SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes Academy midfielder Sophie Jones has been named the 2018-19 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She becomes the first female athlete from the Bay Area to win the national award in any sport since Ashton Purvis (track and field) of Oakland in 2009-10. The award was presented to her on Wednesday morning by seven-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback and Super Bowl XXIX MVP Steve Young.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation’s most elite high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The honor has previously been awarded to many of our nation’s most legendary athletes, including Peyton Manning (1993-94), Kerri Walsh (1995-96), Kobe Bryant (1995-96), Aly Wagner (1996-97), Zack Greinke (2001-02), LeBron James (2001-02; 2002-03), Candace Parker (2002-03; 2003-04) and Clayton Kershaw (2005-06).

In addition to the Quakes Academy, Jones also played for Menlo School and led the Knights to a 20-2-2 record and the Central Coast Section Division I sectional tournament championship this past season. Despite missing time while competing with the United States U-20 National Team, she finished with 18 goals and 16 assists. Jones has signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Duke University beginning in 2019 and headlines their top-five recruiting class.

Jones represented the United States at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay. She has also been previously named the 2018-19 Gatorade California Girls Soccer Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Player of the Year.