Sophie Schmidt is at a loss for words in the mixed zone. Canada has just beaten St. Kitts and Nevis 11-0, but that’s not what has her speechless. She’s just been asked to come up with something she wishes Christine Sinclair would say to brag about herself, and there’s nothing. Schmidt can’t fathom Sinclair ever bragging about herself, not even a mild compliment, not even on the night the striker set the record for international goals scored. In fact, Schmidt and the rest of the Canadian women’s national team had planned a trap for Sinclair to ensure she didn’t duck out on any celebrations, lying in wait for her in the locker room with champagne — Sinclair had hinted that she might skip the team dinner in order to avoid even the suggestion of a party.



“She had to come in the locker room at some point,” Schmidt says.



It’s 2003, and the Women’s World Cup has been moved to the United States from China...