U.S. women’s national soccer team defender Emily Sonnett is setting her sights on Olympic glory in Paris, fueled by recent disappointments and a determination to uphold the team’s winning legacy.

Sonnett, a versatile player known for her defensive skills and tactical flexibility, emphasized the team’s unwavering commitment to success. “This team has always had a winning mentality,” Sonnett said. “Understanding what we want as a group is to always win. That’s going to be the goal for the Olympics.”

The 30-year-old Georgia native, who has been a key figure in the U.S. squad since her debut in 2015, acknowledges the unique challenges posed by the Olympic tournament format. “The Olympics is a smaller tournament, meaning the shortness between the games,” Sonnett explained. “The recovery aspect, the mentality, and the mental toughness in between to be able to recover and learn from mistakes — that’s something we’re going to take into it.”

Sonnett’s Olympic aspirations are shaped by past experiences, including the team’s disappointing bronze medal finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The defender, who played in two matches during that tournament, sees these setbacks as motivation.

“Having a little chip on our shoulders, understanding not being successful in the last Olympics but also the World Cup,” Sonnett reflected. “This group is leaning on the winning mentality and that culture behind it from the past more than 10 years. We’re focusing on how we can bring that back and how we can continue that going into a major tournament.”

Throughout her career, Sonnett has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. A standout at the University of Virginia, she was the first overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Her professional journey has included stints with Portland Thorns FC, Orlando Pride and currently, OL Reign.

As the U.S. team prepares for Paris, Sonnett recognizes the importance of integrating new talent. “We’re going to have new players come in and have them integrated as quickly as possible,” she noted, highlighting the blend of experience and fresh energy that could be key to the team’s success.

With 74 international caps to her name and a World Cup title from 2019, Sonnett brings valuable experience to a squad aiming to reclaim its place atop the Olympic podium. The U.S. women’s team, four-time Olympic gold medalists, will be looking to bounce back from their third-place finish in Tokyo and reassert their dominance on the global stage.

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