Sonnett Believes
- lexisastar
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
With the 2026 She Believes Cup underway, Emily Sonnett, professional soccer play for the United States Women's National Team and Gotham FC in the NWSL, was named to her 11th SheBelieves Cup roster.
This is wildly impressive given the competitive nature of the national team and the intense, high-pressure environment that comes with it. For many players, making a national team roster once is a career highlight. For Emily Sonnett, it’s become a tradition. In a interview, she said, "'I love SheBelieves, apparently,' Sonnett said, with a laugh, 'and it loves me.'”
This is a milestone that highlights both her longevity and importance to the program. Also, a testament not only to her talent but also to her leadership and consistency over the years.
But what makes this accomplishment even more notable is the reaction it sometimes receives...
In the men’s game, longevity is celebrated. Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are praised for sustaining elite careers into their 30s, with their experience viewed as an invaluable asset to their teams. Their presence is seen as leadership, legacy, and proof of greatness. In the women’s game, however, the conversation can look very different. When veteran players remain on the roster, the discussion often shifts toward whether it’s “time for younger players” or if the team should be moving on to the next generation.
Rather than celebrating experience, longevity can be framed as something that needs justification. That perspective overlooks something crucial: experience is one of the most valuable resources a team can have, especially in high-stakes international tournaments. Players like Sonnett bring institutional knowledge, composure, and leadership that younger players can learn from. They help stabilize the roster and maintain continuity between generations of the team.
Women’s soccer has grown tremendously in recent years, but conversations about age and longevity still reveal a subtle form of ageism that female athletes often face more than their male counterparts. Instead of questioning why a veteran is still there, perhaps the better question is why we aren’t celebrating it more.
This is a reminder that great players earn their place year after year, regardless of age. And if longevity is something we celebrate in the men’s game, it deserves the same respect in the women’s game too.
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