Becky Sauerbrunn became a defining figure in U.S. women’s soccer through her consistency, leadership, and tactical intelligence. As she celebrates another year, her soccer journey stands as a testament to the less glamorous but essential qualities that form the backbone of championship-winning teams. Sauerbrunn’s career was never spotlighted by flashy goals or headlines. Rather, it is marked by years of discipline, determination, and grit.
Early Years
From the outset, Sauerbrunn’s rise was methodical but relentless. Between 12 and 16 she led her youth club, JB Marine, to four consecutive Missouri cup titles. In high school, she competed in basketball (as a point guard), volleyball and soccer (where she won numerous accolades). Her collegiate career was spent at the University of Virginia, where she excelled academically and athletically. Although she missed the 2004 season due to national team commitments, she played every single game for the Cavaliers. This was an early sign of the stamina, balance and maturity she would carry throughout her professional career.
International Breakthrough
Unlike many teammates who burst onto the international scene with the USWNT, Becky spent nearly a decade at the youth level, logging minutes with the U16, U19 and U21/23 sides. her path to regular national team minutes was gradual. While frequently overlooked in her early stages, she spent years proving her worth with solid performances at club level. Once she was called up to the first team, however, Sauerbrunn quickly became an indispensable figure for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).
The quiet consistency that was her trademark style endeared her to coaches and teammates alike. By the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she had earned her place as a starting center-back. She anchored a defense that conceded just three goals throughout the tournament, and played every minute. Her performance was widely lauded, despite being one of the few players not to score or assist. This is an embodiment of her selfless style of play. She followed that with another commanding showing in the 2019 World Cup, contributing to yet another U.S. title during that journey. She was the team co-captain from 2016-18 (with Carli Lloyd), and sole captain from 2021-23.
In total, Sauerbrunn would earn 219 caps for the first team. Although she never scored a goal, she did contribute 7 assists and an untold number of defensive stops.
Club History
Sauerbrunn has played for nine different clubs in three different leagues over nineteen years. From 2013 until her 2024 retirement she was an impact player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She won back-to-back league titles with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015. She spent two years with Utah Royals before going to the Portland Thorns, where she brought experience and stability to one of the league’s most high profile squads. Sauerbrunn was often chosen as captain, a clear reflection of the trust coaches and teammates placed in her.
Career High & Lows
Yet her career journey has not been without setbacks. Injuries in recent years have limited her availability, including missing the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to a foot problem. Her absence was definitely felt; the U.S. team suffered a historically early exit that year. Sauerbrunn handled the moment with characteristic poise, offering support from the sidelines instead of retreating from the spotlight.
Off the field, she has also emerged as a thoughtful advocate. Sauerbrunn was a central figure in the USWNT’s push for equal pay and working conditions. She uses her platform to promote fairness and respect in the sport, including calling out executive team members of her own club when they have failed to live up to expectations (this was around the release of the Yates Report on abuse in the NWSL).
As Becky Sauerbrunn turns 40, her legacy is not defined by a glitzy highlight reel. Instead, it’s measured by the trust she earned, the games she stabilized, and the standards she upheld. In a sport often driven by ego and headlines, her journey has built a reputation on quiet authority. Whether or not she plays another World Cup or Olympics, her contribution to U.S. soccer will remain indelible.
Happy Birthday Queen B!
