Paris, France (CVILLE RIGHT NOW): UVA has two more representatives still competing in the Olympic Games in Paris.  One is US Soccer Center back Emily Sonnett.  Sonnett played four seasons for the Cavaliers (2012-15) and helped Virginia advance to two College Cups and the 2014 NCAA Championship game. The Hoos also won the 2012 ACC Championship. She was a two-time All-American, a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2015 and was named the 2015 ESPNW National Player of the Year.

This is her second Olympic Games with the USWNT, after appearing in a limited capacity in Tokyo.  In the 2024 tournament, she has made two starts in as many victories for the Americans, including their most recent against Japan to send Emma Hayes’ unit to the Olympic semifinal against Germany.

Team USA beat the Germans already, in a 4-1 victory back on July 28th.  They are always a threat but have faced injury problems that have neutralized their potency.  After a long battle against the Japanese (in which Sonnett played all 90 minutes), the Americans will have to summon up all of the extra energy and talent they can muster if they want to make the Olympic final and win their first gold medal in soccer since 2012.