U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski will be without another one of his key leaders for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn announced in a statement she will miss the tournament due to a foot injury she suffered in April. The 38-year-old defender is a two-time World Cup winner with the USWNT and joins Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, and Sam Mewis as the latest key player to announce their summer absence.
Sauerbrunn played the final 22 minutes of the Portland Thorns’ 2-0 NWSL win over OL Reign on June 3, but did not dress in Portland’s 3-1 league loss to the Orlando Pride on June 11. Her last USWNT appearance came on April 11 in a 1-0 friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland, where she was substituted off after 28 minutes.
“Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it. But that’s sports for you and that’s life,” Sauerbrunn said. “I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup, but after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline.
“I’ll be home, working as hard I can to get back on the field as quickly as I can. It’s been an honor to work and play alongside this incredible group of athletes. They have my unwavering support. And, more importantly, they have my unyielding belief,” she added. “This program has always been about the collective and I have no doubt that the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need-in their feet, their heads and their hearts-to bring our fifth trophy home. To my teammates, I love you.”
Sauerbrunn is one of the USWNT’s longest-standing players with 216 international appearances to her name. She played a key role in the last two World Cup titles for the USWNT in 2015 and 2019 and was also an Olympic Gold Medal winner back in 2012.
Kelley O’Hara and Tierna Davidson will likely start at centerback together following Sauerbrunn’s injury, with the duo combining for 231 international caps.
Friendly reminder- Becky has over 216 caps for the US. The age and matches played concerning durability & productivity on the field can’t be viewed in the same way as the men’s. Women play more, have more appearances for the US. They also stay longer with the US on the international stage. If you have 100 caps for your country, that’s doin’ somethin’. The ladies have many players with 200 or more and a lot w/ 150 appearances or better. Remember, Dahlkemper was the other starter at CB w/ Becky at the last WC. She didn’t make it this cycle, so new faces got an opportunity. With that being said, Becky not being there would be concerning for any other country. I have faith in the next woman up. I’m not concerned with the CBs. We have the talent to replace the injured and still be a contender.
Who is the next woman up? Vlatko pretty much played Sauerbrunn, Cook, Girma and Sonnet ONLY during the multitude of friendlies we have had since the Olympic failure. Even when one of those 3 were out Vlatko neglected to bring in new faces. Cook hasn’t lived up to the hype, Sonnet is terrible, Girma is great so lets hope she stays healthy.
As we’ve seen in the last few years, many of other programs have caught up. The NWSL was the only viable League globally, and now through major European club sponsorship, countries like England, France and Spain have caught up. Losing Sauerbrunn further hurts the US women’s chances to repeat. Losing Swanson, S Méwis, Macario, and Ertz below her peak form means no guarantee of a trophy for 2023.
Fans and pundits have been saying this since 2011 last I looked USWNT have been to the last three women’s World Cup final narrowly losing on PK’s in 2011 and having won the trophy in 2015 and 2019. No doubt the women’s game across the world is getting better, but the USWNT still has the edge and depth of talent to make it to another final.
This is truly devastating. Not that Saurerbrunn at 38 is all that, but Vlatko has stubbornly refused to try out new players at the CB. Since he took over it has always been Saurerbrunn, Cook, Girma and Sonnet. Even when one of those four were unavailable he went with 3 CB instead of giving a new player a chance. It’s as though somebody in the federation has wanted to limit the number of newcomers so as to preserve spots for the more marketable personalities. My guess is that they will just go with the well known Tierna Davidson which is a huge mistake because she has missed several years due to injury and while she has been getting regular minutes with CRS, the team leads the league in goals allowed by a wide margin, which is not a good look for a CB.
are you saying a 38 year old player they were depending on got injured? hmmm i have been being told players are ageless.
Also missing 25 yr old Mallory Swanson and 23 yr old Cat Macario. Perhaps 28 yr old Rose Lavelle.
Rapinoe is also hurt (no big loss except for depth if others also get hurt) and Ertz has been in and out of her club lineup as well.
Alex Morgan will be 34 for the WC should we exclude her too?
I think it’ll be Naomi Girma & Alana Cook. I think they make the best CB pairing. …and just so fans can yell ‘Let Girma-Cook!, Watch Girma Cook!’