Sam Mewis

 ( 1992 Births ) 

In the 2016 season, Mewis missed several games as she was away training with the U.S. WNT in preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Western New York Flash finished fourth in the standings and qualified for the play-offs. In the semi-final, Mewis scored a goal in the 16th minute helping the Western New York Flash to upset the Shield winning Portland Thorns. In the NWSL Championship game Mewis once again scored a goal. The Championship game went to penalties, Mewis missed her penalty but the Flash went on to win the Championship, winning the penalty shootout 3–2.

Mewis missed the beginning of the 2018 season as she was recovering from a knee injury. She appeared in 17 regular season games, as the Courage won their second consecutive NWSL Shield. In the play-offs, Mewis was in the starting line-up for the semi-final match against the Chicago Red Stars and scored a goal in the 86th minute. North Carolina won 2–0 and advanced to their second straight championship game. She played all 90 minutes in the NWSL Championship game as the Courage defeated the Portland Thorns 3–0. Mewis had now won three NWSL Championships.

Due to her participation in the 2019 World Cup, Mewis only appeared in 12 regular season games for the Courage in 2019. North Carolina won the NWSL Shield for the third consecutive season. They advanced to the final after defeating Reign FC in the semi-final. Mewis scored a goal in the championship game as North Carolina defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4–0 to win their second consecutive NWSL Championship.

With the 2020 season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mewis took part in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, making five appearances and scoring one goal as North Carolina topped the standings in the preliminary round but were eliminated in the first knockout round by #8 seed Portland Thorns FC.

Following the 2023 season, Mewis announced her long-term knee injury would result in retirement from professional soccer.

On January 24, 2014, Mewis was named for the first time to the senior national team roster for friendlies against Canada and Russia. She made her debut for the team at the 2014 Algarve Cup during the team's second match of the tournament, a 1–0 loss to Sweden.

After a spell out of the team, Mewis was invited back to the senior team following their success at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She continued to get regular playing time, scoring four goals in 2016 including the winning goal against Germany in the 2016 She Believes Cup that won the United States the trophy. Mewis was named as an alternate to the U.S. women's national team for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

In 2017, Mewis was one of three players to appear in every game for the U.S. women's national team. She played 1,242 minutes, which placed her at second highest minutes on the team. She scored three goals and was a finalist for 2017 U.S. Female Player of the Year.

Mewis suffered a knee cartilage injury in a November 2017 game against Canada which sidelined her for six months, forcing her to miss the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. Mewis returned to the field for the U.S. in June 2018 in a friendly against China. In September 2018 she was named to the final 20 player roster of the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship.

In May 2019, Mewis was named to the final 23-player roster for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in 6 out of 7 matches, including the final, and scored two goals, both as part of a 13–0 group stage victory over Thailand. The United States won the 2019 World Cup after defeating the Netherlands 2–0.

In 2020, Mewis played in 8 of the 9 matches for the US, started 6 matches, and scored 4 goals. In December 2020, Mewis was named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for the first time. She is the 17th player to win the award.

On January 18, 2021, Mewis scored her first career hat-trick for either club or country in a 4–0 friendly win against Colombia. Her sister Kristie scored the only other goal. Mewis was a member of the US team at the 2020 Olympic Games in August 2021, scoring one goal in their quarterfinal win against the Netherlands. She and her team won the bronze medal in a 4–3 victory over Australia.

Mewis underwent knee cartilage surgeries in 2021 and 2023, resulting in an extended absence from the national team. On January 19, 2024, Mewis announced her retirement from professional soccer due to her long-term knee injury.

Following the United States' win at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Mewis and her teammates were honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio. After winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Mewis revealed that while she was young, her father, Bob Mewis, would pick up side jobs to be able to afford her and her sister's soccer expenses.