Sofia Cook Bio
Sofia Gabriela Cook (born August 7, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the UCLA Bruins, helping the program capture the 2022 NCAA Division I national championship as a freshman.
Before turning professional, Cook rose through the United States youth national team setup and was widely regarded as one of the top recruits in her class. She represents the latest generation of American midfielders who developed through the country’s elite club academy pipeline.
Early Life and Background
Sofia Gabriela Cook was born on August 7, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Jerome Cook and Gabriela Cook, and she has a younger brother. Through her mother, Cook is of Argentine descent, a heritage that has shaped parts of her family background.
Cook grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and attended both Millikan High School and Marina High School, ultimately graduating early to begin her college career. She played her youth club soccer with the LA Galaxy academy and with So Cal Blues of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), two of the most respected development environments in American girls’ soccer.
By the time she finished high school, TopDrawerSoccer had rated her as the 19th-best recruit in the 2022 college class, underscoring her standing as a top-tier prospect. Her combination of technical quality and tactical maturity made her an early target for college programs nationwide.
Path to Soccer
Cook’s progression toward the professional game began in Southern California, where she balanced elite club soccer with her high school studies. Her time with the LA Galaxy academy exposed her to a high-tempo training environment, while her stint with So Cal Blues in the ECNL gave her a steady diet of nationally competitive matches.
She first entered the United States youth national team system at the under-14 level in 2018, training alongside many of the country’s most promising young players. The following year, she helped the U.S. under-15 team win the 2018 CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship, an early sign that she could deliver on big stages.
Rated by TopDrawerSoccer as the 19th-best recruit of the 2022 class, Cook chose the UCLA Bruins, a program with a deep tradition of producing NWSL talent. That decision set the stage for one of the most successful freshman seasons in recent UCLA history.
Sofia Cook Career
College Career at UCLA (2022–2024)
Cook arrived at UCLA as a freshman in 2022 and immediately made an impact, appearing in 24 games with 7 starts while scoring 7 goals and adding 4 assists. Her most memorable moment came in the NCAA tournament, when she scored the overtime winner in a 2–1 victory over Virginia in the quarterfinals.
UCLA went on to defeat North Carolina 3–2 in the championship match, claiming the program’s second national title. Cook’s contributions earned her a place on the Pac-12 Conference all-freshman team and the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI second team.
As a sophomore in 2023, Cook played in 15 games with 10 starts, scoring 1 goal and recording 2 assists, and was named second-team All-Pac-12. Her lone goal of the season came in a 1–1 draw against Stanford that clinched the Pac-12 title for the Bruins.
In her junior season of 2024, she appeared in 17 games with 13 starts and scored a team-joint-high 4 goals, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as UCLA transitioned into the Big Ten Conference. The Bruins won the Big Ten tournament in their first year in the league, capping a successful three-year run for Cook in Westwood.
Gotham FC Breakthrough (2025–Present)
Gotham FC announced on January 29, 2025, that the club had signed Cook to a two-year contract with an option to extend for another year. The move marked her transition from elite college soccer to the professional ranks of the NWSL.
Cook made her professional debut on May 4, 2025, entering as a second-half substitute for Sarah Schupansky in a 0–0 draw with the Chicago Stars. The appearance signaled her arrival as a regular member of Gotham’s first-team roster.
On February 23, 2026, Gotham announced that Cook had signed a contract extension through the 2028 season, with general manager Yael Averbuch West describing her as a talented player with a very bright future ahead. The deal reflects the club’s long-term belief in her continued development.
Playing Style and Strengths
Cook operates primarily as a midfielder, where her education at UCLA sharpened both her attacking instincts and her defensive responsibility. She has shown a knack for delivering in decisive moments, including the overtime winner against Virginia in the 2022 NCAA quarterfinals. Her ability to combine box-to-box energy with composed finishing has made her a versatile option for Gotham’s coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Cook lists the 2022 NCAA championship with UCLA, the 2018 CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship with the United States, and her professional debut for Gotham FC in 2025. The February 2026 contract extension through 2028 stands as a clear vote of confidence from her club and an early career milestone.
Sofia Cook International Career
Cook’s pathway with the United States youth national teams has been steady and well-documented. She first joined the program at the under-14 level in 2018 and quickly moved up the age groups.
United States Youth National Teams
She represented the United States at the under-16 level in 2020 before progressing to the under-20 team, where she played from 2023 to 2024. Cook also earned selection to the United States under-23 team beginning in 2026.
Her biggest youth international honor came at the 2018 CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship, which the United States won with Cook in the squad. She later dealt with an injury in the lead-up to the 2023 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship but recovered in time to make two tournament appearances as the U.S. finished runners-up to Mexico.
Sofia Cook Family
Family Background and Lineage
Cook was raised by her father, Jerome Cook, and her mother, Gabriela Cook, alongside a younger brother. Through her mother’s side of the family, she is of Argentine descent, a background she has spoken about as part of her personal identity.
Personal Life
Cook grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where she attended Millikan and Marina High Schools before graduating early to enroll at UCLA. She continues to build her professional career with Gotham FC, where her contract runs through 2028.
2025 Season Performance
Cook’s first professional season with Gotham FC began in earnest with her May 4 debut against the Chicago Stars, a match that ended in a 0–0 draw. Coming on as a second-half substitute for Sarah Schupansky, she offered a glimpse of the energy and ball-winning work she had displayed at UCLA.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Cook split time between substitute appearances and starting nods as she adjusted to the speed and physical demands of the NWSL. Her role within Gotham’s midfield gradually expanded, providing head coach Juan Carlos Amorós with another young option in central and wide areas.
The early returns from her rookie season, combined with the February 2026 extension through 2028, suggest that Gotham views 2025 as the foundation for a longer-term project. With several seasons still ahead of her, Cook is positioned to grow into a more prominent role as her comfort with the professional game continues to build.