Wikipedia

Sofia Huerta

Sofia Christine Huerta (born December 14, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for Lyon of the Première Ligue, on loan from Seattle Reign FC, and the United States national team. Huerta played collegiately for the Santa Clara Broncos before being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in 2015. She was traded to the Houston Dash in 2018 and to the Reign in 2020.

Sofia Huerta
Huerta with the Seattle Reign in 2024
Personal information
Full name Sofia Christine Huerta[1]
Date of birth (1992-12-14) December 14, 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Boise, Idaho, United States
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
 Lyon (on loan from Seattle Reign)
Number 2
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Santa Clara Broncos 81 (47)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Chicago Red Stars 63 (19)
2016–2017 → Adelaide United (loan) 12 (8)
2018–2019 Houston Dash 47 (13)
2018–2020 → Sydney FC (loan) 23 (6)
2020– Seattle Reign 32 (1)
2024– → Lyon (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2012 United States U20
2012 Mexico U20 4 (3)
2012–2013 Mexico 5 (2)
2017– United States 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 18, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 29, 2023

Having represented Mexico internationally, Huerta filed a one-time switch and debuted with the United States national team on September 15, 2017. After facing her former national team on April 8, 2018, she became the first female player to play both for and against the U.S. and Mexico.

Early life

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The daughter of Puebla native Mauricio Huerta, an electrical engineer, and Jody Jensen Huerta, Huerta attended Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho. She played soccer, basketball, and ran track. She was named Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year twice in soccer, playing for FC NOVA, All-Idaho First Team Basketball selection (2011), and set high-school records for fastest time running the 100 and 300-meter hurdle races (2011). She was also named to several All-Academic teams (2007–2011).[2]

Santa Clara Broncos, 2011–2014

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Huerta was a four-year starter as a forward for Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. As a freshman, she was All-West Coast Conference, scoring eight goals and two assists. As a sophomore, she was again All-West Coast Conference and NCAA Division 1 Women All-West Region Second Team. She scored six goals and six assists. As a junior in 2013, she was again First Team All-WCC, scoring 16 goals and with 8 assists, leading her team in goals scored and tying for the lead in assists. She was a third-team All-American selection.[3] In her senior year in 2014 she scored 17 goals with 3 assists and was again a third-team All-American selection and co-player of the year in the West Coast Conference.[2]

Club career

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Chicago Red Stars, 2015–2018

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Huerta was drafted to play for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League in the college draft on January 16, 2015. She was the eleventh player selected overall.[4] On May 9, 2015, with teammate and United States international forward Christen Press away at World Cup training camp, Huerta scored her first 2 professional goals in a 3–0 win against Boston Breakers to place the Red Stars at the top of the NWSL league.[5] She was subsequently named NWSL Player of the Week for week five.[6] In week six of NWSL season Huerta scored 2 goals against the Houston Dash to level the score and tie the match, and was named Player of the Week for week 6.[7] On June 3, 2015, Huerta was voted NWSL Player of the Month for the month of May by the media.[8] On September 9, 2015, the NWSL announced that Huerta was selected as a finalist for the NWSL Rookie of the Year award for the 2015 season, along with Sam Mewis and the eventual winner, fellow Red Star Danielle Colaprico.[9][10]

 
Huerta (left) and Alex Morgan in 2018

Huerta was on the Second XI of the NWSL in 2015 as a forward and in 2017 as a midfielder. On April 24, 2018, she was named player of the week by the NWSL.[11] The NWSL Media Association named Huerta player of the month for April,[12]

On June 16, 2018, it was announced that Huerta would be unavailable for Chicago's match that night against the Portland Thorns due to a pending trade.[13] On June 18, 2018, Huerta and Taylor Comeau were traded to the Houston Dash as part of a three team trade which also included the Utah Royals.[14] Huerta had requested the trade in hopes of getting more playing time as an outside back, which is the position where USWNT coach Jill Ellis had Huerta playing for the United States.[15]

Loan to Adelaide United

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In October 2016, Huerta was loaned to Australian W-League club Adelaide United along with her Red Stars teammates Katie Naughton and Danielle Colaprico.[16] Playing in the midfield, Huerta scored 8 goals and had 5 assists in a 12-match season.[17][18] She was named Professional Footballers Australia Player of the Month for the W-League in January 2017.[19] Huerta was awarded Adelaide United's W-League Player of the Year at the club's annual award ceremony.[20] Huerta came in 3rd in the race for the Julie Dolan Medal receiving 17 votes.[21]

Houston Dash, 2018–2019

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After being acquired by the Dash on June 18, 2018, she starred in Houston's next game on June 22, where Huerta scored the Dash's only goal in a 3–1 loss to Portland.[22] Huerta played primarily as a midfielder and forward for Houston, even though she wanted to play outside back.[15] She appeared in 12 games and scored 5 goals. Huerta was named to the NWSL Second XI.[23]

Loan to Sydney FC

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It was announced on September 28, 2018, that Huerta would be joining Sydney FC in the W-League for the 2018–19 W-League season. She was one of four American players joining the club, alongside former Red Stars teammate Danielle Colaprico, Aubrey Bledsoe of the Washington Spirit and Savannah McCaskill of Sky Blue FC.[24] When Huerta signed with Sydney they agreed to play her at outside back, as she hopes to get called back in to the USWNT.[15]

Huerta played in every minute of every game in the 2018–19 season for Sydney. She scored a goal in Sydney's semi–final match against Brisbane, which Sydney won 2–1. Huerta scored again in the Grand Final, helping Sydney to a 4–2 victory over Perth, winning the 2018–19 W-League Championship.[25]

OL Reign, 2020

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On February 3, 2020, OL Reign acquired Huerta and Amber Brooks from Houston in exchange for Shea Groom, Megan Oyster, and a conditional draft pick.[26]

Huerta was nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year alongside teammate Alana Cook in the 2022 season.[27]

Lyon

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On September 12, 2024, Huerta joined French Première Ligue side Lyon on a loan deal until the end of the 2024–25 season.[28]

International career

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Huerta was not selected by the United States team for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan in August 2012; she was selected for the Mexico team, for which she qualified to play for though her father. Playing with a broken elbow, she scored three of Mexico's seven goals in its two win and two loss performance.[29] In December 2012, Huerta played for the Mexico women's national team at the City of São Paulo International Women's Football Tournament, scoring two goals. Huerta was a second-half substitute for Mexico in its September 4, 2013 match with the United States. In December 2014, Huerta announced that she was not going to continue to play with the Mexico national team, but would attempt to become a member of the U.S. national team.[30]

 
Huerta in 2018

The United States Soccer Federation announced in July 2017 that they were submitting a request to FIFA to change Huerta's affiliation to the United States women's national soccer team.[31] The change was approved on September 14, 2017.[32]

Huerta earned her first cap for the United States versus New Zealand two days later (September 16, 2017), coming on as a substitute in the 51st minute. She also was credited with her first assist for the United States for her pass to Alex Morgan in the 79th minute of her debut game.[33] Huerta thus became the first female player to play both for the United States national team and against the United States national team (as a member of the Mexico national team).[34]

Huerta was on the provisional roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship but was not named to the final 20 player roster.[35] For several years, she did not receive a call-up to the USWNT after June 2018, after being called in to every camp in the past year; because of this Huerta has sought out club opportunities to play outside back in hopes of getting back on the roster.[15]

In 2022, Huerta was called back up by the USWNT to play in the 2022 CONCACAF Women's Championship qualifiers.[36]

Huerta along with Veronica Zepeda are to date the only two women who have represented both the United States and Mexico women's national teams.[citation needed]

In June 2023, Huerta was named to the U.S. squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[37] She made her debut during the team's first group stage match against Vietnam: a 3–0 shutout win.[38]

Personal life

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Huerta appeared in a Netflix documentary series, which follows the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team as they compete in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The docuseries premiered in fall 2023.[39]

She is in a relationship with Spencer Wadsworth.[40] They got engaged in February 2024.[41]

Career statistics

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College

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College Season Apps Goals Assists
Santa Clara Broncos 2011–12 22 8 2
2012–13 17 6 6
2013–14 22 16 8
2014–15 20 17 3
Career total 81 47 19

Club

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As of June 18, 2022
Club Division Season League National Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago Red Stars NWSL 2015 19 6 — 1 0 20 6
2016 20 7 — 1 0 21 7
Adelaide United (loan) W-League 2016–17 12 8 — — 12 8
Chicago Red Stars NWSL 2017 24 6 — 1 0 25 6
Houston Dash 2018 23 8 — — 23 8
Sydney FC (loan) W-League 2018–19 12 3 — 2 1 14 4
Houston Dash NWSL 2019 24 5 — — 24 5
Sydney FC (loan) W-League 2019–20 11 3 — 2 0 13 3
OL Reign NWSL 2020 — [c] 6 1 — 6 1
2021 23 1 4 1 1 0 28 2
2022 9 0 7 1 0 0 16 1
Career Total 177 47 17 3 8 1 202 51
  1. ^ Includes 2020 NWSL Fall Series and NWSL Challenge Cups
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs and W-League playoffs
  3. ^ 2020 regular season and playoffs cancelled due COVID-19 pandemic[42]

International

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As of match played October 29, 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico
2012 4 2
2013 1 0
Total 5 2
United States 2017 3 0
2018 4 0
2021 2 0
2022 16 0
2023 5 0
Total 32 0
Career total 37 2

Honors

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Sydney FC

OL Reign

United States

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National team roster – 2022 Concacaf W Championship: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. June 8, 2022. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Sofia Huerta". Santa Clara University. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  3. ^ "2013 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's All-America Team". NSCAA.com. National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  4. ^ "NWSL Announces Results of the 2015 College Draft". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  5. ^ "Breakers fall to Red Stars, 3–0, On the road; Chicago's Sofia Huerta scored two goals in the win". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  6. ^ "Huerta voted player of the Week". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  7. ^ "Red Stars Huerta voted NWSL player of the week; Huerta, 22, recorded her second brace of the 2015 NWSL season on Friday night". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Red Stars' Sofia Huerta voted NWSL player of the month". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "2015 NWSL awards finalists revealed". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  10. ^ "Danielle Colaprico voted rookie of the year". NWSLsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  11. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL".
  12. ^ "NWSL Names Sofia Huerta Player Of The Month". May 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "Chicago Pending Trade Leaves Players Unavailable for Tonight's Match". June 16, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "Trade alert: Press, Johnson to Utah; Huerta, Comeau to Houston; Elby to Chicago". June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d "'I'm going to get another opportunity' with the USWNT: Sofia Huerta is sticking to the plan". November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "Danielle Colaprico and Sofia Huerta join Adelaide United for Season 9". The Women's Game. October 30, 2016. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016.
  17. ^ S. Huerta at Soccerway. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "W-League Ladder". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  19. ^ "Huerta and Nabbout named PFA Players of the Month". Professional Footballers Australia. February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  20. ^ FC, Adelaide United (May 10, 2017). "Congratulations @schuerta, very well deserved! #AUFC #ForeverUnitedpic.twitter.com/Oa1RkTRTY1". Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  21. ^ Zelić, Lucy (May 1, 2017). "A very close race in the end for the Julie Dolan medal. Well done to all. #DolanWarrenpic.twitter.com/DESZvR6C8C". Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "GOAL: Sofia Huerta scores in her Dash debut". June 24, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  23. ^ "S.HUERTA". Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  24. ^ "@SydneyFC". September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "FIXTURES". Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  26. ^ "SOFIA HUERTA AND AMBER BROOKS ACQUIRED IN TRADE WITH DASH". Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  27. ^ Lauletta, Dan (October 27, 2022). "Naomi Girma named 2022 NWSL Defender of the Year". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "Sofia Huerta rejoint l'OL Féminin, sous forme de prêt, jusqu'à la fin de saison". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). September 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Huerta shines on the biggest stage". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  30. ^ "Huerta to spurn Mexico, hope for shot with USWNT". The Equalizer. December 27, 2014. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  31. ^ "Ellis Names Roster for 2017 Tournament of Nations". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  32. ^ "FIFA Approves Change of National Association for Sofia Huerta". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  33. ^ "O'Hara Earns 100th Cap as WNT Downs New Zealand 3–1 in Denver Behind First Half Ertz Brace". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  34. ^ "U.S. WNT kicks off two-game set vs. Korea Republic in New Orleans". Crescent City Sports. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  35. ^ "Provisional USA roster for World Cup qualifying released". September 10, 2018. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  36. ^ "USWNT Concacaf W squad: Everything to know about players fighting for World Cup qualification". June 28, 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  37. ^ "Morgan and Rapinoe named in USA World Cup squad". BBC Sport.
  38. ^ "Women's World Cup 2023 highlights: USWNT tops Vietnam, 3-0". Fox Sports. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  39. ^ "Netflix Will Shoot the US Women's Soccer Team's Upcoming World Cup Journey". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "Women's World Cup 2023: Meet the Players Competing for Team USA". E! Online. July 26, 2023.
  41. ^ "Instagram".
  42. ^ "2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020. There will be no "NWSL postseason/playoffs" in 2020.
  43. ^ "OL Reign claim NWSL Shield with comfortable win over Orlando". ESPN. October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  44. ^ "OL Reign Claim 2022 Women's Cup Title with 2-1 Win over Louisville". King 5. August 20, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  45. ^ Das, Andrew (July 19, 2022). "U.S. Women Beat Canada to Claim Spot in Paris Olympics". The New York Times.
  46. ^ "WNT WINS 2018 SHEBELIEVES CUP WITH 1–0 VICTORY VS. ENGLAND". March 7, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  47. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Iceland 5-0 to Win Third Consecutive and Fifth Overall SheBelieves Cup Title, Presented by Visa". U.S. Soccer. February 23, 2022.
  48. ^ Herrera, Sandra (February 22, 2023). "USWNT vs. Brazil score: USA win SheBelieves Cup with Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson dominating in attack". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  49. ^ "NWSL Announces Winners of Mastercard Best XI Awards". NWSL Soccer. November 3, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
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