_05.jpg) Mewis in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samantha June Mewis[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1992-10-09)October 9, 1992 (age 33) | ||
| Place of birth | Weymouth,Massachusetts,[2] United States | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2010 | Scorpions SC | ||
| 2007–2010 | Whitman Hanson Regional | ||
| 2014 | Boston Breakers Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | UCLA Bruins | 87 | (31) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013 | Pali Blues | 10 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Western New York Flash | 34 | (9) |
| 2017–2020 | North Carolina Courage | 53 | (11) |
| 2020–2021 | Manchester City | 17 | (7) |
| 2021 | North Carolina Courage | 5 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Kansas City Current | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 119 | (29) | |
| International career | |||
| 2008 | United States U-17 | 13 | (8) |
| 2010–2012 | United States U-20 | 33 | (8) |
| 2013–2015 | United States U-23 | 6 | (2) |
| 2014–2021 | United States | 83 | (24) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Samantha June Mewis (born October 9, 1992) is an American former professionalsoccer player who played as amidfielder. Mewis is the editor-in-chief and podcast host ofThe Women's Game fromMen in Blazers.
Raised inHanson, Massachusetts, Mewis played collegiately for theUCLA Bruins, where she won anNCAA championship in 2013. She was the fourth overall pick by theWestern New York Flash in the2015 NWSL College Draft and won her firstNWSL Championship with the Flash in 2016. After the club moved to become theNorth Carolina Courage, she won three consecutiveNWSL Shields and two consecutive Championships with the team in 2018 and 2019. Mewis then joinedFA Women's Super League clubManchester City, winning theFA Cup in 2020. Following her season with Manchester City, Mewis was ranked #1 on the ESPN FC ranking of the best 50 women's soccer players in the world in 2021. She played in two matches for theKansas City Current in 2022 before ultimately announcing her retirement in 2024 due to a long-term knee injury.
After playing extensively at the youth level, Mewis debuted for theUnited States senior national team while in college in 2014. She made 86 appearances for the national team, winning the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and earning a bronze medal at the2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was named theU.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2020.
Born inWeymouth, Massachusetts, to Robert and Melissa Mewis,[2] Samantha grew up inHanson, Massachusetts, where she attendedWhitman-Hanson Regional High School and played on the soccer team, tallying 77 goals and 34 assists during her time there.[4] She grew up with her older sisterKristie, playing soccer for numerous youth teams, including club team, Scorpions SC, as well as the under-17 and under-20 United States national teams.[5][6][7] Mewis earned Parade All-American honors twice during her high school years and was named theNational Soccer Coaches Association of America national player of the year in 2010.[8] In 2011, she was named Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the second time after receiving the accolade previously for 2009–10.[9][10] The same year, she was named ESPN RISE All-American after scoring 30 goals and serving 8 assists during her senior year.[11]
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In her first year, Mewis was second on the team in scoring with six goals and seven assists, only bested by currentUnited States women's national soccer team memberSydney Leroux and was named to thePac-12 All-Freshman Team. Due to national team commitments, Sam missed the first six games of her second season, but finished the year with three goals and three assists in 16 games.[2] In her junior year, Mewis helpedUCLA win thePac-12 championship on the way to its firstNCAA championship.[12] In December 2014, she was named the winner of the2015 Honda Award for soccer by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).[13][14]
In 2013, Mewis signed with thePali Blues in theW-League.[15] The team won the western conference title[16] as well as the national championship in July 2013.[17]
Mewis was selected fourth overall by theWestern New York Flash in the 2015National Women's Soccer Leagueentry draft.[18] She started all 20 regular-season games for the Flash, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists to share the top of the team scoring leaderboard withLynn Williams.[19] On September 9, 2015, the NWSL announced that Mewis was selected as a finalist forNWSL Rookie of the Year for the 2015 season, along withSofia Huerta and the eventual winner,Danielle Colaprico.[20][21]
In the 2016 season, Mewis missed several games as she was away training with the U.S. WNT in preparations for the2016 Summer Olympics. The Western New York Flash finished fourth in the standings and qualified for the play-offs. In the semi-final, Mewis scored a goal in the 16th minute helping the Western New York Flash to upset the Shield winning Portland Thorns. In the NWSL Championship game Mewis once again scored a goal. The Championship game went to penalties, Mewis missed her penalty but the Flash went on to win the Championship, winning the penalty shootout 3–2.[22]
It was announced on January 9, 2017, that the Western New York Flash was officially sold to new ownership, moved to North Carolina,[23] and rebranded as theNorth Carolina Courage.Mewis had a very successful 2017 season, as she appeared in every game for the Courage, tallying 6 goals and 3 assists. She was named to the NWSL Best XI and was a finalist for the NWSL Most Valuable Player Award.[24]
Mewis missed the beginning of the 2018 season as she was recovering from a knee injury. She appeared in 17 regular season games, as the Courage won their second consecutive NWSL Shield. In the play-offs, Mewis was in the starting line-up for the semi-final match against theChicago Red Stars and scored a goal in the 86th minute. North Carolina won 2–0 and advanced to their second straight championship game. She played all 90 minutes in the NWSL Championship game as the Courage defeated thePortland Thorns 3–0. Mewis had now won three NWSL Championships.[25]
Due to her participation in the2019 World Cup, Mewis only appeared in 12 regular season games for the Courage in2019.[26] North Carolina won the NWSL Shield for the third consecutive season. They advanced to the final after defeatingReign FC in the semi-final. Mewis scored a goal in the championship game as North Carolina defeated theChicago Red Stars 4–0 to win their second consecutive NWSL Championship.[27]
With the2020 season affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic, Mewis took part in the2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, making five appearances and scoring one goal as North Carolina topped the standings in the preliminary round but were eliminated in the first knockout round by #8 seedPortland Thorns FC.[28][29]
On August 10, 2020, Mewis signed withManchester City of the EnglishFA WSL ahead of the2020–21 season.[30] She made her competitive debut for the club atWembley Stadium on August 29 as a 68th-minute substitute during a 2–0 defeat toChelsea in the2020 Women's FA Community Shield.[31] In total, Mewis made 32 appearances and scored 16 goals including the winner againstArsenal in the semi-final of the delayed2019–20 Women's FA Cup and again in thefinal as Manchester City beatEverton 3–1 inextra-time to defend their title.[32] City finished second in the league for the fourth consecutive season, this time losing out toChelsea. Mewis was named to the FA WSLPFA Team of the Year at the end of the season.[33]
On May 17, 2021, Mewis rejoinedNorth Carolina Courage.[34]
On November 30, 2021, Mewis was traded toKansas City Current in exchange forKiki Pickett and the No. 3 overall pick in the2022 NWSL Draft.[35] After undergoing arthroscopic surgery following the 2021 Olympics, Mewis played in twoChallenge Cup games for the Current in March 2022, but did not play for the remainder of the season.[36] She had a second knee surgery in January 2023 where cartilage donor grafts were placed in her knee, resulting in her missing the full 2023 NWSL season.[37]
Following the 2023 season, Mewis announced her long-term knee injury would result in retirement from professional soccer.[38]
Mewis was a member of theUnited States under-17 team that was runner-up at the2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand. As her sisterKristie was also a member of the team, they were the first sisters to represent the United States at aWomen's World Cup. They also played together at the2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[39] At the2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, Mewis helped the team win the championship after defeatingGermany 1–0 in the final.[40]
On January 24, 2014, Mewis was named for the first time to thesenior national team roster for friendlies againstCanada andRussia.[41][42] She made her debut for the team at the2014 Algarve Cup during the team's second match of the tournament, a 1–0 loss toSweden.[43]
After a spell out of the team, Mewis was invited back to the senior team following their success at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She continued to get regular playing time, scoring four goals in 2016 including the winning goal against Germany in the2016 She Believes Cup that won the United States the trophy. Mewis was named as an alternate to the U.S. women's national team for the2016 Summer Olympics.[44]
In 2017, Mewis was one of three players to appear in every game for the U.S. women's national team. She played 1,242 minutes, which placed her at second highest minutes on the team. She scored three goals and was a finalist for 2017 U.S. Female Player of the Year.[45]
Mewis suffered a knee cartilage injury in a November 2017 game against Canada which sidelined her for six months, forcing her to miss the2018 SheBelieves Cup. Mewis returned to the field for the U.S. in June 2018 in a friendly against China.[46] In September 2018 she was named to the final 20 player roster of the2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship.[47]
In May 2019, Mewis was named to the final 23-player roster for the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[48] She played in 6 out of 7 matches, including thefinal, and scored two goals, both as part of a 13–0 group stage victory overThailand.[49] The United States won the 2019 World Cup after defeating theNetherlands 2–0.
In 2020, Mewis played in 8 of the 9 matches for the US, started 6 matches, and scored 4 goals.[50] In December 2020, Mewis was named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for the first time. She is the 17th player to win the award.[50]
On January 18, 2021, Mewis scored her first careerhat-trick for either club or country in a 4–0 friendly win againstColombia. Her sister Kristie scored the only other goal.[51] Mewis was a member of the US team at the2020 Olympic Games in August 2021, scoring one goal in their quarterfinal win against theNetherlands.[52] She and her team won the bronze medal in a 4–3 victory overAustralia.
Mewis underwent knee cartilage surgeries in 2021 and 2023, resulting in an extended absence from the national team.[37] On January 19, 2024, Mewis announced her retirement from professional soccer due to her long-term knee injury.[38]
On June 7, 2024, it was announced that Mewis would leadVermont Green's first-ever women's team in an exhibition game to be played on June 22. She will remain with Vermont as an advisor following the match.[53] It was announced on Feb 13, 2025, that Mewis would return as head coach of Vermont Green FC's womens side for a second set of exhibition matches, on June 7 and June 14 respectively.[54] Mewis' side will face NY-based sideFlower City 1872 in their first match, and will face Quebecoise clubA.S. Blainville's womens team 7 days later.
Mewis andLynn Biyendolo hosted a podcast about women's soccer,Snacks, produced byJust Women's Sports, from April 2021 to November 2023.[55][56] After announcing her retirement in January 2024, Mewis announced she would join theMen in Blazers Media Network asThe Women's Game Editor-in-Chief.[57] Her role would include hostingThe Women's Game podcast, which consists ofFriendlies, where she interviews soccer stars, andGood Vibes FC with Biyendolo andBecky Sauerbrunn.[58] Mewis also occasionally hosts live post-match coverage forUSWNT matches. TheseDo It Live! streams often feature special guests, such asNew Zealand defenderAli Riley orMen in Blazers Editor-In-ChiefRoger Bennett.
Mewis's older sister,Kristie, also plays for theUnited States women's national soccer team and plays professionally forWest Ham United.[59] In late December 2018, Mewis married longtime boyfriend Pat Johnson in Boston, Massachusetts.[60]
Following the United States' win at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Mewis and her teammates were honored with aticker tape parade in New York City. Each player received a key to the city from MayorBill de Blasio. After winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Mewis revealed that while she was young, her father, Bob Mewis, would pick up side jobs to be able to afford her and her sister's soccer expenses.[citation needed]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Western New York Flash | 2015 | NWSL | 20 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 4 | ||||
| 2016 | 14 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 16 | 7 | |||||
| Total | 34 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 11 | ||
| North Carolina Courage | 2017 | NWSL | 24 | 6 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 6 | |||
| 2018 | 17 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||||
| 2019 | 12 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||||
| 2020 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 53 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 14 | ||
| Manchester City | 2019–20 | FA WSL | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1[d] | 0 | 29 | 14 | ||
| Total | 17 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 16 | ||
| North Carolina Courage | 2021 | NWSL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||
| Kansas City Current | 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 109 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 137 | 42 | ||
| No. | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | February 15, 2016[62] | Toyota Stadium,Frisco, United States |  Puerto Rico | 10–0 | 10–0 | 2016 Olympic qualifying |
| 2 | 8 | March 9, 2016[63] | FAU Stadium,Boca Raton, United States |  Germany | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2016 SheBelieves Cup |
| 3 | 15 | October 19, 2016[64] | Rio Tinto Stadium,Sandy, United States |  Switzerland | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 18 | November 13, 2016[65] | StubHub Center,Carson, United States |  Romania | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 27 | July 30, 2017[66] | Qualcomm Stadium,San Diego, United States |  Brazil | 1–1 | 4–3 | 2017 Tournament of Nations |
| 6 | 32 | October 22, 2017[67] | WakeMed Soccer Park,Cary, United States |  South Korea | 1–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 8 | 39 | October 7, 2018[68] | WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, United States |  Panama | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2018 CONCACAF Championship |
| 9 | 47 | April 7, 2019[69] | Banc of California Stadium,Los Angeles, United States |  Belgium | 4–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | 48 | May 12, 2019[70] | Levi's Stadium,Santa Clara, United States |  South Africa | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 12 | 49 | May 16, 2019[71] | Busch Stadium,St. Louis, United States |  New Zealand | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 51 | June 11, 2019[49] | Stade Auguste-Delaune,Reims, France |  Thailand | 4–0 | 13–0 | 2019 FIFA World Cup |
| 14 | 6–0 | ||||||
| 15 | 62 | February 4, 2020[72] | BBVA Stadium,Houston, United States |  Costa Rica | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2020 Olympic qualifying |
| 16 | 6–0 | ||||||
| 17 | 63 | February 7, 2020[73] | Dignity Health Sports Park,Carson, United States |  Mexico | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2020 Olympic qualifying |
| 18 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 19 | 69 | January 18, 2021[74] | Exploria Stadium,Orlando, United States |  Colombia | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 20 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 21 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 22 | 73 | June 10, 2021[75] | BBVA Stadium,Houston, United States |  Portugal | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 23 | 76 | July 1, 2021[76] | Rentschler Field,East Hartford, United States | Mexico | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 24 | 81 | July 30, 2021 | Nissan Stadium,Yokohama, Japan |  Netherlands | 1–1 | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2p) | 2020 Summer Olympics |
UCLA
Western New York Flash
North Carolina Courage
Manchester City
United States U20
United States
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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