soccer as her true calling.
How Gabrielle and Savannah mentored Sophia
Gabrielle and Savannah played crucial roles as mentors in Sophia’s early development.
Being already seasoned athletes when Sophia was young, they provided her with living examples of dedication and competitive spirit.
Their presence allowed Sophia to absorb knowledge and skills simply by watching them compete in their respective sports.
The influence of her older sisters on Sophia’s soccer career cannot be understated.
As the youngest, Sophia was drawn to her sisters’ games, where she learned valuable lessons about competition, perseverance, and sportsmanship.
Her early exposure to competitive sports through her sisters helped forge the mental toughness that would later define her professional career.
What is Sophia Smith doing today?
Today, while Sophia has risen to prominence as a star forward for the Portland Thorns FC and the United States national team, her relationship with her sisters remains strong.
Their early influence continues to shape her approach to the game.
While Sophia has garnered significant attention for her soccer achievements, including being named the 2022 NWSL MVP and NWSL Championship MVP1, her sisters have pursued their own paths.
Savannah’s collegiate basketball career at the University of Northern Colorado represents another chapter in the family’s sporting legacy.
Where is Gabrielle Smith today?
As Gabrielle transitioned into adulthood, her focus shifted from athletics to family life.
On July 18, 2020, she married, adopting the surname Dobratz, and embraced the role of a mother to two young children.
Affectionately known as “Sophie” to her family, Sophia has become a doting aunt, frequently sending gifts to Gabrielle’s children.
Mollie Smith shared a heartwarming anecdote about Gabrielle’s two-year-old daughter, who eagerly awaits deliveries from Sophia, mistaking every FedEx package for a present from her aunt.
Gabrielle’s current life is centred in Windsor, close to her parents’ home, where she remains a steadfast supporter of Sophia’s career.
