Thorns’ Sam Coffey ready for Olympics

American Jaedyn Shaw (8) celebrates her goal off an assist from Sam Coffey (17) during the first half against Japan at the SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

PORTLAND, Oregon (KOIN) — It’s safe to say that Sam Coffey received the most meaningful phone call of his life a few weeks ago.

“I was so excited and over the moon. I feel like I blacked out. I don’t even remember much,” the Thorns defenseman said.

The call was to let her know that, for the first time, she would be representing Team USA in a major international tournament.

“I let it ring once and then I was like, ‘Okay, it’s time to answer.’ I held my phone in my hand all day. I didn’t let go of it for fear of missing a call. If someone tried to call me, I would hang up immediately,” Coffey said with a laugh.

The honour comes after the disappointment of not being selected for last year’s World Cup. Many people saw Sam as the last or second-to-last player not to make the squad.

“I ultimately had a choice after that. I could feel bad for myself and sulk a little bit, or I could get back up and keep fighting and moving forward and not let one failure or one setback define me,” Coffey said. “It’s been an incredible growth opportunity. I think it’s something I’ve learned a lot from and lessons I take with me every day. I think it’s made me stronger.”

That strength helped Coffey earn another honor in addition to Team USA selection: Olympian.

“I’m coming back to a surreal world. It’s hard to put into words. I think I’m just so overwhelmed with emotion and excitement and joy that I can call it that. It’s not something I take lightly. It’s something I’ve tried to soak in and really feel. I’m just going to put my heart into it and I can’t wait to get started,” Coffey said.

Coffey’s entry into American women’s soccer comes in an interesting context.

Last year’s World Cup was disappointing, with the team losing in the round of 16. That sparked a number of changes over the past 11 months, including a new head coach and several veterans not on that Olympic team.

Ultimately, Coffey says she’s ready to contribute to this new era of American women’s soccer.

“It’s a blank page in front of us, and we’re the ones holding the pen. I think it’s very exciting. It’s a new chapter,” Coffey said.