USWNT defender, former captain Becky Sauerbrunn announces professional retirement

After a brilliant 16-year international career, the 39-year-old is hanging up her cleats for both club and country

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Three-time World Cup participant, three-time Olympic Gamed participant and U.S. Women's national team legend Becky Sauerbrunn has announced her professional retirement.

  The 39-year-old defender registered 219 caps across 16 years with the program, while on the club side, she participated in every single season of the NWSL since its founding, winning two championships (2014, 2015), an NWSL Title (2022) and an NWSL Shield (2021).

  Between 2013 and 2024, Sauerbrunn 167 of her 182 caps during that time frame, and overall, has the 10th-most in USWNT history.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sauerbrunn captained the USWNT 42 times across her storied career, the fifth-most in USWNT history, while spearheading the backline for more than a decade as a consistent starter. She is ninth all-time in minutes played for the USWNT with 16,909 and is one of 14 U.S. players to appear 200 or more times for their country.

  “I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” said Sauerbrunn. “That I got to wear the U.S. 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 won two World Cup titles, four CONCACAF Women's Championships, one CONCACAF W Gold Cup, three CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, An Olympic gold and bronze medal, five SheBelieves Cup titles and eight other honors with the USWNT.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite featuring in more than 200 matches for the program, Sauerbrunn never scored a goal for the USWNT. However, she did record seven assists, but that elusive goal never arrived.

• WHAT NEXT FOR SAUERBRUNN?

  The 39-year-old will now take time away from the pitch, enjoying retirement around family and friends. However, she's made a promise to not stray too far away from the game. For the time being, though, she's ready to "close her eyes for a bit."