Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The moment has already curdled into a dark memory–the numbed, yawning vacuum, devoid of rational thought, that was last week’s news of Becky Sauerbrunn’s absence from the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to a foot injury. The 38-year-old defender has been the cornerstone of the U.S. Women’s National Team defense for more than a decade, the only piece that has survived multiple coaches, multiple keepers, multiple center back partnerships, and all manner of behind-the-scenes drama in that time. Her performances at major tournaments in the last eight years are key reasons why the USWNT has two recent World Cup titles and an Olympics bronze medal in its trophy case. Beyond her on-field gifts, Sauerbrunn is recognized as a positional genius, a player who can see plays before they happen, who can marshal a back line, communicate instructions effectively, and be a calm leader under pressure. It’s hard to imagine how the U.S. could hope to win this year’s tournament without her.
Is it that…
