12X Grand Slam Champion and Tennis Hall of Famer Raises the Roof Over US Soccer’s First “Woman of Color” Winning the 2022 POTY

Soccer may be still in a developing stage in the United States but, nobody can deny the domination of the USWNT in the sport. They have won four of eight total FIFA women’s world cup. They are the reigning champions and will be defending their title in Australia/ New Zealand in July this year. The team will try its best to win three back-to-back tournaments. However, before that, one USWNT member has broken a few records that put them in a better light. The announcement even got the attention of Tennis icon Billie Jean King. She congratulated the star and shed some light on how it is a big deal for the sport.

Billie Jean King turned pro in 1968 and played for 22 years before she retired in 1990. She won six Wimbledon titles, and four US Open in a single setting. Having this praise coming from Billie Jean King, the soccer star would be on the moon as she is one of the first women athletes who became a legend after winning 12 times grand slam winner.

Billie Jean King congratulated the US soccer star

Earlier on Friday, it was announced that 22-year-old star USWNT player Sophia Smith had won USWNT Player of the Year for 2022. She became the youngest player to win the title after Mia Hamm won it in 1994. Given the achievement, it will encourage young players to try harder and train for the national team.

King then shared the announcement. She added that not only Sophia Smith became the youngest player in the last 28 years to win the award, but she also became the first woman of color to win the title in the 38-year-old history of USWNT.

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The star midfielder is making waves in the soccer world since her debut for the national team in 2020. She scored 12 goals in 27 matches for the nation and will a vital role in the USWNT campaign for World Cup this year. Out of 12 she scored 11 last year and had a major impact on the outcome of the matches. It was no surprise that she won the player of the year.

King advocated for Squash:

This isn’t the first time Billie Jean King had spoken about a sport other than tennis. Last year she was very vocal about including Squash in the Olympics. She talked about how having equal prize money is just revolutionary in sports and how it had grown the squash as a game.

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Notably, King paved the way for players like Serena Williams to shine without having to fight the bigger fights as Billie Jean King took them care of. What is your take on Sophia winning the massive award and making history? Tell us in the comments below!