St. Louis Helped Shape Becky Sauerbrunn into a USWNT Legend, Now It Will Celebrate Her

St. Louis, Missouri, is a city steeped in soccer history and Becky Sauerbrunn soaked in every bit she could growing up in the Gateway City, which many locals refer to as “Soccer City, USA.” 

The culture of soccer in the city dates back decades and through osmosis, Sauerbrunn became a soccer devotee. She’d hear stories of the first soccer teams formed in the 1800s, the legendary indoor leagues, and when Pelé once played at Buch Stadium in 1968. At every soccer game on the weekend, whether it was at the prep level, indoor games or college games, she’d always make it an event with friends.

“I just felt really fortunate because soccer was kind of all around,” Sauerbrunn told ussoccer.com. “I think that just helped me grow my love and passion for the game.”

Following in line with the city’s history – all hail the St. Louis Steamers —Sauerbrunn mostly played indoor soccer growing up. She formed an indoor team of her own where she was the only girl playing on an all-boys team. Looking back, Sauerbrunn realizes it was a rare gift to have grown up with such a rich history of the sport. Now, her 16-year USWNT career will be commemorated in the city that shaped her.

Before the USWNT kicks off against Jamaica on June 3, Sauerbrunn will be honored with a retirement ceremony. The legendary defender retired from the NWSL and the U.S. National Team at the end of 2024 after one final professional season in a career chock-full of accolades.

Sauerbrunn, a center back, was a force in the backline for 219 caps, including two FIFA Women’s World Cup victories and an Olympic gold medal in 2012. Finally bringing the U.S. back to glory in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup was one of the greatest moments for Sauerbrunn.

“Having it been 16 years since the 1999 team had won, and for me, that 1999 team was my inspiration. They were my motivation to get onto the Women's National Team, to make it to a World Cup,” Sauerbrunn said. “So, looking back and knowing that on the crest, that third star is right next to their star in 1999, that is something that I'm going to always think of so fondly.”

Then she helped add another one in 2019. Sauerbrunn played every minute in the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals, beating Japan and the Netherlands, respectively.

Current U.S. head coach Emma Hayes didn’t have a chance get to coach Sauerbrunn for the USA when she took over the coaching reins in May 2024, but when she was working briefly for the Washington Freedom, which played in pro leagues that were precursors to the NWSL, she watched Sauerbrunn play. She asked then-Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra, “Why the hell is she not on the National Team? She's got everything the country's looking for.”

Hayes was right. Sauerbrunn earned her first cap in January 2008 and became a cornerstone for the National Team between 2014-2021. Hayes said she continually sees the effect Sauerbrunn left on players who played with her and even young players who didn’t get the chance.

That’s the legacy Sauerbrunn wanted to leave. She didn’t need to be the biggest name, but if her teammates remembered her as a player that they could ask for advice or come to with concerns, that was more than enough.

“That was probably the greatest honor, is that the players felt like they could come to me with things,” Sauerbrunn said.

Naomi Girma, one of the top center backs in the world who wears the same No. 4 jersey as Sauerbrunn, is one of the players whom the renowned defender has impacted.

“I think Becky was one of the best leaders this team has ever had,” Girma said. “Sometimes you see leaders look out for the superstars, the starters, but she was definitely someone who made sure that everyone was looked after ... she would make sure to be that voice for them.”

Sauerbrunn wasn’t the loudest in the room, but she was still a leader on the team. She developed that quiet leadership style by watching her veterans. Early in her time with the USA, she remembered being pulled into players’ only meetings with the captains to discuss important topics like the Players’ Association matters and an upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 Sauerbrunn immediately remembered feeling the weight of the situation and becoming enthralled with the idea of becoming a leader and galvanizing a group. She learned quickly that while she wasn’t a loud leader like Abby Wambach — she’d leave that role for teammates like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Kelly O’Hara — she’d instead take an approach more like former defensive midfielder Shannon Boxx and lead in her own style. Boxx is now even more of a role model to Sauerbrunn as they're both broadcast teammates for TNT Sports.

Her broadcast crew, the current USWNT, former coaches, former teammates and family will all be at Energizer Park to celebrate her brilliant soccer career. While Sauerbrunn originally planned on a quiet goodbye, only a match in St. Louis in front of the city and the people who helped her become a two-time World Cup champion would feel right.

“Anytime you can celebrate your career with the people that helped build that career with you,” Sauerbrunn said, “I think it's pretty special.”