SANDY, Utah – (Wednesday, October 30, 2019) – Utah Royals FC DF Becky Sauerbrunn has been honored as the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League Defender of the Year.
Sauerbrunn’s selection marks the fourth time in her NWSL career that she has been honored as the top defender. Additionally, Sauerbrunn was named to the NWSL Best XI last week, her seventh time on the list, making her the most decorated player in the history of the league with 11 individual end-of-year awards.
In her second season with Utah Royals FC, Sauerbrunn made 14 appearances, contributing to six clean sheets and helping the team achieve the second-fewest goals allowed with 25, just two behind the 2019 Shield winners North Carolina Courage. Additionally, Sauerbrunn recorded the highest passing accuracy in the league during the regularseason, completing 87.6 percent of her passes.
This year Sauerbrunn also competed with the United States Women’s National Team in their quest to clinch the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship. During the tournament the centerback contributed to three clean sheets and played in all but one match as the US won its fourth World Cup title.
Sauerbrunn is the first player in Utah Royals FC history to win an individual league award and last season was the first to be selected to the NWSL Best XI.
