Three-time NWSL champion and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Becky Sauerbrunn, a defender for the Portland Thorns, has declared her retirement.
On Tuesday, Sauerbrunn posted a statement on social media.
With a great deal of appreciation and affection.Twitter: pic.twitter.com/huOtKMjBmW
The 39-year-old Sauerbrunn had 16 years of professional soccer experience, including time spent in the NWSL since its launch in 2013. She was one of the four players who remained from the league’s first season, out of the initial 55 players chosen to assist in its founding. She participated in 10 playoff games and 189 regular-season games until her NWSL career ended.
Having played for the Thorns for the previous five seasons, Sauerbrunn helped the team capture her third NWSL championship in 2022. She played in 72 Thorns games throughout the regular season, earning close to 6,000 minutes.
Throughout her tenure with the U.S. National Team, Sauerbrunn played in 219 games and was a stalwart. She participated in two Olympics and three World Cups, winning the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She also won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
The Thorns intend to commemorate and celebrate Sauerbrunn at a game to be determined after the schedule is made public during the 2025 NWSL season.
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