Sofia Huerta Bio
Sofia Christine Huerta (born December 14, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for National Women’s Soccer League club 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.
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 United States and Mexico.
Sofia Huerta Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Sofia Christine Huerta was born on December 14, 1992, in Boise, Idaho, in the United States. She is the daughter of Mauricio Huerta, a native of Puebla, Mexico, who works as an electrical engineer, and Jody Jensen Huerta. Her father’s Mexican heritage later played a key role in her early international career path.
Huerta attended Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, where she excelled across multiple sports. She played soccer, basketball, and ran track, demonstrating a wide athletic base. She was named Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year twice in soccer, selected to the All-Idaho First Team in basketball in 2011, and set high-school records for the fastest times in the 100 and 300-meter hurdle races that same year. She was also named to several All-Academic teams between 2007 and 2011, reflecting her performance in the classroom as well as on the field.
Path to Professional Soccer
Huerta joined the Santa Clara Broncos at Santa Clara University, where she spent four seasons as a starter for the women’s soccer program. As a freshman she was named to the All-West Coast Conference team, scoring eight goals with two assists. She continued to develop across her sophomore and junior years, finishing her junior season in 2013 with 16 goals and 8 assists, leading the team in scoring and earning third-team All-American honors.
In her senior year in 2014, Huerta scored 17 goals with 3 assists and was again a third-team All-American selection. She was also named co-player of the year in the West Coast Conference. Her college production, combined with her versatility across forward, midfield, and outside back, made her one of the top prospects heading into the 2015 NWSL College Draft.
Sofia Huerta Career
Early Career (2015-2018)
Huerta was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League on January 16, 2015, as the eleventh overall selection. On May 9, 2015, she scored her first two professional goals in a 3-0 win against the Boston Breakers, lifting the Red Stars to the top of the NWSL standings. She was named NWSL Player of the Week in both week five and week six of that season and was voted NWSL Player of the Month for May 2015. She finished her debut campaign as a finalist for the NWSL Rookie of the Year award and was named to the NWSL Second XI as a forward.
In October 2016, Huerta was loaned to Australian W-League club Adelaide United, where she played in the midfield and scored 8 goals with 5 assists across 12 matches. She was named Professional Footballers Australia Player of the Month for the W-League in January 2017, won Adelaide United’s W-League Player of the Year award, and finished third in the voting for the Julie Dolan Medal. Returning to the NWSL, she was named to the NWSL Second XI again in 2017, this time as a midfielder, and received NWSL Player of the Week honors on April 24, 2018.
Chicago Red Stars to Houston Dash Era (2018-2019)
On June 18, 2018, Huerta was traded along with Taylor Comeau to the Houston Dash as part of a three-team deal that also involved the Utah Royals. The move came after Huerta had requested a trade in hopes of earning more playing time as an outside back, a position where U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis had been deploying her.
Huerta made an immediate impact in Houston, scoring the Dash’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Portland Thorns on June 22, 2018. She appeared in 12 matches and scored 5 goals, primarily as a midfielder and forward, and was named to the NWSL Second XI. In September 2018, she was announced as a signing for Sydney FC for the 2018-19 W-League season, where she played every minute of every match, scored in the semifinal against Brisbane, and added another goal in the Grand Final, helping Sydney defeat Perth 4-2 to win the 2018-19 W-League Championship.
OL Reign Era (2020-Present)
On February 3, 2020, OL Reign acquired Huerta and Amber Brooks from the Houston Dash in exchange for Shea Groom, Megan Oyster, and a conditional draft pick. The move gave Huerta a clearer path to her preferred outside back role, and she was nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022 alongside teammate Alana Cook.
On September 12, 2024, Huerta joined French Première Ligue side Lyon on a loan deal through the end of the 2024-25 season, expanding her experience at one of Europe’s top clubs. She wears the number 11 shirt for Seattle Reign FC.
Driving Style and Strengths
Huerta is recognized for her tactical versatility, having produced at a high level as a forward, midfielder, and outside back. Her attacking instincts, including strong finishing and service from wide areas, are paired with the defensive awareness required of a modern full back. Coaches and teammates have credited her professional approach and willingness to play multiple positions as central to her longevity at the top level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Huerta became the first female player to play for both the United States and against the United States, a distinction she earned after switching her affiliation from Mexico. Her debut assist for the U.S. Women’s National Team came in her first cap, a pass to Alex Morgan in the 79th minute. In June 2023, she was named to the U.S. squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, making her tournament debut in the 3-0 group-stage win over Vietnam.
Sofia Huerta Career Wins
Sofia Christine Huerta has built a winning resume across multiple leagues, including the NWSL, the Australian W-League, and the Coupe de France. Her team honors include a 2018-19 W-League Championship with Sydney FC, and she has been a regular finalist for individual awards throughout her professional career.
Club Highlights
Huerta won the 2018-19 W-League Championship with Sydney FC, scoring in both the semifinal and the Grand Final during a campaign in which she played every minute of every match. With the Chicago Red Stars, she earned NWSL Second XI honors in 2015 as a forward, with the Houston Dash in 2018, and later with OL Reign she was nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
During her loan to Adelaide United in the 2016-17 W-League season, Huerta won the club’s Player of the Year award and finished third in the Julie Dolan Medal voting after recording 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 matches. Her individual NWSL honors include Player of the Week recognition in weeks five and six of 2015, Player of the Month for May 2015, and another Player of the Week nod in April 2018.
Sofia Huerta Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Huerta is the daughter of Mauricio Huerta, an electrical engineer who was born in Puebla, Mexico, and Jody Jensen Huerta. Her father’s Mexican nationality made her eligible to represent Mexico at the youth and senior international levels before she completed a one-time switch to the United States.
Personal Life
Huerta is engaged to Spencer Wadsworth. The couple married in June 2025 after becoming engaged in February 2024. Huerta is also a vegan and appeared in a Netflix documentary series following the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which premiered in fall 2023.
2025 Season Performance
Huerta’s 2025 calendar is shaped by her loan to French Première Ligue powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais through the end of the 2024-25 season, which was announced on September 12, 2024. The move gave her a chance to compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and test herself in one of Europe’s strongest domestic leagues.
After completing her Lyon loan, she is scheduled to return to Seattle Reign FC, where she wears the number 11 shirt and remains a key piece of the club’s back line. Her 2022 NWSL Defender of the Year nomination and her ongoing role with the U.S. Women’s National Team underline her standing as one of the league’s top full backs.
Heading into the rest of 2025, Huerta will look to build on her international experience in France and carry that form back to the NWSL. With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup already on her resume and the next major tournaments on the horizon, her outlook within both club and country remains strong.