Utah Royals FC Announce U.S. WNT Captain Becky Sauerbrunn for 2018 Season
December 22, 2017 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Real Salt Lake News Release
SANDY, Utah - Utah Royals FC announced today that U.S. Women's National Team co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn has officially joined the fledgling NWSL club. The commitment of Sauerbrunn to Utah brings the former NWSL Defender of the Year, World Cup, Olympic and college standout to Utah for the club's inaugural 2018 season. Sauerbrunn carries with her numerous international and domestic accolades to Utah Royals FC, stemming from a 13-year professional career as the Club continues to shape its already impressive assigned roster from the former FC Kansas City.
"Becky is one of the best players the NWSL has seen over its five-year existence," Royals FC Head Coach Laura Harvey said. "To have her join us in Utah is really exciting, and to be able to build our Club around a player like Becky is a huge development for this team. I'm really looking forward to working with her."
Having appeared for the United States on 135 occasions, World Cup veteran Sauerbrunn featured in every minute of the USWNT's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup triumph in Canada, the United States' third World Cup win. An original member of the NWSL a two-time league champion and three-time NWSL Defender of the Year, Sauerbrunn has amassed 93 appearances in NWSL play, scoring three goals from the centerback position. During the 2017 season, Sauerbrunn made 22 appearances for FC Kansas City - all of which were starts - scoring one goal while adding two assists.
"I'm incredibly excited to start this new adventure in Utah," Sauerbrunn said. "To me it's very clear that Owner Dell Loy Hansen and the Club's management wants to provide those in the locker room with every possible chance to win a championship right out of the gates. Everything in Utah is going to be world-class and it's a really exciting thing to be a part of."
The 32-year-old defender from St. Louis, Missouri began her professional career in 2009 with the Washington Freedom (WPS) after bridging a successful four-year college career at the University of Virginia by playing for both the Boston Renegades and Richmond Kickers Destiny of the W-League. While spending 2008-2010 with the Freedom, Sauerbrunn spent the 2009 season on loan at Norwegian club Røa IL. She has also spent seasons with magicJack in 2011 and D.C. United Women in 2012 before the advent of the NWSL in 2013, joining FC Kansas City.
Player: Becky Sauerbrunn
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-7
Date of Birth: June 6, 1985
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Previous Club: FC Kansas City
How acquired: Inherited player rights from FCKC to league allocation
Season tickets for the 2018 Utah Royals FC season are now on sale via www.RSL.com/NWSL or 844.Real.Tix, while the NWSL full slate is yet to be revealed. Utah will participate in its first-ever NWSL college draft on Jan. 18 in Philadelphia, currently owning the fourth and 14th overall selections.
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