Becky Sauerbrunn

Becky Sauerbrunn is recognized as a leading defender in U.S. women's soccer. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Sauerbrunn earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors and was later named ACC Player of the Year and NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year following her senior season. She built a professional soccer career spanning nearly two decades, competing in four leagues and representing seven clubs. Sauerbrunn earned her first senior international cap and steadily became a fixture in the U.S. Women's National Team backline for more than 15 years.

Internationally, Sauerbrunn accumulated 219 caps, ranking tenth in USWNT history, and captained the team 42 times, the fifth most in program history. She contributed to two FIFA Women's World Cup titles, playing every minute of the 2015 tournament in Canada and appearing in six of seven matches during the 2019 tournament in France. Sauerbrunn also won an Olympic gold medal at the London Games and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, and helped the U.S. win the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup. She holds the USWNT record for most appearances by a defender without scoring a goal, highlighting her consistent defensive presence.

At the club level, Sauerbrunn was among the original 55 players allocated to help found the National Women's Soccer League. She remained in the league for its first 12 seasons. With FC Kansas City, she won back-to-back NWSL Championships and became the first player in league history to win a major award in three consecutive seasons, claiming the NWSL Defender of the Year award from 2013 to 2015. Sauerbrunn later earned a fourth Defender of the Year honor with Utah Royals FC and captained Portland Thorns FC to an NWSL Championship, her third league title. She finished her club career in the top 10 all-time in NWSL minutes played, games started, and games won, and was named to the NWSL Best XI a record seven times.

Off the field, Sauerbrunn served as president of the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association and played a key role in the equal pay negotiations with the U.S. Soccer Federation, contributing to a collective bargaining agreement that established equal pay structures for the women's and men's national teams. She has also advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and safe working conditions in the NWSL, and received the Eli A. Wolff Legacy Award from Athlete Ally for her advocacy.

Following her retirement from professional soccer, Sauerbrunn transitioned into sports media. She joined TNT Sports as an on-air analyst for USWNT coverage and co-hosts "The Women's Game" podcast, part of the Men in Blazers Media Network, where she discusses women's soccer. Sauerbrunn was honored with a formal retirement ceremony by U.S. Soccer in her hometown.