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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
Two-time World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn has taken on the role of technical consultant with the Portland Thorns for the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season, as announced by the club on Thursday.
Sauerbrunn, who retired from professional soccer in 2024 after a successful tenure with the Thorns, where she clinched an NWSL Championship and an NWSL Shield, will return to the club in the coming months. Her role will focus on providing invaluable defensive insight and veteran guidance, while also contributing to the team’s video analysis efforts.
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“I’m thrilled to be rejoining the Thorns for the rest of the season,” Sauerbrunn stated. “As a player, I relished analyzing film and discussing tactics, and this opportunity allows me to engage in those activities without the physical demands of playing. Having had a lengthy career in this league, I aim to be a valuable resource for both players and staff as they pursue a championship.”
Sauerbrunn joins the coaching staff under head coach Robert Vilahamn, with the team currently sitting in fifth place and eight matches remaining. The Thorns (11-5-6, 38 pts.) trail Gotham FC by seven points for the NWSL Shield and maintain a seven-point lead over Seattle Reign FC for the final playoff position.
This season, Portland has allowed 30 goals in 22 matches.
Sauerbrunn celebrated her first two NWSL Championships with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015. She earned the NWSL Defender of the Year title four times before joining the Thorns as a player in 2020.
After her standout performance in the 2015 World Cup and NWSL season, Sauerbrunn garnered recognition as one of the world’s top defenders.
“Becky is a tremendous asset to our technical team,” said Portland Thorns president and general manager of soccer operations Jeff Agoos in a statement. “Her wealth of knowledge and experience will significantly contribute to the growth of our athletes and help position us to compete for championships.”
Sauerbrunn has represented the United States women’s national team in 219 matches, participating in three World Cups and three Olympic Games. She missed the 2023 World Cup due to a foot injury sustained just before the tournament.
Throughout her USWNT career, Sauerbrunn captained the team during multiple stints and was pivotal in the 2015 squad, which achieved a 540-minute shutout streak in the tournament, tying Germany’s record from 2007.
Since retiring, she has ventured into podcasting and broadcasting, providing coverage of the USWNT and women’s soccer. In October 2025, she welcomed her first child.