Sophie Howard (footballer)

Howard joined UCF Knights in September 2012 and scored her first goal in her fifth appearance.^[2] At the end of her first season, Howard was named to the 2012 All-Conference Freshman Team, after three goals and two assists.^[3] She was also named to the 2013 American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team and the 2014 AAC Second Team, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports science in 2015 with cum laude honors.^[4]

Howard joined German club 1899 Hoffenheim in 2009. During her time at the club she played 17 regional league games, 42 second division games, and 8 cup games until 2012.^[5]

In July 2015, Howard was named in the W-League Western All-Conference team, after scoring one goal in nine games for Colorado Pride.^[6]

After finishing her education at University of Central Florida, Howard returned to Germany with 1899 Hoffenheim, who announced her signing for the 2015–16 Frauen-Bundesliga season in February 2015.^[5]

In July 2018, Howard joined English club Reading.^[7][8] In June 2020, Reading announced that Howard had left the club at the conclusion of her contract.^[9] Two months later, in August, Howard signed for Leicester City ahead of the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship season.^[10] She helped the club top the Championship comfortably, sitting eight points ahead of second-placed Durham, and get promoted to the 2021–22 FA WSL. During the season, Howard was a regular starter and continued to be a key player for Leicester City.^[11] In 2024, Howard became one of two players to make 100 appearances for the club.^[12][13]

Howard played twice for the Germany U20 national team in 2012. She was named in Germany's squad for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, but did not get to play in any matches. In 2016 she was called into a training camp for England's new "Next Gen" team. She said: "Although I was born and brought up in Germany it's always been my ambition to play for England, and hopefully I’ve now taken my first step."^[14]

In March 2017 she was called up into the Scotland national team. The Scots had three injured defenders and were allowed to pick Howard because her grandfather is Scottish.^[15] She made her senior international debut on 11 April 2017, as a 64th-minute substitute in a 5–0 friendly defeat by Belgium in Leuven.^[16] In May 2019, Howard scored her first goal for the national team, heading in the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Jamaica.^[17]

Howard was born in the German town Hanau to a Scottish mother and English father.^[18]