PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Thorns captain and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) champion Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old's international career spans nearly two decades. As one of the only remaining foundational NWSL players, Sauerbrunn has been part of the league for all of its 12 seasons. She she finished her club career in the top 10-all time for minutes played (16,217), games started/played (184/189) and games won (83).
Sauerbrunn has played with seven teams and spent the past five seasons with the Thorns. During her time in Portland, she has helped the Thorns win the win the 2021 NWSL Shield, the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2020 NWSL Community Shield, the 2021 International Champions Cup and the 2022 NWSL Championship. She appeared in 72 regular-season matches, totaling 5,827 minutes. Sauerbrunn was named NWSL Defender of the Year four times.
She played for the U.S. Women's National Team in three world cups, winning the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019. Sauerbrunn also competed on the Olympic stage, helping Team USA win the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
In a post on her Instagram page, Sauerbrunn thanked her teammates, coaches, fans, family and friends who have supported her.
"It was an honor and a privilege — to play with you and for you. It means the world to me that you gave me so much," Sauerbrunn said in the post. "I never took any of it for granted, but I also know nothing I say or do will ever be enough to repay you."
Sauerbrunn didn't say what she plans to do next, but hinted that she isn't completely done with soccer.
"This isn’t the end. I’ll be around. I love this game too much to leave it for good," she said in the post.
