Watch Georgia soccer star Emily Sonnett read good luck note from parents before Women's World Cup

Caption

Emily Sonnett on the USWNT at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 (left) and as a star player (right, in white) at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, Ga., in 2012.

Credit: FIFA / GPB

The U.S. Women's National Team plays the Netherlands on July 26, 2023, as part of the group stage of the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament.

Georgians can tune into the match Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EDT (check local listings) to see two of their own on the roster: defenders Kelley O'Hara and Emily Sonnett. Both women have Georgia roots, with O'Hara hailing from Peachtree City and Sonnett from Marietta.

Back in 2012, GPB Sports caught up with a teenaged Sonnett when she became the first student from Fellowship Christian School to earn ESPN's Gatorade Player of the Year honors. 

Read: Fellowship Christian Soccer Star Honored

"It is great to be honored by a group like ESPN as I end my senior season," Sonnet said at the time. "Our team at Fellowship Christian has been successful for the last four years as we all pushed each other to be our best. Also, my high school coach, Trip Hughes, and my club coach, Dave Smith, have been great teachers and mentors helping me to prepare for what is next— ACC soccer and U.S. National team competition."

Sonnett and her twin sister began playing for North Atlanta Soccer Association (NASA) in 2003. Emily went on to play soccer at the University of Virginia and her sister, Emma, played at the University of Georgia. Emily then joined the U.S. women's national team in 2015 and has played for the Orlando Reign, Orlando Pride and Portland Thorns.

The FIFA Women's World Cup began last week, with the USWNT beating Vietnam 3-0 Saturday and set to take on the Netherlands on July 26. Sonnett's parents sent her best wishes before the tournament: