Idaho native joins the world’s best women’s soccer club. ‘I can’t wait to be here’

Michael Lycklama

BOISE — The apical women’s shot nine successful nan world precocious received an injection of Idaho talent.

Boise autochthonal Sofia Huerta joined France’s Olympique Lyonnais connected indebtedness past week, leaving her longtime location successful Seattle to suit up for nan European powerhouse for nan 2024-25 season, which starts Friday.

Lyon holds a grounds 8 European championships. No different nine has won much than 4 Champions League titles.

“As a small woman increasing up successful Boise, I had a dream of playing master soccer, and I person been truthful fortunate to execute that dream,” Huerta, 31, said successful a statement connected Instagram.

“Throughout my career, I besides person dreamt of playing successful Europe and competing successful nan Champions League, and now I person this unsocial opportunity to spell connected indebtedness to Olympique Lyonnais.”

Huerta antecedently trained pinch nan French nine successful 2020 erstwhile it owned nan Seattle Reign. She signed a three-year statement extension pinch Seattle successful April and will stay nether statement done 2027. But nan nine agreed to fto her play successful France for an undisclosed transportation fee.

“I loved my clip here,” Huerta said successful a video produced by nan French club, often referred to arsenic OL. “I can’t hold to beryllium present for a longer magnitude of clip — to play games and to correspond OL, deterioration nan crest connected my jersey, and to triumph nan convention and to triumph Champions League.”

The 2011 Centennial High grad was nan first Idaho native to play for nan U.S. men’s aliases women’s shot squad astatine a World Cup successful 2023. While she did not make nan squad for this summer’s Olympics, she remains a stalwart successful nan National Women’s Soccer League. The 10-year seasoned is tied for nan league’s profession assists grounds (31) and ranks seventh successful convention history pinch 188 regular-season appearances.

Huerta besides antecedently played 3 seasons connected indebtedness successful Australia, helping Sydney triumph a convention title successful 2019. But those loans came during nan NWSL’s offseason. She will miss Seattle’s last six games this play and perchance nan commencement of nan 2025 play while playing pinch Lyon.

“This is not a goodbye, Seattle,” Huerta said successful her statement. “This is conscionable an ‘I’ll beryllium backmost soon.'”