Becky Sauerbrunn, a two-time World Cup-winning defender and mainstay of the United States women’s national team for more than 15 years, announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.
She shared this news both on Instagram and through the USWNT.
“I learned early on that we were just borrowing our jerseys,” Sauerbrunn said in a statement via US Football. “Being able to wear the US Football crest was an honor and a privilege for which I will always be grateful. »
“The fact that I’ve been able to do this over 200 times is truly humbling. I have grown with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders the sport has ever known, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to play a small part in the storied history of this program. »
Considered a consistent and capable defender, her understanding of the game has made her one of the best in the world. A St. Louis native, she was part of the victorious U.S. teams at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, and she was also a member of the gold medal team at the 2012 Olympic Games.
With a total of 219 international selections, she has participated in three Olympic Games and three World Cups. An injury prevented her from being part of the squad for the 2023 World Cup. She has captained the USWNT 42 times, which ranks fifth in team history.
Sauerbrunn said on Instagram: “Nothing will compete with the last sixteen years. How could it be otherwise? The challenge of chasing victory. The courage to fail. The will to suffer. The joy and relief of reaching it. The impulse to start again. Sixteen years ago I woke up dreaming and I haven’t slept since. This may seem easy. It never was. But despite everything, I would do it again without hesitation. »
“Because what a gift!” »
In terms of her club career, she has accumulated over 200 appearances in the NWSL with Kansas City FC (now Kansas City Current), the Utah Royals and, most recently, the Portland Thorns. She won two NWSL titles with Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, and another with the Portland Thorns in 2022. She was also part of the Thorns that won the Community Shield in 2020, as well as a trio of titles in 2021 including the NWSL Challenge Cup, International Champions Cup and NWSL Shield.
Off the field, Sauerbrunn was a key figure in the USWNT’s fight for equal pay, culminating in the historic collective bargaining agreement in 2022 that allowed the USWNT to achieve equity with their male counterparts. She was also a strong advocate for women’s rights and racial equality, adding to her already rich legacy in various fields.
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