Becky Sauerbrunn will not be joining her fellow U.S. women’s national team veterans in retirement any time soon.
Sauerbrunn is back with the USWNT after missing out on what would have been her fourth career World Cup this summer due to a foot injury. And she doesn’t have plans to step away in the near future, she told reporters Monday.
“I would say that my role on the team is the same that it’s been for the last 13 years,” she said. “I’m competing for a spot on the roster, and then I’m competing for minutes on the field. And that has not changed and it won’t change and even with a new coach coming in, who I hope you know, will give me a chance.”
It was inevitable that Sauerbrunn would be asked about her future. After all, the longtime defender is 38 years old and starting a new World Cup cycle, with a new head coach set to join the USWNT in the coming months.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair recently announced her international retirement, while Marta has said she won’t play for Brazil in the Olympics next year.
Several USWNT retirements have come this year as well, with both Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe stepping away from the game. Ali Krieger, whose playing career with the USWNT ended in 2019, is set to retire from soccer upon the conclusion of the NWSL season.
But Sauerbrunn plans to stay, regardless of where she falls on the depth chart.
“If I am not a starter, then I’m going to push the starters to be the best that they can be,” she said. “And if I’m just not on the team, then there it is, but I’m definitely gonna keep competing and hope that things go the right way for me.”