Add team captain Becky Sauerbrunn to the list of players who reportedly won’t be competing in the for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the 2023 World Cup.
Sauerbrunn, a centerback, sustained a foot injury on April 22 while playing for the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League and was not part of the final roster, according to The Athletic.
Announcement of the final roster is expected next week. The tournament is scheduled to begin July 20 in New Zealand and Australia.
Sauerbrunn, the active leader on the team with 216 appearances, has been on three consecutive national title teams, including Cup championships in 2015 and 2019. She was on the U.S. gold medal winning Olympic team in 2012.
The 38-year-old Sauerbrunn is in her third season with the Thorns as part of 10 NWSL seasons. She has 156 starts in her 160 games. She has five goals and four assists, and is a three-time winner of the NWSL’s Defender of the Year award earlier in her career while with FC Kansas City. She has seven assists with the USWNT.
After sitting out six matches for the Thorns, Sauerbrunn made a brief appearance on June 3, but she was not available for their match on Sunday.
Forwards Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario have previously been ruled out with knee injuries. Midfielder Rose Lavelle is also dealing with a knee injury, and after enduring a setback last month, her World Cup status is in question.
–Field Level Media
