Boise native captains U.S. women’s soccer team, one of several career firsts
Tuesday stood as a night full of firsts for Boise native Emily Sams.
The former Centennial High standout recorded her first international goal, added her first international assist and served as a first-time captain for the U.S. women’s national team in a 5-0 friendly victory against Chile.
“It’s just a huge honor,” Sams told reporters after the game. “I feel like I’ve looked up to so many other girls, whether they’ve been captains or not, and I just admire those leaders that we have on the team.
“So now to kind of be looked at as that tonight was very special.”
The United States rolled out a young lineup for the friendly in Santa Barbara, California. The Americans averaged just 5.2 national team appearances across the starting lineup, the fewest for the U.S. in 25 years.
That made Sams somewhat of a veteran in her ninth appearance. The 26-year-old served as an injury replacement on the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team. She didn’t make her first on-field appearance until October later that year. But U.S. coach Emma Hayes said she’s quickly made an impact the past two years.
“I said at the beginning that leadership shows up in many different ways,” Hayes said in a postgame press conference. “With Trinity (Rodman), that’s someone who shows by actions. Claire (Hutton), I’ve said already, is a future captain in the making.
“I think Emily Sams, without question, leads by example with a combination of her behaviors — not just in terms of being competitive, but the standards she holds for herself.
“She’s a great teammate, very thoughtful and caring and kind. And I tell her a lot she reminds me of Emily Sonnett, in terms of she hasn’t got a lot of caps for us, but she’s always ready.”
Sams put the U.S. ahead 3-0 in the 33rd minute with her first international goal. The defender remained upfield after a corner kick, sliding into position inside the 6-yard box to bang home a cross from Emma Sears with her left foot.
“As a center back, you don’t really expect it,” Sams said with a laugh. “But shoutout to Emma Sears for crossing me that ball.
“I love Emma, and I know that she’s fast, she loves to get into the box and cross. And so I just saw a little space and knew she was going to cross it, and I was there.”
Sams returned the favor in the 46th minute after moving to right back, springing Sears down the right wing with a lofted long ball for a breakaway goal.
Sams helped lead Centennial High to a state runner-up finish as a freshman in 2013 before moving to Florida. She later led Florida State to a national title and was the third overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Orlando.
The Pride traded her to Angel City FC earlier this month.
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 5:03 PM.
