By Two-time World Cup winner and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Becky Sauerbrunn has announced her retirement from soccer.
The 39-year-old spent 16 years in the professional game, playing a crucial role in a golden era for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and, at club level, lifting the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title on three occasions.
“Nothing will compare to the last sixteen years. How could it?” she said in a post on Instagram. “The challenge of chasing victory. The bravery to fail. The willingness to suffer. The joy and relief when you achieve it. The drive to go again.
“Sixteen years ago I woke up dreaming and I haven’t slept since. That makes it sound easy. It was never easy. But even so, I’d run it back.”
The center-back played every minute of the tournament as the USWNT won the Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015, and every minute after missing the first game four years later when the team defended its title in France.
Sauerbrunn was also part of the squad which took home the Olympic gold medal at London 2012, and a key member of the bronze-winning team at Tokyo 2020.
Finishing her career as the 10th most-capped player in USWNT history with 219 appearances, she captained the team between 2021 and 2023, having also served as co-captain alongside Carli Lloyd between 2016 and 2018.
“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” she said in a statement released by US Soccer. “That I got to wear the US Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling.
“I competed with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders this sport has ever seen, and I consider myself beyond lucky to have been able to play a small part in this program’s storied history.”
Sauerbrunn also played in every NWSL season so far, winning the league’s defender of the year award in each of its first three seasons starting in 2013, and again in 2019. She won two NWSL titles with FC Kansas City, and another with the Portland Thorns, where she finished her career.
“To the coaches who believed in me. To the fans who supported us. To the admin and support staff who kept me moving. To my friends and family who stood by me. To my partner for all the practice reps and knowing not to critique them. And to all my teammates who bought in and fought both for each other and for an idea bigger than ourselves. Thank you,” she said.
The defender’s contribution was equally vital off the pitch, where she was instrumental in the campaign which brought about the Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2022, whereby USWNT players now earn the same pay as their male counterparts.
Sauerbrunn is the latest notable USWNT player to retire this year, following Alex Morgan and Kelley O’Hara. Alyssa Naeher also announced her retirement from international soccer last month.
