Samantha Smith

Samantha Elizabeth Smith (born September 22, 2005) is an American college soccer player for the Stanford Cardinal and cross-country skier for the United States Ski Team. She represented the United States in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

She represented the United States youth national team at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and won bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games.

Early life

Raised in Boise, Idaho, Smith participated and excelled in numerous sports growing up: Nordic, freestyle, and cross-country skiing, soccer, cross-country running, track and field, football, ice hockey, and swimming. She was homeschooled for much of her childhood. In her freshman year at Boise High School, she won the IHSAA 5A state cross-country running titles in the 5,000 meters and team events as well as state track titles in the 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters, 4 × 400 meter relay, 4 × 800 meter relay, and team events. For her achievements, she was named the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year in both sports in 2021. She placed second in cross-country running the following year on a broken leg and seventh the next year having just returned from the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India. She played ECNL club soccer for the Boise Timber Thorns.

Soccer career College soccer Smith played in 13 games as a substitute for her Stanford Cardinal as a freshman in 2024, helping the team to the NCAA tournament semifinals. She played in all 25 games, starting 14, and scored 1 goal as a sophomore in 2025. She was an alternate for the under-17 team at the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship before making the roster at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She made her international debut in the third group stage game at the World Cup, scoring twice as the United States won 4–0 against Morocco. She was an unused substitute in the quarterfinal match where the team fell to Nigeria on penalties.

Smith played for the under-19 team at the 2023 Pan American Games, where they faced other countries' senior sides. She appeared in all five games and helped the team finish in third place.

Honors

Stanford Cardinal Atlantic Coast Conference: 2025 ACC tournament: 2025

United States U-19 Pan American Games bronze medal: 2023

Skiing career

Smith followed her sister into skiing when she was five. She spent winters in Sun Valley, Idaho, growing up.

Smith was first named to the United States Ski Team for cross-country skiing in 2022. She made her World Cup debut in Norway in March 2023.

Smith was promoted to the US Ski A Team in 2024, becoming one of the youngest skiers to make the top team at 18 years old.

Personal life

Smith's father, Stephen, is a radiation oncologist who played college soccer at Duke. Her mother, Kristin, is a lawyer who rowed crew and swam at Stanford. She has an older sister, Logan, who played soccer with her at Stanford, and a younger brother, Tucker.

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games Year Age Individual Skiathlon Mass start Sprint Relay Team sprint 202620———19——