USWNT star Sophia Smith misses Portland Thorns with new injury - handing Emma Hayes a brief scare

Amid her stellar MVP-candidacy form of late for the Portland Thorns, Smith missed Friday evening's match against the Orlando Pride to injury. Boss Rob Gale revealed the extent of the calf injury postgame, with Smith unlikely to miss an extended period of time.

Recently called up to represent the USWNT in their June camp, Smith will get her first minutes under new head coach Emma Hayes on June 1 and June 4. She'll take her Golden Boot form to the international level from the club level, where she has eight goals in 10 games so far this season for the Thorns. Gale, however, hopes that she's still managed properly this upcoming window.

Gale informed reporters postgame that the injury itself would not be a long-term one, saying: "It was just a day or two — probably two — early, with the lower-leg injury. We expect her to be up [and playing soon], hopefully the U.S. will manage her properly in that environment, knowing that she wasn’t available for today. I think they’ll have to manage her, and build her up possibly for the second game."

The USWNT take on South Korea in a pair of pre-Olympics friendlies. Hayes' first chance to get a glimpse of Smith and her teammates, the U.S. will look to begin a new era on a high note.