Emily Ann Sonnett Bio
Emily Ann Sonnett, born on November 25, 1993, is an American professional soccer player who plays for Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women’s national team. A versatile defender, she is comfortable operating as a center back, full back, or defensive midfielder, and has earned a reputation as one of the most dependable defenders in American soccer. Over the course of her career, Sonnett has won three NWSL Championships with three different clubs, a unique distinction that places her among the league’s most decorated players.
Sonnett rose to prominence through the Virginia Cavaliers collegiate program and was selected first overall by the Portland Thorns in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Internationally, she is an eight-time winner of the invitational SheBelieves Cup and has represented the United States at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and has built a reputation for durability, having logged heavy minutes for both club and country throughout her career.
Early Life and Background
Emily Ann Sonnett was born in Marietta, Georgia, to Bill and Jane Sonnett. She grew up alongside her twin sister, Emma, who later played soccer at the University of Georgia. The Sonnett sisters began playing for the North Atlanta Soccer Association (NASA) in 2003, and the club quickly became the foundation of Emily’s competitive career. With NASA, the twins helped their team earn back-to-back Georgia State Cup Championship titles in 2007 and 2008, as well as the Region III League Championship title in 2008.
Sonnett attended Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, Georgia, graduating in 2012. In 2011, during her junior season, Fellowship Christian’s varsity girls soccer team reached the Final Four of the Class A state tournament, losing to the eventual state champions in the semifinal. As a senior captain in 2012, Sonnett led the program to the Georgia state championship game, where the team fell again in a narrow defeat. She ended her high school career as Fellowship Christian’s all-time leading scorer with 113 goals and 41 assists, and was named the 2011–2012 Gatorade Georgia Girls Soccer Player of the Year, the first athlete from her school to receive the honor.
Path to Soccer
Sonnett’s youth career reached a national level with NASA 12 Elite II. In the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, she helped her team place third in the U-17 standings and was named to the U-17 Best XI as a midfielder. Two years later, she played a leading role as NASA 12 Elite II won the U-19 national title at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series in Overland Park, Kansas. She earned both the U-19 Best XI selection and the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.
In early February 2012, Sonnett signed her national letter of intent to play for the University of Virginia on an athletic scholarship. Although she was recruited as a center midfielder, injuries on the Virginia back line pushed her into the center back role during her freshman year, and she made that position her own for the rest of her college career. In 2015, while still at UVA, Sonnett spent the summer with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL W-League and earned her first call-up to the senior United States women’s national team, debuting against Brazil in October of that year.
Emily Ann Sonnett Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
On January 15, 2016, Sonnett was selected by Portland Thorns FC as the first overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. She made her professional debut on April 17, 2016, and quickly became a regular contributor for one of the league’s flagship clubs. Her first professional goal came in the NWSL championship semi-final against the Western New York Flash, and she finished her rookie year as one of three finalists for NWSL Rookie of the Year.
In October 2017, Sonnett was loaned to Sydney FC for the 2017–18 W-League season. She scored on her debut from the penalty spot and played a key role in the semifinal against Newcastle Jets, assisting the game-winning goal in extra time. Back in NWSL play, she scored again in the 2017 post-season to help Portland beat the Orlando Pride in the semi-final, before contributing an assist on Lindsey Horan’s game-winning goal as the Thorns won the NWSL Championship.
Portland Thorns Breakthrough (2018–2019)
In 2018, Sonnett appeared in 22 games for Portland, scoring once and earning a selection to the NWSL Team of the Month for March and April. She was named to the NWSL Best XI and was a finalist for Defender of the Year. Portland reached the NWSL Championship Game for the second straight year but lost to North Carolina 3–0. The Thorns remained a championship contender throughout her tenure, and Sonnett’s combination of passing range and tactical flexibility made her a cornerstone of the back line.
On January 8, 2020, Sonnett was traded to Orlando Pride as part of a deal that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft back to Portland. With the NWSL season delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Orlando Pride later withdrawing from the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, Sonnett joined Swedish Damallsvenskan club Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC on a short-term contract in August 2020. She made ten league appearances as Göteborg won its first Damallsvenskan title.
Washington Spirit Era (2021–2022)
On December 24, 2020, Sonnett was traded to the Washington Spirit. In 2021 she appeared in 18 regular-season matches, anchoring a back line that helped Washington claim its first NWSL Championship with a 2–1 extra-time victory over the Chicago Red Stars at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 20, 2021. Her second season in Washington was disrupted by injury, including broken ribs suffered in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup opener against the Orlando Pride and a foot injury during the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship that placed her on the SEI list in August 2022.
OL Reign and Gotham FC Era (2023–Present)
On January 12, 2023, Sonnett was traded to OL Reign in exchange for draft considerations. After one season in the Pacific Northwest, she signed a three-year deal with NJ/NY Gotham FC on January 4, 2024, joining a free-agent class that also included Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, and Rose Lavelle. She made her Gotham debut on opening day in a 1–0 win over the Portland Thorns and went on to play the most minutes of any player for the club as Gotham finished third in the regular season.
In 2025, Sonnett started every NWSL game for Gotham and was subbed out of only one match all season. She helped the club win the 2025 NWSL Championship and was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team, finishing second in the league in successful passes. On May 25, 2025, she was fouled inside the box during the CONCACAF W Champions Cup final against Tigres, leading to the rebound goal that made Gotham the inaugural winners of the competition. She became the first player in league history to win three NWSL Championships with three different clubs and the second to start five NWSL finals.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sonnett’s most notable international achievement came as part of the United States squad that won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where she earned one cap during the tournament. At the club level, her milestone achievements include her role as the first overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, her 2021 NWSL Championship with the Washington Spirit, and her 2025 NWSL Championship with Gotham FC, which cemented her status as the first player to win league titles with three separate clubs.
Emily Ann Sonnett Career Wins
Sonnett has won three NWSL Championships, with the Portland Thorns in 2017, the Washington Spirit in 2021, and Gotham FC in 2025. She also helped Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC win the Damallsvenskan title during her short-term stay in Sweden in 2020. Internationally, she is an eight-time winner of the SheBelieves Cup and a FIFA Women’s World Cup champion from the 2019 tournament in France.
NWSL Highlights
Across her NWSL career, Sonnett has won three league championships with three different franchises, an unprecedented achievement in league history. Her first NWSL title came in 2017 as a member of the Portland Thorns, followed by the 2021 championship with the Washington Spirit and the 2025 championship with Gotham FC. She has also been a finalist for NWSL Rookie of the Year and NWSL Defender of the Year during her time with the Thorns.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her NWSL success, Sonnett claimed the 2020 Damallsvenskan title with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in Sweden and contributed to the United States’ victory at the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. She has also been a key contributor to the United States’ eight SheBelieves Cup titles and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph, as well as the team’s 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal and 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medal.
Emily Ann Sonnett Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Emily Ann Sonnett was raised in Marietta, Georgia, by her parents Bill and Jane Sonnett. She shares a particularly close bond with her twin sister, Emma Sonnett, who played soccer for the University of Georgia. The two sisters developed their game together at the North Atlanta Soccer Association, winning back-to-back Georgia State Cup Championship titles in 2007 and 2008 and a Region III League Championship in 2008.
Personal Life
Sonnett maintains close friendships with several of her United States women’s national team teammates, including Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis. She shares matching tattoos with former Portland Thorns FC teammates Lindsey Horan and Caitlin Foord. Among her known nicknames are Frat Daddy Jr, Dasani, Sonny, and Son, given to her by her peers. She owns a Boston Terrier named Bagel Bongo.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season marked a defining chapter in Emily Ann Sonnett’s career. Starting every match for Gotham FC and being substituted off only once all season, she anchored a back line that delivered the club’s second NWSL Championship. Her durability and consistency were reflected in her selection to the NWSL Best XI Second Team and her finish as the league’s second-leading passer in successful passes.
On the continental stage, Sonnett played a decisive role in the 2025 CONCACAF W Champions Cup final against Tigres on May 25, 2025, drawing the foul inside the box that produced the rebound goal in Gotham’s 1–0 victory, making the club the inaugural winners of the competition. With the title, she became the first player to win three NWSL Championships with three different clubs and the second to start five NWSL finals.
Internationally, Sonnett was part of the United States squad that won the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, helping the team lift another major trophy heading into the 2025 NWSL campaign. Her continued presence in the senior national team setup, combined with her expanded leadership responsibilities at Gotham, suggests she will remain a fixture of American soccer into the foreseeable future.
