Becky Sauerbrunn has hit another major career benchmark.
With her appearance in the August 27 game against the San Diego Wave, the 10-year NWSL veteran, currently in her third season in Portland, notched her 150th career NWSL appearance.. She is only the 14th player in league history to hit that mark.
Sauerbrunn even has a rare goal to her name this year, scoring in the box in the Thorns’ 6-0 win against the Orlando Pride on June 19. Better known for her defensive prowess, Sauerbrunn showed fans that she can put the ball into the back of the net as well.
“I’m rarely near the goal,” said Sauerbrunn after scoring against Orlando. “[June 19] was a very weird day, but I enjoyed every second of it.”
But Sauerbrunn doesn’t need to be near the goal to make her impact felt. A dominant presence in the box, the St. Louis, Missouri, native frequently dons the captains armband and is Portland’s leader from the back. A shoe-in starter capable of organizing the back line and making bone-crunching tackles, she has played an important role in her team’s six clean sheets.
In addition to club success, Sauerbrunn is a stalwart on the US women's national team, with 207 international caps to her name. She will add two more in the national team’s upcoming pair of friendlies against Nigeria in September.
