Becky Sauerbrunn Retires, Closing a Legendary USWNT Career

The two-time World Cup winner and longtime USWNT captain steps away after 16 years, leaving an indelible mark on soccer both on and off the field.

Becky Sauerbrunn, a key figure in the USWNT's golden era, announced her retirement at age 39 after a 16-year professional career.
Sauerbrunn earned 219 caps, won two World Cups (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold medal (2012), and played every minute of the 2015 World Cup-winning campaign.
At the club level, she competed in every NWSL season since its inception, winning three championships and earning four Defender of the Year awards.
Off the field, she was a leading voice in the USWNT's equal pay fight, serving as the first president of the players' union and helping secure a historic collective bargaining agreement in 2022.
Her retirement marks the end of a generational shift for the USWNT, following other recent retirements of stars like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Julie Ertz.