By OkayGoal
Becky Sauerbrunn is returning to the Portland Thorns, but this time she will be helping the club from the technical staff rather than the field. The former USWNT captain has joined the Thorns as a technical consultant for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The appointment gives Portland access to one of the most experienced defenders in NWSL history as the club continues to keep its hopes of winning another championship. Sauerbrunn will contribute her defensive knowledge, provide veteran mentorship, and participate in video analysis alongside the team’s athletes and technical staff.
For Sauerbrunn, the position represents another step in a career that has already included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal, four NWSL Defender of the Year awards, and three NWSL championships.
A Great Player
Becky Sauerbrunn spent nearly two decades playing professional and international soccer before retiring in 2024. She became one of the most accomplished defenders in American women’s soccer and was particularly known for her positioning, defensive awareness, and leadership.
During college, she played at the University of Virginia from 2003 to 2007. Sauerbrunn then made 90 appearances before beginning her professional career. Before the NWSL was established, she played for Washington Freedom and magicJack in Women’s Professional Soccer. She also played for D.C. United in the USL W-League and Røa IL in Norway’s top division.
Sauerbrunn then became one of the foundational players of the NWSL when the league began in 2013. She spent her first five NWSL seasons with FC Kansas City before joining the Utah Royals for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Her success in the league was immediate. Sauerbrunn won the NWSL Defender of the Year award three consecutive times from 2013 through 2015 and earned the honor again in 2019 with Utah. This is according to the NWSL’s official website. She also won the NWSL Championships with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015.
Becky Sauerbrunn’s Years With the Portland Thorns
Sauerbrunn joined the Portland Thorns ahead of the 2020 season and spent the final five seasons of her playing career with the club.
During that time, she helped Portland win the 2020 NWSL Community Shield, 2021 NWSL Shield, 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, 2021 International Champions Cup, and 2022 NWSL Championship. The 2022 title was the third NWSL Championship of her career. This is according to the Portland Thorns’ official website.
Sauerbrunn made 72 regular-season appearances for Portland and finished her NWSL career with 189 regular-season matches. She also played in 10 NWSL playoff matches over the course of her career.
Her longevity was particularly notable because Sauerbrunn was part of the league from its first season. By the time she retired, she ranked among the NWSL’s all-time leaders in minutes played, games played, and wins. She also finished her career with 653 clearances, 99 blocks, and 258 interceptions. She is remembered for her numbers, talent, and her hairstyle.
A Decorated USWNT Career
Sauerbrunn’s achievements with the United States were just as significant. She earned 219 international caps, making her the 10th-most-capped player in USWNT history at the time of her retirement. She appeared at three FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Olympic Games.
The defender was part of the U.S. teams that won the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups. She also won Olympic gold at the 2012 Games in London and a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Her international resume also included four Concacaf Women’s Championships, five SheBelieves Cup titles, and the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup in 2024. The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup became one of the final major achievements of her international career. Sauerbrunn retired from professional soccer later that year.
Becky Sauerbrunn’s Retirement
Sauerbrunn announced her retirement in December 2024 after the conclusion of the NWSL season.
She left the sport as one of the league’s foundational players, having participated in every NWSL season from its launch in 2013 through her retirement. She finished with 16,217 regular-season minutes and was among the league’s all-time leaders in defensive statistics.
Sauerbrunn’s retirement marked the end of her playing career rather than the end of her involvement in soccer. Sauerbrunn had spent much of her career thinking about defensive organization, studying opponents, and preparing for matches. Those skills eventually became useful in a different part of the sport. She has also talked about what it meant to play for the USWNT.
“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys. 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,” said Sauerbrunn.
Life After Playing Soccer
After retiring, Becky Sauerbrunn moved into broadcasting with TNT Sports.
She became a studio analyst for USWNT coverage, appearing on pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. TNT Sports announced in February 2025 that the former USWNT captain would join its studio team for the SheBelieves Cup.
U.S. Soccer later interviewed Sauerbrunn about her transition into broadcasting. She explained that the experience was different from playing but still gave her an opportunity to analyze matches and remain connected to the game. She also had previous experience discussing soccer through broadcasting, including work with the Women’s Game vertical of Men in Blazers Media Network.
Her broadcasting work gave her another way to examine tactics and communicate her understanding of the game. That experience now complements the knowledge she developed during her playing career.
What Her New Role Involves
The Portland Thorns announced Sauerbrunn’s appointment on September 3, 2026. She will work as a technical consultant through the remainder of the season.
The club specifically identified three areas where she will contribute. These will be defensive expertise, veteran mentorship, and video analysis.
Sauerbrunn will use her experience to help athletes and technical staff review performances through video. That means her responsibilities are not limited to working directly with defenders. Her tactical knowledge can also provide another perspective during team analysis.
Sauerbrunn herself said she enjoyed watching film, discussing tactics and details, and working with a backline when she was a player. Her new role allows her to continue those parts of the job without the physical demands of playing professionally.
“I’m excited to be joining the Thorns for the remainder of the season. As a player, I loved watching film, talking tactics and details, working with a backline, and this opportunity affords me all those things with a lot less running. I had the privilege of a long career in this league, and I hope to be a resource for the players and staff as they work towards a championship season,” she said, according to the Portland Thorns’ official website.
Helping Portland’s Players
Her experience as a defender could be particularly valuable to Portland’s backline.
Sauerbrunn spent years communicating with defensive teammates, organizing positioning, and dealing with some of the world’s best attackers. She can now share those experiences with players from outside the field of play.
The Thorns also described veteran mentorship as part of her responsibilities. Having spent 12 NWSL seasons in a league that changed considerably during her career, Sauerbrunn has firsthand knowledge of the demands of professional women’s soccer.
Portland President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos also talked about Sauerbrunn’s knowledge and experience. “Becky is a massive addition to our technical staff. She will bring an excellent combination of valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit the development of our athletes and help push us to be in a position to compete for titles,” said Agoos.
Becky Sauerbrunn Returning to the Thorns
Becky Sauerbrunn’s appointment also gives her a chance to return to the organization where she ended her playing career.
She already knows the club, its environment, and the expectations that come with playing in Portland. She also has experience winning a championship with the Thorns after helping the team claim the 2022 NWSL title.
That familiarity could make her transition into the technical staff particularly natural. Rather than starting her coaching or technical career at an unfamiliar club, she is returning to a team where she already spent five seasons. Her relationship with Portland also means that her new position builds on a connection that began when she joined the club as a player in 2020.
The new position is also evidence that Sauerbrunn followed what she said at her retirement. When she announced her departure from the game, she wrote, “This isn’t the end. I’ll be around. I love this game too much to leave it for good. But for the first time in sixteen years I’m going to find a quiet moment and close my eyes for a bit.” This is according to Reuters.
A New Role for a Familiar Face
Becky Sauerbrunn’s return to the Portland Thorns does not represent a comeback to professional soccer. Instead, it gives her a new way to apply the knowledge she gained during a remarkable playing career.
Her move from the field to broadcasting already allowed her to continue studying and discussing the sport. Her position with the Thorns takes that experience a step further by placing her back inside a professional club environment.
For Portland, Sauerbrunn brings the perspective of a player who spent more than a decade in the NWSL, won three league championships, and became one of its most decorated defenders. For Sauerbrunn, the role offers an opportunity to remain involved in the sport she spent much of her life playing while helping current players develop.
With the Thorns still competing in the 2026 season, the former USWNT captain now has a different way to contribute to another potential championship campaign.
Featured image via @meninblazers