Veteran defender Emily Sonnett has seen it all and done it all at international and club level.
The 32-year-old has amassed a collection of silverware that can go trophy for trophy with virtually anyone in the modern women’s game.
Having previously won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, an Olympic gold medal, a record eight SheBelieves Cups and three NWSL championships, Sonnett’s long list of accomplishments would stand as one of the most decorated careers if she walked away from the game today.
But she isn’t going anywhere and still has plenty of top-level football left in her boots.
Shaw on Sonnett: ‘Still Young, Still Thriving’
“Still young, still thriving” is how USWNT and Gotham FC teammate Jaedyn Shaw described Sonnett during Monday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the United States’ Tuesday friendly match against Brazil at Fortaleza’s Arena Castelão.
“Emily is extremely intentional,” Shaw explained. “So I think that is something that us young players can learn from. I think that’s what’s kept her in this environment for so long. Having her around has definitely been a blessing for all of us to learn from, look up to and play against every single day.”
Sonnett isn’t thinking about her legacy or impressive individual numbers like her 117 international caps, which only trail captain Lindsey Heaps (177) and midfielder Rose Lavelle (121) on the current USWNT roster.
“I haven’t really thought of it like that,” Sonnett stated. “I’m someone who’s very intentional with training. So I’m really not looking past one day or one game.”
Sonnett’s Focus on Daily Improvement Drives Her Success
The 5-foot-7 defender uses that game-by-game focus to stay at the top of the women’s game. Having young, athletic teammates pushing her to maintain her personal high standards doesn’t hurt either.
“It is great to still be around and get to play with a next generation or next cohort to either learn, teach, but learn from them as well,” Sonnett said. “They’re fast, quick, and you have to adapt.”
Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brazil at São Paulo’s Neo Química Arena featured the frenzied atmosphere, physicality and on-pitch chaos that the Americans expected when they set foot on Brazilian soil.
“Emma [Hayes] said the passion that they have here, one as a fan base, but just the players, they live, breathe, die football,” Sonnett explained. “We play with Bruninha now at Gotham, but [I’ve played with] three other Brazilians. It’s not only on the field, but the culture off the field.
“They want to be dancing. They want to be enjoying it. So I would say, I think we knew how big the fan base was here. The crowd was always, it was incredible in what the following that they have. But understanding that that passion really is in their blood. I would say I’m understanding a little bit more.”
USWNT Using Brazil Friendlies as 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Test Run
Whether or not the United States are able to win on Tuesday, they will leave Brazil with the valuable experience of playing the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup host nation and will know what to expect when the real tournament begins in June 2027.
“I want to simulate this being tournament-like for us,” Hayes stated. “Knowing that the commitments that the players and the team has made towards tomorrow’s performance, I will absolutely expect and demand it.
“You’ve got people wrestling you to the ground in the middle of the game. You’ve got a crowd that is cheering every goal our goalkeeper scores on our goalkeeper during the warm-up. We’ve got our players warming up on the side of the pitch while they’re getting heckled or noises. You can’t replicate this stuff. You’ve got to drink it. You’ve got to bottle it as much as you can because being in Brazil is a choice.
“I’m grateful that we’ve got the opportunity to do it and that we’ve got the opportunity to do it again, but in a bigger setting. For me, that’s the even bigger part. How are we going to do it when they turn the volume up times two, plus have double the numbers? We’re leaning into it. We’re learning a lot. That’s why we’re here.”
Tuesday’s rematch is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time kick-off. The match will be shown on TNT, Max and Peacock with radio coverage on Westwood One.
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