2 deaf soccer players from Utah were honored at a recent USWNT game

The U.S. women’s national soccer team honored two Utahns from the U.S. women’s national deaf soccer team before their scoreless draw with Colombia Thursday at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.

Midfielder Sophie Post of Murray and goalkeeper Taegan Frandsen of Centerville attended the national team’s training Wednesday and the game Thursday, where they were joined by JT Batson, the CEO and secretary general of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Who won the 2023 Women’s World Deaf Championship?

Post and Frandsen recently won the Women’s World Deaf Championship in Malaysia on Oct. 6. The U.S. went undefeated in the 2023 World Deaf Championship. This year was the team’s third time winning the tournament.

Post scored in the final and had four other goals in the team’s six tournament games, according to U.S. Soccer. Frandsen won the tournament’s Golden Glove award, meaning she was the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Goalkeeper Payton DeGraw of Salt Lake City was also on the team. Both Frandsen and DeGraw started three games during the tournament.

Who are Sophie Post and Taegan Frandsen?

Post attended Murray High School and went on to play for Shoreline Community College in Seattle, where she was named a captain as a freshman, KSL reported.

Frandsen now plays for Salt Lake Community College but went to Viewmont High School, according to SLCC.

To be eligible to join the deaf national team, players “must have a hearing loss of at least 55DB in their ‘better ear,’” according to U.S. Soccer.

Both Post and Frandsen were members of the U.S. team that won the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil.

During the Deaflympics, Post and Frandsen, as well as the other players, weren’t allowed to wear their hearing aids. ASL interpreters enabled coaches and players to communicate, and referees used flags instead of whistles to stop play, according to KSL.