Becky Sauerbrunn, one of the most renowned leaders and defenders ever to grace the USWNT, has announced her retirement from professional soccer. At 39 years young, the silent captain brings a career to a close that has been built upon consistency, leadership, and dedication both on and off the pitch.
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Few players have embodied the balance of technical quality, work ethic, and humility as well as Sauerbrunn. Her 219 caps for the USWNT, her leadership in the NWSL, and her World Cup and Olympic titles are just numbers that don't fully explain her impact on the sport.
The journey of a defender who grew through adversity
Becky Sauerbrunn's start to her USWNT career was anything but smooth. Her first match in 2008 became famous for a broken nose during her debut-a sign of how her career would be defined by resilience. She played only three matches in her first three years, but that small setback never made her raise her hands.
It wasn't until 2011, though, that Sauerbrunn began to make a name for herself. Called in for the Women's World Cup in Germany, the big break came when center-back Rachel Buehler was suspended for a match against Brazil. Throwing Becky into the lineup in the semifinal against France, she played all 90 minutes in the victory and never fell off the radar from that day forward.
In 2012, during the London Olympics, she played three matches and celebrated her first gold medal. From that moment on, Sauerbrunn has been a key player, an undisputed starter since then, starting 167 of 182 matches from 2013 to 2024.
The peak with the USWNT
If soccer is made up of moments, Becky Sauerbrunn's greatest came with consecutive World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In both cases, she was the backline rock that held this American system together, going the distance in Canada with only a rest in that opening match in France. With her on the pitch, the team allowed a total of three goals in each tournament.
Not only was Sauerbrunn the backbone, but she also made for a very quiet and inspiring leader in the process. She led the side 42 times with the captain's arm band-on, making her one of the greatest to have led the team in history. Her commitment stands out; she is currently ninth on the all-time list for minutes played among USWNT players-16,909 minutes earned.
Interestingly, one unique stat followed Sauerbrunn to the end: she never scored a goal for the national team, despite being one of its most active players. For her, though, that never mattered. “We’re all just renting these jerseys,” said Sauerbrunn. “Wearing the crest even once was an honor—more than 200 times is truly humbling.”
Shining in the NWSL
Not very less eventful was the career of Becky Sauerbrunn at the club level. She has created records in the NWSL, having played in the league since its inception in 2013, playing in 189 regular-season matches and a total of 10 playoff games for FC Kansas City, Utah Royals, and Portland Thorns.
She won two NWSL Championships with Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, a league with Portland Thorns in 2022, and an NWSL Shield in 2021, always at the highest defensive level. Becky was named NWSL Defender of the Year four times and appeared in the NWSL Best XI seven times, a record.
Her longevity is extraordinary: Sauerbrunn is one of only eight players to have appeared in every NWSL season from 2013 to 2024, showing unmatched consistency.
A legacy on and off the field
Beyond her technical excellence and consistency, Becky Sauerbrunn will also be remembered for her voice off the field. She was one of the most active figures in the fight for equal pay in women's soccer, women's rights, and racial equity, becoming an example of a complete athlete.
Her work for women's soccer, added to her impeccable talent as a player, makes her legacy transcend titles and records. Her leadership was as impactful as her performances, inspiring generations of defenders to understand that consistency and intelligence also define a brilliant career.