Down the street, a neighbor hangs holiday lights on his house in this gated community, likely unaware that a few doors away lives a starting NFL wide receiver and one of the best women’s soccer players in the world.
To be fair, Michael Wilson and Sophia Smith just bought the house in May, and with Smith’s schedule – both with the Portland Thorns of the NWSL and with the U.S. National Team, gold medalists in the recent Olympics – she is just now getting a chance to spend time at home.
“More of our relationship has been long distance than actually together,” Smith said.
“We felt like the first two years we built a strong enough foundation that any distance or any time, we’d be fine. But, obviously, it’s not ideal.”
The couple has been together for six years already, almost immediately knowing what was to come once meeting as 18-year-old freshmen at Stanford. Wilson executed a memorable marriage proposal during the summer soon after buying the house.
And now the two were relishing Wilson’s bye week, which happily coincided with the end of Smith’s season with the Thorns. Never have a pair of 24-year-olds so celebrated the chance to go grocery shopping together.
Smith will be home for a couple of months after the Thorns’ playoff loss, watching Wilson try to help his team reach the postseason. (In order to rest and recuperate, it was announced Smith was among a handful of USWNT stars who would not be on the roster for upcoming friendlies.)
The time is not a usual stretch for their relationship.
The two spend time together when they can, Smith flying down from Portland, Wilson flying to Oregon, or to USWNT games in Austin or San Jose. Sometimes, pure luck is involved, like when the Cardinals visited the Rams last season and the Thorns happened to stay at the same downtown Los Angeles hotel for a Sunday game.
The couple were able to go out for coffee Sunday morning, stealing what time they could.
“It always comes back to we’re going to see it through regardless,” Wilson said. “She is the most special person I’ve ever been around, and knowing we’re together keeps me humble and grounded because I know I’ll never find another person like her again.”
